I have seen several of these ideas used in the classroom to help students learn. Several ideas that were talked about in the video really stuck out to me, and are ideas that I will probably integrate into my own classroom one day. Deep Inquiry was one that stuck out to me. The first grade teacher in the video was talking about her students knew about all aspects of frogs, and not just frogs and some other animals because they took the time to study frogs in depth. I have seen this in our schools as well. The first graders at Goose Creek Primary spend several weeks studying the moon.Teacher Preparation was another aspect that stuck out to me. I think that it is very important future teachers as well as new teachers be adequately prepared for the classroom. I also agree with the getting perspective teachers into the classroom early into their education so that they can see what being in the classroom is really like. I think that it is important to continue observing and learning from other teachers even after you have your own classroom. Integrated studies really seems like it would help drive hope a subject and keep students especially in secondary grades interested in learning. In the video they integrated cars into 3 core subject areas: math, science, and language arts. It was one central theme that tied all those subject areas together this to me helps students see the relevance of why they are learning and why it is important.Technology integration is a big way that learning is taking place in the classroom today. If you walk into any classroom today you will see some form of technology. A big thing being used in the classroom right now is the SMARTboard. This allows teachers to create lessons that students can be involved in. All of the ideas given were valuable lessons that are good to have before walking into a classroom. I plan to put several of them to use once I get into my own classroom.

This video was very informational and influential. Not only did it help me answer some questions about the educational system, it also gave me some ideas on how I would want to conduct my class. Personally I think videos similar to this one are very effective for preparing student teachers to work in the field. As a student teacher myself, this video brought to my attention the things that teachers do every day that goes unacknowledged. For example the concept of educating the students intellectually is expected, and the teachers are frequently checked on to make sure the students are making progress. However strengthening the students emotionally is not apart the curriculum, so it goes unacknowledged even though some teachers do address the issue.
Another thing I observed in my practicum hours that the video commented on was parent involvement. The teacher that I observe relies a lot on her students’ parents and legal guardians to help her reinforce the lesson material and proper behavior in class. I can see now why it would be very hard and less effective to correctly run a school without constantly asking and encouraging the students’ guardians to get involved.
Teacher preparation is also an essential factor of achieving success in the classroom. Mrs. Harvey, the teacher I observed, constantly demonstrates the importance of organization. When in the classroom she first introduces the subject, next she explains the concepts that surrounded the subject, then she gives the class materials that reinforce the subject matter and finally she concludes the assignment my asking them questions. Her transitions between subjects are fast and when there is a time that a certain assignment cannot be done, she always has a alternative lesson plan. To me this how every classroom should be run.

This video was very informational and influential. Not only did it help me answer some questions about the educational system, it also gave me some ideas on how I would want to conduct my class. Personally I think videos similar to this one are very effective for preparing student teachers to work in the field. As a student teacher myself, this video brought to my attention the things that teachers do every day that goes unacknowledged. For example the concept of educating the students intellectually is expected, and the teachers are frequently checked on to make sure the students are making progress. However strengthening the students emotionally is not apart the curriculum, so it goes unacknowledged even though some teachers do address the issue.
Another thing I observed in my practicum hours that the video commented on was parent involvement. The teacher that I observe relies a lot on her students’ parents and legal guardians to help her reinforce the lesson material and proper behavior in class. I can see now why it would be very hard and less effective to correctly run a school without constantly asking and encouraging the students’ guardians to get involved.
Teacher preparation is also an essential factor of achieving success in the classroom. Mrs. Harvey, the teacher I observed, constantly demonstrates the importance of organization. When in the classroom she first introduces the subject, next she explains the concepts that surrounded the subject, then she gives the class materials that reinforce the subject matter and finally she concludes the assignment my asking them questions. Her transitions between subjects are fast and when there is a time that a certain assignment cannot be done, she always has a alternative lesson plan. To me this how every classroom should be run.

After watching this video, it made me reflect back on my years in school. It absolutely amazes me as an aspiring teacher seeing how far we’ve come. When they spoke about the projects and how students remember them more than things they should learn for a test, I remembered all the projects I had to do. I remembered my SC scrapbook, the volcano with the baking soda and vinegar, the solar system made out of paper mache and balloons, the science fair projects, etc. I had to invest a lot of time into each of those projects and I enjoyed them all for the most part. The technology used was never even heard of when I was in elementary and middle school, which was 15 to 20 years ago. We had a typewriting class in 5th grade at a private school that I attended! The use of computers is absolutely necessary now. We rely on technology so much in our lives. It also stood out to me with the parent and community involvement. I remember my mom having conferences with my teacher once in a blue moon, but usually if something was wrong. If my teacher came to my house and spoke with my parents about my education and what could be improved, it would’ve made a huge difference for everyone. I think that everyone could benefit from this type of involvement. It doesn’t necessarily mean to go door to door, but if there were situations in which that was the only option then absolutely. The community needs us just as much as we need it. It impressed me that CEOs and other mentors came in an interacted with the students. If the mayor or even firemen or policemen came in and read to students every now and then and spoke with them about their current learnings, its sure to stick out in their minds. Overall, I was very impressed with this video. It put things into perspective for me. I have a 3 year that will soon be in the school system and hopefully at the same time I will be starting my new career as an educator. In the next couple years, I’m sure things will be way more advanced, especially in the technology field, and I’m excited to see what’s to come.

“10 Big Ideas for Better Classrooms” brings to light how fun can be found in the classroom. I found the video to be very insightful and it provides a means for me, a future educator, to educate my students in more of a way than just beating them down with information they need for the end of the year standardized tests. Instead of forcing students to learn one way, why not incorporate things they enjoy doing into the curriculum to get them more interested in learning? Incorporating projects into the curriculum does just this. Giving students projects gives them the opportunity to solve problems, a real world experience since life is not a textbook that is going to provide the answers in the back of a book somewhere. Projects motivate student learning. Like the video said, projects are remembered. Projects and group work can challenge students, set up a means of competition and it helps them focus on their learning because it is something they enjoy doing! Incorporating technology into the curriculum is almost a must now that technology is present in almost every day real world jobs. Computers and other electronic devices, these are what our future generations are growing up with, what they will be working with once they are out of school. Getting them ready for that in the schools only better prepares them for their future but it also answers that question many students ask, “Why do I need to know this?” I am observing a high school history class now where the majority of the time the students copy notes from a Power Point presentation. The video demonstrates that turning a history lesson into a game show can spark students’ attention. I know from experience that sitting in a class, copying notes just to be memorized for a test will soon be forgotten after the test. A fun game of Jeopardy can easily help a student remember quick facts about history. I found the video to be a way to make education a way for students to truly learn. By incorporating fun projects and encouraging parent involvement, together the teacher, family and student work as a team to better that student overall and prepare them for the future ahead.

This is our future!