Is teaching for me?

I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in High school. My teachers and leaders throughout my life were a true inspiration. I was excited to be able to inspire others in the same way. It wasn't until a conversation I had with a friend a few months ago that my dream began to be more of a reality. My Service Learning Placement gave me an opportunity to work with students in a real life setting and to be involved with teachers. I have seen that my dream is not all about inspiration. It's mostly hard work. Creating lesson plans, filling multiple roles and understanding the topic being taught are just a few parts that make the work so hard. 

I am still excited about being a teacher but I have decided that Elementary age us not the level I want. I would like to teach only one subject. I would like to teach something that I can be excited to teach. I plan to switch my major to Secondary education and teach math.

I think it is a great opportunity to inspire and help children grow. I also think that this will be a good choice for my family. I have three young kids that I am helping to teach at home and these kids need me more than anything.

Assessment

Over these past weeks I have enjoyed learning the basics of teaching and observing a real classroom setting. I feel like I have made a connection each week applying the material to what I am seeing.  I didn’t realize there was so much depth to teaching and that one lesson plan incorporates many different aspects of teaching. Each week as we learn a new concepts I am able to demonstrate that I understand.  I have articulated the subjects.  My blog needs more pictures and jokes to be interesting though. The questions asked for the blog posts are very relevant and it gives me a purpose of what to watch for each week in order to fill answer the questions completely. I can also reflect back on what I have learned. 

This blog has been a way for me to reflect on everything I have learned and easily pick up the topic again.  Almost like notes to review.  When I was asked to do my first post I had not actually attended a class yet but I had met my teacher and was familiar with the school.  If I was to write the post now the information would be the same.  Mostly the area that I have gained better knowledge and understanding is standardized testing.  I had heard a lot of negative things about it and was completely against common core and SAGE testing.  I now feel that it is not so bad.  It is not as much of a worry for me. Learning more details about the ranking system also allows me to reflect on the rating for the school I am attending.  I believe it has a lower score for the area because it is overcrowded and it is more diverse then the other schools in the area.  Also, they got a new principle this year so maybe the school rating will begin to get better.