Image editing can be a fun thing but, at the same time it can be damaging if left in the wrong hands. With programs like photoshop, it can ruin someones career or reputation. With photshop you can literally place someone in a photo that was not originally in the photo. So, if they place you in an incriminating photo...it's safe to assume that can cause a lot of trouble. You can see all of the evils with photoshop in ads. Celebrities can appear shades lighter or darker, they can appear like they have the smallest waist in the world, or they can even have one leg or arm! How can anyone miss something like or think it is believable?!! But...I am not trying to bash image editing totally. It can be fun and it can be very helpful when you are trying to print out pictures. For instance, you can remove blemishes, red eyes, people for that matter. You can enhance the photos and add make-up to people in the pictures. I would like to believe that most people use image editing for the great good...like me! lol! We all know that we always have our "Dr. Evil" out there causing ruckus though. To conclude, I love image editing and I use it often. I have a lot of fun with it and I think you will too.
Here is a great site that has a lot of image editing tools for free...you can choose to upgrade with a small price, but the free version works wonders...www.picnik.com
Team teaching can be defined as two or more teachers working together to perform the necessary duties and activities in the classroom.There can be two different types of team teaching: two or more teachers are in the same classroom and teaching the students at the same time, or the teachers work together in the same classroom but do not necessarily teach at the same time or work with the same students. Team teaching can also be referred to as a group of teachers that work in the same "pod" but, teach their own perspective subjects to the same group of students.
Working with a team would definitely provide some advantages.It gives the involved team teachers a supportive environment and allows for development of new teaching approaches.This combined teaching plan will allow the teachers to observe each other and enhance skills such as organization, communication, and even planning skills.They will be able to learn new methods of teaching from each other.With team teaching, discipline may also be controlled easier.Communication with other colleagues may also be enhanced because with team teaching you can work on that everyday, others may not be able to get that much practice.For the students, team teaching can allow them to develop cooperation skills.Students can be exposed to different methods of getting one thing done.This will allow them to understand that there is more than one way to get things done effectively, rather than only one way.Additionally, this can be helpful because every student is not the same and one method could be perfect for one and awful for another.Lastly, students will be able to observe the teachers cooperating and behaving positively together, and then the students will exhibit those same behaviors with their peers.
With every advantage, there are disadvantages.With team teaching, the teachers could disagree so much that it could cause problems.The teachers could disagree on things such as assignments, methods of teaching, and even disciplinary methods. This could lead to the loss of time needed for instruction and time spent with the students.The teachers might undermine each other which could cause a negative vibe in the classroom.The students may be able to pick up on the teachers’ negative vibes and they too will become negative. Team teaching can also cause confusion with the students.Too many methods and ideas can be confusion with students that need some kind of organization and order in the classroom.Finally, students might try to get over on the teachers.They might try to get one teacher to do one thing that they know the other will not let them do, such as turning in assignments late or changing a grade.
In conclusion, team teaching can be a positive thing if the teachers involved are willing to work together and all have a common goal.Things will only go array if the teachers do not communicate and are not willing to get along.I think team teaching is a method that should be given ample opportunity to thrive.
My philosophy of education is every student should have an equal opportunity to learn, no matter their situation or what their disabilities are. I don’t think anyone should be stiffened when it comes to getting an education. I want to be a teacher because I like to help people and helping students to learn exudes that notion. Helping students achieve their goals and making students want to know more will be very gratifying. Special needs students have goals they want to meet also and they should be given the same opportunities as “regular” students. I know that every child is unique and that every child has their own way to learn. I think every student should be given all the information needed to learn the tasks at hand. I don’t believe people should use stereotypes when it comes to teaching children. If someone says that a particular student can’t do a certain task, I will make it my duty to help that student learn that task. I think every child is capable of learning when given the right materials and the right guidance. As a teacher, I will make it my duty to make sure every student learns and is given that opportunity to learn. It would be a blessing to be a part of the students’ lives and it would be great to help them change their lives. Every student deserves a fair chance and equal education.
What makes a successful middle school teacher?Well...in my opinion, in order to be a successful middle school teacher, you will have to possess many traits and incorporate them all together.Just having one trait will not do, all of them have to be combined together.
First, the teacher has to have a love for teaching, educating students, and the well-being of the students.If the teacher only took this job for a pay check or because they thought it was easy, this job will not work for them.The teacher has to be enthused and be able to motivate and get the students to be enthusiastic as well.The students will be able to detect if the teacher really does not care for them and the students will not want to perform as well.I feel the teacher should come in everyday excited about the lesson at hand.Additionally, the teachers should want the students leaving their class excited and informed on what they learned that day.
Next, I think a teacher should possess cooperation.The teacher should be able to cooperate with other teachers and their students.If the teacher is working on a team, I think it is very important to have cooperation skills especially, if collaboration is involved.The teachers should also know how to cooperate with their students.I think if the teachers does not let their students take part in rule making processes or grading rubrics, they are headed toward disaster. I think students are more inclined to meet goals if they helped to make them. Of course, this is my opinion and a number of people will disagree but, I feel this is necessary.
