As I continue to procrastinate on finishing my last paper in my master's program (sorry Vanna...I promise it will be done on time!) I thought I would take this time to reflect on the CTER program and my experiences over the last two years. First, let me say that I can't believe how quickly the last two years have gone. It seems like yesterday that I was on campus at the summer orientation getting to know the people that I would be taking classes with for the next two years. About those people, I have to admit that I have gotten to know some of them better than the people I saw every day while doing my undergraduate work. While we very rarely meet face to face, we have some very in depth, interesting conversations. I have learned about their families, their hobbies, and their teaching experiences. Some of them (aka Rita) amaze me with all of the activities they are able to balance and it challenges me to be a better, more organized person. I think it is the personal experience with these people that I value the most. They are people just like me with a passion for technology and a love for teaching. It is those values that brought us all together in the CTER program.
While the personal relationships were great, the classes I took were also great. Ok...so maybe there was one classes that I could have done without...Freud and Pavlov just aren't two people that I care to learn any more about! Overall, the other classes were very eye opening and introduced me to a world of available technology that I had never used. They challenged me to learn more and not be content with my current knowledge of technology. While I may not have liked doing the work at the time, the lessons focused on activities that I could take back and use in my classroom. I think that is what I found most valuable. I wasn't just doing busy work, rather the fantastic teachers were helping me learn about things that were applicable to me and my life. I can't wait until I have a little more free time to truly implement more of my work in my classroom.
The CTER program has been an amazing experience. Between the amazing people, the fantastic teachers, and the classroom experiences, I would highly recommend this program to anyone interest. Thanks for all of the great lessons and memories!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The future of education...does this depend on the newest President?
As I was reading Jimmy's blog on Obama's Education Plan, the question of what the future holds in terms of education came screeching to the front of my mind. Yes, I did vote in the Presidential race and yes, I did research the candidates views on education but what a candidates says in print and does in office can often times be two different things.
Obama and NCLB
He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama and Biden will also improve NCLB's accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
Like Jimmy mentions, this isn't too specific. It sounds like what most of us in the education field are thinking, but the question is, how will he address the issues and change the current legislation. We all know that 100% of students meeting or exceeding by 2014 is an unattainable goal. How will President Obama change NCLB?
Obama and Teacher retention
Jimmy points out more good points in this section. Why aren't more people going into the teaching field? Bottom line...Money! The starting pay for teachers can be very pathetic depending on the school district. When I decided in high school that I wanted to go into teaching, I actually had a teacher of mine ask why I would want to go into education. She said I was a smart and talented person and I could do anything I want. She talked about how the pay was low and the hours of commitment where high. Why would an educator discourage someone from teaching? Instead there should be incentives and rewards for educators. Yes, doctors and lawyers make lots of money, but where did they get their start? It came from a teacher who taught them how to seek knowledge and how to love learning. Don't we want our brightest and best teaching the future generations? Will President Obama be able to push incentives and initiatives that will encourage more to become teachers?
Ok...enough rambling. If I knew the future held, I would be a very wealthy woman. It will be very interesting to see what education will look like in 4 years...and maybe even 8 years.
Obama and NCLB
He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama and Biden will also improve NCLB's accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
Like Jimmy mentions, this isn't too specific. It sounds like what most of us in the education field are thinking, but the question is, how will he address the issues and change the current legislation. We all know that 100% of students meeting or exceeding by 2014 is an unattainable goal. How will President Obama change NCLB?
Obama and Teacher retention
Jimmy points out more good points in this section. Why aren't more people going into the teaching field? Bottom line...Money! The starting pay for teachers can be very pathetic depending on the school district. When I decided in high school that I wanted to go into teaching, I actually had a teacher of mine ask why I would want to go into education. She said I was a smart and talented person and I could do anything I want. She talked about how the pay was low and the hours of commitment where high. Why would an educator discourage someone from teaching? Instead there should be incentives and rewards for educators. Yes, doctors and lawyers make lots of money, but where did they get their start? It came from a teacher who taught them how to seek knowledge and how to love learning. Don't we want our brightest and best teaching the future generations? Will President Obama be able to push incentives and initiatives that will encourage more to become teachers?
Ok...enough rambling. If I knew the future held, I would be a very wealthy woman. It will be very interesting to see what education will look like in 4 years...and maybe even 8 years.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Digital Story
I tried uploading my digital story earlier, but it was too large. Vanna made a suggestion for another project that I could upload the file to a server and then post a link. This made me realize that I could probably do the same thing with my digital story. I have to admit that this was probably the best assignment I done with CTER. It was a great way to tell a story using technology.
www.yorkville.k12.il.us/yms/mhafenrichter/volleyballdigitalstory.wmv
While I have coached track for the last three years, this was my first experience coaching a team sport. It was a very amazing experience and I can't wait to coach next year. Feel free to comment on my video :)
www.yorkville.k12.il.us/yms/mhafenrichter/volleyballdigitalstory.wmv
While I have coached track for the last three years, this was my first experience coaching a team sport. It was a very amazing experience and I can't wait to coach next year. Feel free to comment on my video :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Where has time gone?
