Chapter 1: The Joys of Teaching-joyfull and not so joyfull facts!

Joyful facts


*I enjoyed reading about strategies Michelle Clarke and another teacher used to help fourth graders with and without disabilities work together. I feel that this is a very good lesson that more children should learn when they are young. That way when they get older, they will not treat disabled students as harshly.

*I am happy that traditional undergraduate programs (like UMF) offer students so much time in the class room. I get really nervous when I think of myself teaching a class alone. I do not feel that I have anywhere near enough knowledge to successively teach high school students. My hope is that working under supervision in the class room will gradually bring my confidence level up.

*The book suggests keeping a ‘portfolio’ of all my best work during the next few years. I find this to be very exciting and joyous. I love to take work that I feel proud of and put it all together in one safe place. This also helps me look back on key points (major concepts) and perhaps relearn that information again.


Not so joyful facts

*Teaching jobs can be difficult to find, I may have to travel to another part of the U.S. to find a school where I can start teaching English. I know that I want to stay and teach in Maine very badly, especially in a small town. I find it disappointing that it may be difficult for me to get a teaching position, if I find a certain neighborhood where I really want to live.

*I find it not so joyful that some teachers get paid so little. I know I will never be rich, I never want to be, but there are certain things that I want to do in life like buy horses and own land around my house. I know that it will be challenging for me to accomplish these goals with a small pay check and assuming I have a family.

*I do not like how this first chapter talks about so many tests. I am not very good at tests, especially timed tests. The Licensure test sounds very difficult to pass and I hate to think of what will happen if I do not pass it, or any other important tests.