You should come by Brewsters some Saturday and get your furry animal fix there. The rescue group I work with is usually there from 11-3 and we are always in need of people just to play with puppies, walk dogs around, etc.
Here's a question I have for you - what have you learned from your experiences teaching at Early College?
I would love to come to the Saturday event! I should have some free Saturdays coming up this semester soon! It's so stress relieving to play with an animal, especially puppies!
On to the question though, so far in the Early College program, I have learned that not every student learns in the same manner. Actually, each student learns at a completely different pace and in a completely different method, so you have to appeal to all of them. Make lesson plans diverse. Have an oral example, write things on the board, and at some point have a hands on activity. you MUST make students take notes. Requiring them to take notes allows all three methods to coincide at one point. They have to use their eyes, ears, and hands on activity and it also distracts their attention span and keeps them more focused. I have found that when my students take notes, not only are they more attentive to my lesson, but they also grasp the lesson with a better understanding.
Also, when students are doing their work independently, don't just sit back at your desk, walk aruond and see if they need help. Most of the time the students are seeking your attention and help, but don't know how to ask for it.
Some students need that direct one-on-one attention in order to grasp the assignments completely. so try to make it a point to sit down with them. about 5 to 7 minutes per studnet is the perfect alloted time.
Videos can go both positively and negatively. So keep them short. Usually 3 minutes is the max I have found out in my class. But it's best if you really don't use them that often.
The most important thing I have learned though at Early College though, is that students need encouragement. I know that seems like a "duh" statement, but you'd be surprised how the attitudes these students get from each other. But encouragement and constructive criticism is the best method. It establishes that connection and makes the students more trusting. If you are not encouraging, you will not be a reliable source of trust to students.
Along with encouragement though, I have learned (the hard way) to NOT be the kids' friend. You are the teacher. That doesn't mean you need to be a stick in the mud, but don't let th elines blur of your authority. Because if you go in being all buddy-buddy, you will automatically lose that respect and the kids will think that they can run all over you. So go ahead and establish that authorative figure. Set the rules, enforce them, if you say two strikes and you are out (or to the office) then see through it. If you don't, the kids will think they can get away with a lot. I learned that the HARD way. And yes, it will probably break your heart to do it, but you can't back down. As I've been told, by the next day, they love you all over again as if nothing happened.
That's about it for now, I still have a few weeks left so I will update once the semester ends and I have cried all my tears.
Your autobiography got me thinking about musicians and how important it is for them to be creative writers...so my question is have you ever combined your love of music and writing into song writing? If so what was the outcome?
Danielle I love that you sing Disney songs when you are happy,when I'm having an especially good day I like to sing "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah." What is the novel you are writing now about?
In your opinion, what are the best fitting men's jeans that American Eagle sells? Also, from reading about what kind of stories you write, are you a Twilight fan?
Amber, yes actually, I HAVE attempted song writing and failed miserably. But I will go ahead and say, that I incorporate music into a LOT of my lesson plans at Early College. I am inspired tremendously by movie scores (Hans Zimmer is my favorite. But I actually take the meoldies of songs and re-write words to them to incorporate with lessons. Like once I took lyrics about writing essays and put them to "Under the Sea" so yes, it's definitely something I attempt :)
to Katherine and Erin, i do not mind sharing about my capstone at all. I am quite proud of it. My capstone is about these three brothers who I have had created since I was in the 5th grade. See, my mom couldn't have anymore kids after my sister, so i created these three imaginary brothers of mine, who eventually became my muses, and i am now writing their story. So its a story about discovering brotherhood amongst the hardships in life and how far brothers will go to protect each other and how strong a bond of brotherhood is. I can honestly say it's my masterpiece, and by the time I am done, I hope it will be at least 200 pages!
Jonathan, I am NOT a Twilight fan. Twilight is a disgrace to the literature world. Just so we clear that air :)
As for American Eagle men's jeans, I have to say that my FAVORITE style is the Low Rise Bootcut Signature Stitch Dark Resin wash. It's a beautiful dark wash and the signature stitch is a great detail. Also, the denim is the softests and the lowrise boot usually gives men that "leaner and longer" look that a lot of them want. and they go with any shoes!