Where has the time gone? I was walking down the hallway the other day at school and someone told me that there were only 50 days until Christmas! What!!! It seems like school just started a couple of weeks ago and here we are in the beginning of November. Actually when I look back it is hard to believe that I am closer to being 30 years old than I am to having been 20. If time flies this quickly now, will I someday be sitting down with my own children or grandchildren, questioning what happened to the last 30 years? Maybe it is the busy life that I lead that results in time flying? Ok...on to the next activity for the night!
Friday, August 29, 2008
About me...
This year I will be starting my sixth year of teaching middle school math. I can't believe how quickly time flies and how much "stuff" I have accumulated in the last six years. I say this because starting on Tuesday the middle school where I teach will open a new building is 213,000 square feet and 800 students. To say it is a beautiful building would be an understatement. I can honestly say that I feel privilege to work at such an amazing facility. I will post some pictures soon so you can see what I am talking about.
At home, I have a husband of three years who is currently getting his masters of teaching and will start as an elementary teacher next year. While I am looking forward to a better work schedule, I am a little concerned that we will both have summers off. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but I do value my alone time...will be both survive the 3 months of summer? :) We are planning a trip to Europe next summer to visit some friends, relatives, and to celebrate both of us finishing our masters! We don't have any kids but do have a 97 lb golden retriever mix named Tanner and a spunky calico cat named Diz. We recently welcomed our second nephew Noah into the world on August 23. I am still dealing with the fact that I will have to share my birthday with the little guy!
Other than spending time with family, I coach volleyball and track for the middle school and play volleyball at our local YMCA. I am also the webmaster for the middle school and have learned a lot over the past couple of years about Dreamweaver. I would consider myself a tech junky, but I can admit that I don't know everything!
That's about it...I’ll post some pictures soon!
Melinda
At home, I have a husband of three years who is currently getting his masters of teaching and will start as an elementary teacher next year. While I am looking forward to a better work schedule, I am a little concerned that we will both have summers off. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but I do value my alone time...will be both survive the 3 months of summer? :) We are planning a trip to Europe next summer to visit some friends, relatives, and to celebrate both of us finishing our masters! We don't have any kids but do have a 97 lb golden retriever mix named Tanner and a spunky calico cat named Diz. We recently welcomed our second nephew Noah into the world on August 23. I am still dealing with the fact that I will have to share my birthday with the little guy!
Other than spending time with family, I coach volleyball and track for the middle school and play volleyball at our local YMCA. I am also the webmaster for the middle school and have learned a lot over the past couple of years about Dreamweaver. I would consider myself a tech junky, but I can admit that I don't know everything!
That's about it...I’ll post some pictures soon!
Melinda
Future of Technology
It is crazy to think about how far technology has advanced in the last twenty years. My mother is a retired computer programmer and she was telling me how the first computer she worked with took up an entire room. She was talking about the change she has seen in her life time. From a computer that took an entire room to a portable laptop that fits in your book bag. When I first started to drive, the "bag phone" was the first version of a cell phone. Now my cell phone fits in my pocket! If we have moved that far in the last 30 years, what will the next 30 years look like?
I think the future of learning will utilize technology in ways that are hard to imagine. Will there be a time when every student will have their own laptop? Some classes already utilize this technology, but will a day come when every classroom will have this? Will palm pilots or Iphones eventually be standard? I think I have more questions than I have answers!
I feel that one of the most important factors influencing the future of learning is the teacher. It is our responsibility to look for ways to enhance learning for the students in our classrooms. As teachers, we should strive to continually look for new methods or technology that we can be used in the classroom and have a positive impact on learning. Students look to their teachers as role models and as such, we have the ability to set the stage for future generations. If we don’t make learning a priority, who will?
I think the future of learning will utilize technology in ways that are hard to imagine. Will there be a time when every student will have their own laptop? Some classes already utilize this technology, but will a day come when every classroom will have this? Will palm pilots or Iphones eventually be standard? I think I have more questions than I have answers!
I feel that one of the most important factors influencing the future of learning is the teacher. It is our responsibility to look for ways to enhance learning for the students in our classrooms. As teachers, we should strive to continually look for new methods or technology that we can be used in the classroom and have a positive impact on learning. Students look to their teachers as role models and as such, we have the ability to set the stage for future generations. If we don’t make learning a priority, who will?
Monday, June 18, 2007
Local Violence
Today at work I had a long talk with several women about the alarming amount of tragedy and violence that has taken place in recent months. First it started off with the women from Plainfield that went missing and hasn't been seen since. Then there was the report about the large number of students from the Chicago public schools that were killed this year...something like 32. Next came the young girl who was beaten to death by her stepfather while her mother and brother helplessly watched. Most recent of all is the family from Oswego where allegedly the mother shot her three children to death, shot her husband in the leg and then turned the gun on herself. As a 25 year old adult this is frightening and can't imagine how it affects those younger. While I am not a parent yet, I can't imagine how I would answer a question surrounding any of these situations to my children. How do shelter your kids from all of this without giving then a false sense of security? I think it is time for some happy news on T.V.!
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