A teacher will also have to provide variety.The teacher will have to provide variety as far as teaching methods.All students do not learn the same and a varied instructional method would take care of this. A varied instructional method will allow each student to be accommodated and no student will be left out on the educational train. On the other hand, if students did all learn the same way, a varied instruction would still be useful. It will prevent boredom and give students something to look forward to each day.A teacher with variety will help students learn in the best way possible.
Finally, a teacher must have a level of professionalism.Professionalism will permit the teacher from crossing any lines that could jeopardize their job.The teacher must be professional with students and other faculty members.A teacher must also dress professional and not wear anything provocative.When a teacher possesses professionalism, it does not mean that they cannot be nice or likable teachers, it just means that the teacher-student relationship is just that, a teacher-student relationship.A teacher can be professional and still genuinely care for the students’ education and well-being.
In order to be a successful teacher, one must posses all of these attributes. In my opinion, having all of these characteristics will allow for the best student achievement rate.To conclude, it will allow for the best teachers all around.
In today’s society, students have to deal with many things. There are many dangers in our schools today, many more than in previous years. Students have to deal with things such as peer pressure, drugs, and violence. Along with these issues, students have to worry about maintaining good grades.
Peer pressure is something that is having a major effect on our students today. There are so many pressures they have to deal with, on top of everyday stresses. Children can be controlling and vindictive. Some students pressure other students to do what they want to do. Some students feel obligated, just to fit in or be popular. Some students are ridiculed for not giving in to the pressures and they sometimes can become an outcast. Peer pressure can have a dangerous effect on a child. Some children can even go as far as suicide. We should help students know that it is okay to be themselves and, do what they want to do and not succumb to the pressures.
Drugs are more commonly used among students today. This is a major social problem in our schools today. Most students even get the drugs from another student at school. Students may feel cool when they use particular drugs, so they continue to use them. Some students smoke or use drugs just because their friends do it. They can even find products at home that they can use to vandalize their bodies. Huffing is becoming more frequent and causing too many early deaths. Parents and students need to be aware of the harmful effects and what products are at fault. These items include but, are not limited to spray dusters for keyboards or any aerosol can.
Violence is another prevalent issue in our schools today. Students have resorted to violence to solve problems. Students feel like they need to defend themselves when someone may be making fun of them. On the other hand, some students use force or violence to get what they want. Violence in schools makes it dangerous for everyone, not just the ones involved in the violent acts. Students need to resort to other ways to solve problems and issues they may have. It is possible they are mimicking what they see at home or t.v. but, that is no excuse for the cycle to continue.
These are some social problems some schools have to face...just to name a few. They are serious problems for our schools and students. Parents, guardians, teachers, and counselors need to talk to students and be available to talk about issues they may have. Hopefully, being available and these talks with help students resort to different solutions that aren’t harmful. Additionally, students will be confident in themselves and will not give in to peer pressures.
I read an excerpt from the book Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath.It was a very interesting read and it drew me right in from the beginning. It started out with the urban legend of the kidney theft.It’s about a man who is bought a drink at bar by an attractive lady and the next then he knows is he is in a bathtub of ice with a tube protruding from his back. I’m sure many of you have heard some version of this story and like me, when I began to read it, I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen to that poor man.The question at hand is: What makes us remember this story?What makes us remember any urban legend or old wives tale?The book Made to Stick explores these questions and comes up with a solution for people to apply to every story or idea.
As a teacher it is important to get the material to “stick” with the students.As a boss it is important to get ideas to “stick” with employees.What can be done to make sure that any idea “stick” with the audience at hand?The Heath brothers have come up with a “formula” for this and it can be displayed in the acronym S.U.C.C.E.S.s…simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions, and stories.They believe if you apply all of these principles to any point you are trying to get across then, the idea will “stick”.
I agree with the Heath brothers and I was very enlightened after I read the small excerpt.They explained simplicity by using the golden rule.Everyone can remember that so, if we could sum our point in a simpler form, the more it will stay with our audience. To explain unexpectedness they then go in to say “we need to violate people’s expectations.”I think that means we need to do or create things that will surprise readers, and allow that idea or fact to remain in their memory because it was so unexpected.Our ideas have to be concrete; they have to be something that we can actually see or believe…which runs into the credibility of the idea.One of the most important principles, in my opinion, is to evoke emotion.Emotion is one of the strongest things that can connect someone to an idea and I truly believe it can leave a lasting impression.And lastly, stories are described as a “mental flight simulator, preparing us to respond more quickly and effectively.”
I think Made to Stick was a great read and it definitely made a lasting impression on me.I will also, without doubt, try the “formula” that Chip and Dan Heath have described in their book.I think it will be very successful and the ideas will “stick” with the audience.
