Hello there English 495ESM! Are you ready to rock?! I am Alexandra Hohmann, but you can call me Alex. Like most of the class, I too am a graduating senior. I love to laugh and make people laugh. I am really into musical theater, and nothing is better for me than watching a live performance. About half of my iPod is full of showtunes, and my favorite musicals are Little Shop of Horrors, RENT and Wicked. Besides Broadway songs, I love the pop and rock genres and I really dig The Killers and Muse. I watch entirely too much TV (thank goodness for DVR technology!) and I just discovered this hilarious cartoon, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Trippy stuff for a kid's show!
I'm eager to get out of school and get into the job market, doing what I want to do. However, I haven't had that much experience in a classroom (other than observation hours), so I'm a little wary of actually conducting the class when the day comes. But I am willing to meet challenges head on, and I'm looking forward to being in charge, and trying to get through to the students.
I have always been good at English/the liberal arts in school, so naturally I want my career to reflect my strengths. I also have several relatives who are teachers and professors of all different kinds of subjects--French, English/history, mechanical engineering. My aunt, who teaches eighth grade, was always interested in what I was doing in my classes. Now that I am older, I have someone I can speak with about my teaching career and what works and doesn't work in the classroom.
As for technology in the classroom, I am all for it (I consider myself to be tech-savvy). However, I think it's important for technology to help the students, not hinder them; I would hope the teacher knows how to use PowerPoint/Blogger/etc. properly so that it's not distracting or improperly time consuming. I have had few teachers over the years who know how to correctly use PowerPoint, but when it is done right, it is very effective. Because of my generation growing up with all of this technology available to us, I would certainly use it in the classroom to further the lesson. I also like the idea of what we are doing now, using a blog as a part of the class.
Alrightly, well hopefully my novel wasn't too boring to read, haha. I look forward to getting to know everyone, especially since many of us also have theater together. See you in class!
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I, too, am excited to graduate and begin working! On the other hand, my excitement is companied by worry! I'm right along with you when you say that you have not had much experience in the classroom. I hope to get a part time teacher assistant position before I begin teaching so I will be better prepared when it is my turn to be the head of the class! Perhaps you can volunteer at a local school to get you comfortable with teaching in front of a class.
ReplyDeleteWish you luck with school and your career.
*waves back*
ReplyDeleteI am also eager to get into the job market and get started with my career! That is why I made a commitment to the FYI program all the way back in freshman year.
When you said "conducting class" I thought of an orchestra. This is an interesting image to use with teaching. There are many different sections to the class, and it is up to you, as the teacher, to hold them all together and work together toward the common (and individual) goals.
I know that you are a bit timid thinking about when you will take the plunge and step in front of a class for the first time, but you will be fine! Let me tell you this now though. You will mess up - a lot! This is perfectly fine though, because just like your students you will make errors as you learn. Just do not let it discourage you!
Hey Alex! I am glad to have you in another class! I totally agree about being a little wary in conducting class. I know I have heard horror stories of the first year of instruction. I guess it is hard because you have to find out what works and what doesn’t. We all learn by experience and we are bound to make mistakes along the way. Luckily, I feel that small classes like these help us create contacts. Almost everyone in class is going to become an English teacher and we can rely on each other. I know everyone is eager to help out just because we would appreciate the help ourselves! I am looking forward to meeting everyone.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have relatives that are teachers! I am sure they answer many of the questions you might have and provide great insight into the profession. I have no one in my family that I can look to for advice because I am the first to go to college and graduate. I have great friends that have already graduated and have gone through what I am experiencing and try their best to help as much as possible. I enjoyed reading your blog and hope to see you in class soon!
Hey Alex!
ReplyDeleteI think finding a way to match your interests and your career is always the way to success. A lot of people sacrifice that which truly makes them happy for money . . . and I don’t think there’s a teacher in the world that could be accused of that! The very cool thing is that your other interests, like musical theater, can easily become a part of your curriculum and add another dimension to a novel, play or short story. Cartoons can be used, too! I fully intend on adding Simpsons episodes to my repertoire.
And as far as technology goes . . . I’ve had teachers that use technology really well, and I’ve had teachers that used it to their detriment. We’ve all had those teachers that spent a half hour fiddling with buttons and settings (or begging the students to save their sorry butts) and never got to the actual teaching. Let us all commit to learning about relevant technology BEFORE we use it in class. :)