Positive Teachers=Positive Students

Teachers are students' role models. Students look up to us and if we have negative attitudes about ourselves and about them, they will in return develop the same attitude that we portray. I believe that being an optimistic person and believing in your students has a huge impact on them to academically succeed. Teachers must muST MUST have self-confidence and push students to reach their goals. Encouraging students to do well in school and providing them with positive feedback helps them strive to do their best. Many students do not receive the motivational push they need at home so it is the teachers' responsibility to provide that for each of them while in the classroom.

BLOGGER

I think that blogging is one of the best ways to get students engaged and interested in learning. I plan to use blogging in my future classrooms for communicating with not only my students but as well as my students' parents, other teachers and other schools around the country and around the world. With today's fast-growing technology,I believe it is crucial to get students interacting with computers and using the tools and opportunities that technology has to offer. Sooner or later, students will have to have knowledge with using online resources and other computer-related items. We might as well introduce it to them at an early age so they will be prepared and can stay up-to-date with technology. Blogging is a great way to get students involved. I can post unlimited amounts of information and activities for my students on a class blog. When students aren't at school, they usually get online at home and with a class blog, they have easy access to their academics while they can still have another tab open chatting with their friends or surfing the web. This makes learning fun and not seem as such a boring activity. Teachers and students can also learn what other schools and classes their age are doing in the classroom. Teachers can get ideas from others and use them in their classroom. Blogging is a fun and easy way to get students engaged in learning even when they are not inside the classroom.

Google Features

I have become well acquainted with iGoogle and all of the google features now and enjoy using it for many reasons. The google docs is useful for uploading and saving files and you don't have to worry about sending them to several different people because you have the option of posting them for others to come to your page and view them. IGoogle is also very helpful in how I can simply go to my iGoogle page and view all of my favorite sites and updates right there, without having to go to each site and see what has been added. It is a very convenient tool and I would recommend anyone to create one. The best quality about the google tools is that it is all free of charge. Anyone who wants to use it is able to. Google tools is great for students to use with how you can upload files, type papers, make presentations and communicate with others in doing so. Teachers should definitely take advantage of google tools and incorporate the program in the classroom.

ALEX

ALEX is a useful tool for teachers, students,parents or anyone interested in learning about the methods and materials the Alabama Learning Exchange entails. ALEX was created by the Alabama Department of Education and covers a wide range of activities, lesson plans and links for all of the academic subjects taught in Alabama schools. The helpful information provided through ALEX gives teachers the recommended resources and techniques to use for teaching their students and developing them into academically successful learners. ALEX also defines what skills a student of each grade level should have.

ALEX includes web links for teachers, administrators and students that pertain to any questions or facts they want to know about the Alabama Education System, how it works, and what exactly it consists of. Teachers can use this as a helpful source and backup checklist to make sure they are along the right track in teaching their students the needed material for that particular grade level. I believe ALEX is a great tool for teachers and I will definitely use it to my advantage when I become a teacher and encourage all teachers to do the same.

A Bit About Me & Thoughts on Teaching

My name is Brandee Moore and I am 22years old. I am majoring in Secondary Education in English and Language Arts at the University of South Alabama. I am a senior and plan to graduate within the next year. I am looking forward to becoming an effective teacher and helping students academically succeed. Teaching to me is more than just providing students with the material they are required to learn. Teachers are special people that place students as their main focus and strive in helping them reach their goals. We would not have doctors or scientists if it were not for teachers. In order to be an effective teacher, I believe it is crucial to get to know your students on an individual level and accumulate a strong relationship with each of them. Everyone knows SOMETHING and it is the teachers job to nurture each students' talents and compensate for their weaknesses. Teachers are role models for their students and the way in which you teach is an expression of yourself. I plan to be a positive role model for my future students and encourage each of them to reach for their goals because the sky is the limit. One of the many assets that come with being a teacher is that not only are you teaching, but you are learning at the same time. Teachers learn from students and when their students succeed, it is a feeling of satisfaction and reinforcement on the teachers behalf. I have always dreamed of becoming a teacher and being a great influence on peoples lives and I cannot wait to fulfill this dream of mine in the near future.