YES I AM A GLEE FAN. I LOVE Glee! it is quite possibly one of my favorite shows ever. But the story line of season 2 has thrown me off quite a bit...I'm trying to get used to it.
as for my favroite musical, it's a tie between many. I've seen Cinderella, Spamalot, Annie, Phantom, and Beauty and the Beast. But i still love Spring Awakening, Wicked, The Lion King, and the Little Mermaid musicals of what I've seen of them.
I saw Phantom and loved it, love the story line, but the love the book more than the musical. So my favorite musical as of today is Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was breathtaking and if I could see it again on actual broadway i would. the fox theatre just could not do it complete justice I'm sure!
Danielle: I wish you the best with all your creative goals. When you say you wrote with your best friends, are all the works collaborative? If so, that's really cool. I don't know if I could even open up to anyone enough to do that. What are the pros and cons of collaborating with someone creatively like that (and for so long)?
Nicholas: Yes actually, the works are collaborative! They are mainly just for fun, but my best friend and I create our own characters and add a few in from tv shows or games that we like and just make up random plots. It's mainly to help us get our own creative juices flowing, but it certainly helps! And there are pros and cons, the pros are that it is a great way to make sure that you write every day and it helps me think of ideas for my own storylines and works. The cons, if one or the other person gets too busy, we fall behind on writing and leave the other hanging, and sometimes we want don't want to stop writing in our story to work on our own stuff and it causes procrastination! haha, but its an easy fix!
Marina: As far as LITERATURE goes, I like anything into the suspense and fiction genre. My favorite author is Ted Dekker, who is amazing. But I also read lots of juvenile fiction still like S.E. Hinton. I just like the writing style cause that is how i want to write one day. Apart from fiction though, i LOVE ghost stories. I grew up reading Mary Downing Hahn and she wrote so many ghost stories. So i like a good thriller every now and then. and when i'm not reading those, I have a secret adoration for the Inferno. my copy is color coded. But it's my favorite ACTUAL literary work that I have studied in school. that and Heart of Darkness and the Awakening, have my heart :)
Our senior years at GCSU seem so similar.. Early College and Capstone stress. How is your capstone class going? It's getting pretty close to presentation time--are you nervous? (Don't be!)
I am actually NOT nervous about performing. I don't have anxiety when it comes to reading or singing in front of people or giving speeches. Now presentations, that is COMPLETELY different, haha! But I am really excited to be presenting it, because I love my capstone. It's the most fun I've ever had writing! So all in all it's going well. I'm about 100 pages in out of hte 60 I'm supposed to have for my fiction requirement (yeah i go overboard), and I have about 100 more pages to go. I truly hope this becomes my first novel!
but yes, it is extremely stressful right now...but nothing I can't handle :)
Hey Danielle, Sometimes I do the singing thing too, usually if there is a song in the background, like over a speaker in a store I will catch myself mindlessly singing along. Also, you're title is from my favorite Disney movie as a kid. I wanted to ask you two things. One, being so religious and from Dacula did you attend Hebron? Also I was wondering, with all your experience in teaching why did you choose to teach high school? What appealed to you about the high school age group. That was more like three questions but the last two are really one in the same. ~Rose
Ah, Hebron. My family went there for a while. Place was insanely big. I do not know where they go now.
Danielle: Follow up question. Will you go shopping with me and Kelly one weekend to find her that perfect pair of jeans? You can get self-satisfaction out of doing it and I can leave the store with a significant other who is not empty-handed and dejected.
She used to frequent American Eagle all the time, but these days, she claims that stores only have skinny jeans and that even their regular jeans seem like they are "skinny" now. So...yeah...when you get that store, if you could just bring it up to the CEO's attention. Thanks.
She will probably ask you to also find me a new wardrobe in the process. Ignore that request. Every Christmas, I get an ugly plaid shirt from a distant relative, a pullover, and some khaki pants. They serve the purpose.
beauty and the beast is one of my favorite disney movies ever. It's not my FAVORITE, but it comes in i think about third or fourth. Lion King is my favorite :)
As for Hebron, I did NOT attend Hebron. Actually, I did everything in my power to AVOID it. I went to North Metro First Baptist Church and still go every now and then. I like to "church hop" cause lately i consider myself non-denominational. But Hebron was way too big for my taste in high school and EVERYONE went there. Drove me nuts, haha.
