My Future in Teaching

Today's lab really made me start thinking about my future in teaching. I never really though about how isolated teachers are. Ira mentioned that the only time that you really interact with other adults is when you're in the cafeteria or when you connect with other educators online.
In the field of teaching, I am going to need a strong support system. When I look back on all of my previous jobs, the only ones that I enjoyed had strong support systems. Having support motivates me to do my best. When I feel alone, I am more likely to pursue another career. I am going to make more time to start reading blogs and trying to contribute to them. I also want to get involved in as many workshops and conferences as possible.

"The Hard Kids"

This assignment gave me a more in-depth understanding of the disorders that millions of people deal with on a daily basis. Students are placed in classrooms with "normal" students, and they have to try to learn at the same pace as the other students, all while dealing with their internal issues. Some people, like the 16-year-old boy with Aspberger's are able to cope with their disability, while others struggle with their disorder everyday. I believe that those who are comfortable with who they are have a strong support system in their lives.
Without today's advances in technology, I really don't know how some students would be able to keep up in class. They would not have assistive technologies like text-to-speech software and laptops to help make their lessons easier. They would not have the proper medication to help them keep things under control. I could not imagine having a learning disability in the 50's or the 60's. In addition to the lack of technology, some disabilities were not yet named/defined so no one knew how to help people with these disabilities. Thanks to advances in technology, people with disabilities have a better chance at living a normal life and being included in regular classrooms.

Google Docs

I am really enjoying learing how to use Google Docs. I've had a gmail account for years, and I was not aware of all the cool features. It is very convenient to be able to share documents and presentations and create forms for surveys. I think that learning how to use Google sites is very helpful for working in groups, and it makes you more advantageous as a teacher. It gives your students a lot more options for group work, and helps those students who are unable to attend class. It is also eco-friendly because you do not have to use paper.