Why is Teaching so Hard?

"An effective teacher creates a positive effect on student achievement as well as other important outcomes that have positive and lasting effects on the lives of students."

--James Stronge

Those who become teachers do so because they care about others and have a passion for helping students succeed. Teaching is a very rewarding job, but it doesn't come without its difficulties and frustrations.

• Some students are as easy to care about as others. There will be the students who ruins the feeling of classroom community, who is a constant disruptment, who has an unpleasant demeanor, etc. In the book it says "It's hard to care because we don't know how to see through someone else's eyes, to speak someone else's language, to make the world better for a child whose world is out of control.

• Some times teacher feel overwhelmed because there are too many students to connect with or they feel that there just isn't enough time.

• Its hard to teach well when you have 30 children with all different needs, requiring so much from you, all at the same time. 

Teaching is hard, but it is rewarding. All teachers can do is try their best. 

• Start by making meaningful relationships with your students. 
• Be willing to take the necessary risks to help your students succeed and have a more fulfilling life. 
• Trust and respect.

"We simply have to decide the shape we want our teaching careers to take, and begin moving in that direction."

--Carol Ann Tomlinson

After this past field experience I can absolutely see and understand why teachers get to discouraged and frusturated. They love and care for their students and want them all to succeed, but sometimes that is exhasting. They want to differentiate and give students all that they need to be successful, but with all of the other demands on the teacher that isn't always possible.

I feel the biggest thing i need to remember is to take each day one at a time. Some days will be better than others. Some days I might feel disappointed in my lack of differenation. Some days I might be barely hanging one. I just need to pick myself up and remind myself that tomorrow is another day. I can try again. I can differentiate in a different way until I am able to find what works for each student. I understand that this is something that takes practice... all I can do is keep trying!

Photo: http://absolutraining.com/atwp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Dont-give-up.jpg

Book Reference: Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom, By: Carol Ann Tomlinson

Using Curriculum and Instruction to Responding to Student Needs

{"All children can learn" does not mean "all children are the same."}

--Reeves, 2002

The teacher should make a promise to their students to do their best to:

• teach and help the students learn what is truly important in a subject.
• spark curiosity about is being taught. The teacher should encourage the student to explore, capture their interest, and help them see satisfaction in learning.
• help their students see their full potential and the path to achieve it. 
• be a partner, coach, and mentor through their learning process. 

In response to students needs, teacher need to give instruction while differentiating, call on students personal experiences, making connections to those personal experiences, offering hands on experiences, and challenge them. All this needs to be done while scaffolding to help them achieve greatness. 

Remember to:

• Use tiered approaches
• Incorporate complex instruction
• Use a variety of rubrics to guide quality
• Provide learning contracts at appropriate times
• Aim high 
• Take a "no excuse" stance
• Become computer savvy
• Help students realize success in the result of effort (Help them recognize even the littlest success. As long as they did their best work, they should feel successful)
• Try thinkdots
• Directly teach strategies for working successfully with text
• Use think alouds
• Use small group instruction as a regular part of instructional cycles
• Promote language proficiency
• Team with resource specialists
• Make peer-review a regular part of class

***Don't underestimate what a student can accomplish***

I think it is really important to be aware of your students readiness. You need to know where they are coming from and don't limit their level of success. I love the idea of using the different approaches to spark the student's desire to learn. Finding a good "hook" will go a LONG way, especially for Elementary students. 

I want my students to feel like they are ready to learn and do anything. The greatest way to do this would be knowing where students are coming from and if they are ready to continue learning. Building upon their scheme and past experiences will be extremely beneficial. 

Photo: http://nccscurriculum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/differentiation.jpg

Information for the book: Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom, by: Carol Ann Tomlinson

Addressing Student Needs Through Curriculum and Instruction

In the book Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom, by Carol Ann Tomlinson it talks about using curriculum and instruction as the vehicle for addressing student needs.

Through curriculum and instruction, teachers shape lives by equipping students with the intellectual skills necessary to make their way in a world that places such high demands on academic preparation for full societal participation.

In order to have good curriculum and instruction you need to have the five characteristics. These characteristics are: making sure the work is important, focused, engaging, demanding, and scaffolding.

• IMPORTANT: As a teacher, ask yourself the following questions---Does it provide a roadmap toward expertise in a discipline? Is what we are studying balancing knowledge, understanding, and skill? Is it essential to building student understanding?
• FOCUSED:As a teacher, ask yourself the following questions---Is the task designed to get us where we need to go? Do both the teacher and the student understand why we are doing/learning this? Do the teacher and students know how what they are doing connects to the bigger picture?
• ENGAGING:As a teacher, ask yourself the following questions---Are students finding meaning in their work? Does it provoke their curiosity? Will the students get absorbed by the work? Are students intrigued or find value in the work?
• DEMANDING:As a teacher, ask yourself the following questions---Is the work at an appropriate level beyond the students reach? Is there any "loose" time (there shouldn't be)? Are there clear high standards for work and behavior? 
• SCAFFOLDED:As a teacher, ask yourself the following questions---Am I teaching for success? Am I offering various learning opportunities for the various learning strategies in the classroom? Do I have various materials/manipulatives? Have I made the criteria for success clear to the students?

One of my favorite quotes from the book is "We rarely succeed in teaching subjects unless we teach human beings as well." I LOVE this! I strongly believe that in order to be a successful teacher and to help the students truly be successful that you have to teach with this mindset. You are teaching humans skills to help them be successful in life... you are not just teaching curriculum because that is what you are required to do.

In my classroom I want my students to have fun but still find meaning and value in what they do. I never want my students to be bored or feel like they are just doing busy work. That is way I love these five characteristics. I truly think that if i remember to ask myself the questions above, that I will be able to teach more and have a positive impact and the students will enjoy school better.