In regards to your questions about High School. I want to teach high school because that is where I was most influenced and encouraged in my career path and in my writing. I had a teacher who read my novel and edited it for me, another who nominated me for an award, and just all around loved my english teachers. They encouraged me to "read between the lines" and that no student should really ever be given up on.
I love a challenge and I know that high school students are one. Now, if i could, I'd teach pre-K for the rest of my life, but I didn't want to major in Early Childhood, so I chose highschool because I feel that at that age, the teachers really make a difference. High schoolers are practically the next generation and the teachers are supposed to be a great impact. Sure they are probably going to be difficult, but that is why i want to work with them, because I want them to have someone to connect with and I feel that at that age, communication and connection is essential. Plus, I want to teach higher literature SO bad like Dante's Inferno and The Awakening and make these kids REALLY look beyond the words on the page!
If I can bring my boyfriend along then I'll be happy to help you pick out jeans with Kelley! (I bring Rob - my boyfriend - on most of my shopping trips - he is awesome like that)
And so you can tell Kelley, the next time she goes into an American Eagle, tell her to try on the Slim Boot and Favorite Boyfriend jeans. They are not the skinny style anymore. They are comfortable and a boot leg kind of jean. And have a nice 18-20 inch flare so it's not too big. Boyfriend jeans are a little baggy, but they are really comfortable and look great and Slim boot is the most versatile jean in the whole store!
but when i do own my own store, i will definitely make sure to tell the CEO to knock it off with the skinny. they won't be in style forever anyways.
anymore questions on jeans and just ask! That's why I'm a jean expert. I could tell you the inseam on each jean and all the details that make each wash different. It's a gift and curse really. I can't go jean shopping anymore without being meticulous.
So I worked at American Eagle at the MoG during my senior year of high school and I only laster during the holiday season. ha. Do you think people should work in either retail or the food industry to have an appreciation for the people who help us in customer service??...I was always told that I should have at least one job in food industry to learn respect for when we are on the shopping/dining out side
You mentioned that some students are discouraged by the way the world percieves them. How do you encourage them to become inspired to take an active interest in their education?
I've actually heard opposite and have heard that you should at least work one retail job in life. I have heard horror stories about food industries, but working in retail is no walk in the park either, especially at a high maintenance store like the AE at the MoG. But it's definitely worth the experience. You meet and deal with the biggest diversity of people and you gain so much appreciation for what people in retail of ANY kind do. I actually fold and put away the clothes in other stores as if I were an employee. So one OR the other would give someone an insight to see just what the "real" world is like. I will miss the AE when i have to leave this summer to start the MAT.
with this past year, I've really encouraged my students to kinda "go crazy" with their creativity and to really write whatever inspires them (provided there are some guidelines). That truly helped out a lot with allowing them to "get out of their shell." But I also find that encouraging them to share with the class (and sometimes even making it mandatory once in a while) actually helps boost their confidence. When my students have read outloud and received positive feedback from their peers, they have wanted to improve or learn more. So I have learned really that the more you encourage and give them that little nudge out of their comfort zone, it really makes an impact.
You should come by Brewsters some Saturday and get your furry animal fix there. The rescue group I work with is usually there from 11-3 and we are always in need of people just to play with puppies, walk dogs around, etc.
ReplyDeleteHere's a question I have for you - what have you learned from your experiences teaching at Early College?
I would love to come to the Saturday event! I should have some free Saturdays coming up this semester soon! It's so stress relieving to play with an animal, especially puppies!
ReplyDeleteOn to the question though, so far in the Early College program, I have learned that not every student learns in the same manner. Actually, each student learns at a completely different pace and in a completely different method, so you have to appeal to all of them. Make lesson plans diverse. Have an oral example, write things on the board, and at some point have a hands on activity. you MUST make students take notes. Requiring them to take notes allows all three methods to coincide at one point. They have to use their eyes, ears, and hands on activity and it also distracts their attention span and keeps them more focused. I have found that when my students take notes, not only are they more attentive to my lesson, but they also grasp the lesson with a better understanding.
