3.1415.........

So I am not even sure how I came across this but think it crazy. This 12 year old kid memorized pi to 340 decimal places. To be honest I had to look up what came after 3.14 because I didnt even know to three decimal places. Here is the link : http://www.kcci.com/r/25845894/detail.html

"Why Johnny Can't Disobey"

So this article does bring up a very good point in that maybe students that are too obedient in schools can be a problem. Most people tend to follow other and do what they are told even if it is "wrong". This was proven in the experiment performed at Yale where most people did shock others because they were told to do so even though it brought harm to others. I do think this is article is a little out there. If being too obedient in the classroom is a problem then I think the teacher needs to be evaluated on what they are teaching because as long as they are teaching appropriate things then there shouldn't be anything wrong with a student being too obedient. However as teachers I think we should give these kind of students more freedom that way they can make decisions on their own and are not so dependent on doing exactly what they are told. I think personally that most people would be able to make a better decision between right and wrong rather than just doing something because they were following someone such as a leader of a cult especially since people are more knowledgeable on the past situations that have occurred such as the Holocaust and Jonestown.

Other Classes and Scheduling

Abstract Algebra
So I feel accomplished that I have a B in Abstract Algebra and I feel like I might somehow someway be making progress in that class but it is very difficult. A B is plenty good for me in that class so I hope I can maintain it because I have an 83% and that is the lowest B you can have.

ME 320
Did you ask your cooperating teacher about interviewing a student? I understand what we are supposed to do and what it is for but don't really understand how it will truly benefit us. We were once students so we know how it feels if we are understanding the material or not understanding the material and our reactions to it. So I guess it hard for me to see why exactly we need to interview a student but o well maybe it will have some benefits to it.

Scheduling
So I think I have my schedule all figured out and hopefully get into all the classes I want to. I am still unsure about a couple of classes of what I am going to take. What time are you going to take 372? I forget what time Mary said she was going to.

My First Actual Lesson!

So I am going to be teaching my actual first lesson next Thursday and I am kind of nervous already. I have not even come close to teaching a whole class before. It works out great because the day before I teach they will take the chapter test so I will be starting a brand new chapter for them! I will be teaching one step equations so it is a very basic concept and think the students will be able to pick up on it pretty easily so that will make my job easier but we will see. I really hope I do a good job and that my cooperating teacher thinks I will be a good teacher and not completely screw it up. I am excited but really nervous so wish me luck!

How would you change/adapt the internet?

The internet can be such a powerful tool but can be strongly abused. There are so many things on the internet and people tend to abuse the power that is given to them via the internet. I think there should be restrictions of what people can do on the internet such as posting things. I think that more monitoring on the internet should emphasized especially for students in school. So many times we here about people searching different things on the internet that is illegal and harms people but people get away with it such as how to do different things. I think more emphasize should be placed on monitoring internet usage. I know this would be an extremely difficult task but I think we can do a better job than what is happening now.

Bullying Evaluation

Before listening, have students define bullying in their own words and fill in Cause and Effect graphic organizer as to what they think are causes of bullying and effects of bullying.
During listening, note statistics that interest them and continue to fill out Cause and Effect chart--make changes to what they have already predicted.
After listening, reflect on bullying and complete Cause and Effect chart and share with the class.

For evaluation, have students complete a 1 page journal entry on how bullying has influenced them if at all, and how they can be a part of the solution to the bullying problem. Share with a partner and have each partner give feedback to each other's ideas. Hand in to teacher and have teacher also give feedback! Completion and understanding points!!! 

Kourtney & Chris

Finally I Got to Go to the Schools this Semester!

So I had my first field placement yesterday morning at West Branch High School. It is a very nice school and reminds me of my high school except bigger and is very similar to Minerva in my opinion. My cooperating teacher is Mr. Alazaus and he is a really good teacher and is a huge technology buff. He uses the smart board for everything and I feel like I am going to learn a lot from him. He has this notepad that he uses for the smartboard so he can sit in the back of the class to teach and to also monitor the classroom. He jokes around with his students and has a good relationship with them which is what I want to have in my classroom. I am in a wide range of classes so I get a good variety. I am in an Algebra 2 class, basic algebra, and geometry. I am really nervous though to teach for the first time in an actual classroom but am glad I have well behaved students.