Also, when students are doing their work independently, don't just sit back at your desk, walk aruond and see if they need help. Most of the time the students are seeking your attention and help, but don't know how to ask for it.
Some students need that direct one-on-one attention in order to grasp the assignments completely. so try to make it a point to sit down with them. about 5 to 7 minutes per studnet is the perfect alloted time.
Videos can go both positively and negatively. So keep them short. Usually 3 minutes is the max I have found out in my class. But it's best if you really don't use them that often.
The most important thing I have learned though at Early College though, is that students need encouragement. I know that seems like a "duh" statement, but you'd be surprised how the attitudes these students get from each other. But encouragement and constructive criticism is the best method. It establishes that connection and makes the students more trusting. If you are not encouraging, you will not be a reliable source of trust to students.
Along with encouragement though, I have learned (the hard way) to NOT be the kids' friend. You are the teacher. That doesn't mean you need to be a stick in the mud, but don't let th elines blur of your authority. Because if you go in being all buddy-buddy, you will automatically lose that respect and the kids will think that they can run all over you. So go ahead and establish that authorative figure. Set the rules, enforce them, if you say two strikes and you are out (or to the office) then see through it. If you don't, the kids will think they can get away with a lot. I learned that the HARD way. And yes, it will probably break your heart to do it, but you can't back down. As I've been told, by the next day, they love you all over again as if nothing happened.
That's about it for now, I still have a few weeks left so I will update once the semester ends and I have cried all my tears.
Your autobiography got me thinking about musicians and how important it is for them to be creative writers...so my question is have you ever combined your love of music and writing into song writing? If so what was the outcome?
ReplyDeleteDanielle I love that you sing Disney songs when you are happy,when I'm having an especially good day I like to sing "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah." What is the novel you are writing now about?
ReplyDeleteIn your opinion, what are the best fitting men's jeans that American Eagle sells? Also, from reading about what kind of stories you write, are you a Twilight fan?
ReplyDeleteYou may not be ready to share, but I would love to hear about your capstone project. What is the novel about?
ReplyDeleteYou say you're a songbird. What's your favorite musical? I'll assume you're a Glee fan?
ReplyDeleteAmber, yes actually, I HAVE attempted song writing and failed miserably. But I will go ahead and say, that I incorporate music into a LOT of my lesson plans at Early College. I am inspired tremendously by movie scores (Hans Zimmer is my favorite. But I actually take the meoldies of songs and re-write words to them to incorporate with lessons. Like once I took lyrics about writing essays and put them to "Under the Sea" so yes, it's definitely something I attempt :)
ReplyDeleteto Katherine and Erin, i do not mind sharing about my capstone at all. I am quite proud of it. My capstone is about these three brothers who I have had created since I was in the 5th grade. See, my mom couldn't have anymore kids after my sister, so i created these three imaginary brothers of mine, who eventually became my muses, and i am now writing their story. So its a story about discovering brotherhood amongst the hardships in life and how far brothers will go to protect each other and how strong a bond of brotherhood is. I can honestly say it's my masterpiece, and by the time I am done, I hope it will be at least 200 pages!
ReplyDeleteJonathan, I am NOT a Twilight fan. Twilight is a disgrace to the literature world. Just so we clear that air :)
ReplyDeleteAs for American Eagle men's jeans, I have to say that my FAVORITE style is the Low Rise Bootcut Signature Stitch Dark Resin wash. It's a beautiful dark wash and the signature stitch is a great detail. Also, the denim is the softests and the lowrise boot usually gives men that "leaner and longer" look that a lot of them want. and they go with any shoes!
Abigail
ReplyDeleteYES I AM A GLEE FAN. I LOVE Glee! it is quite possibly one of my favorite shows ever. But the story line of season 2 has thrown me off quite a bit...I'm trying to get used to it.
as for my favroite musical, it's a tie between many. I've seen Cinderella, Spamalot, Annie, Phantom, and Beauty and the Beast. But i still love Spring Awakening, Wicked, The Lion King, and the Little Mermaid musicals of what I've seen of them.
I saw Phantom and loved it, love the story line, but the love the book more than the musical. So my favorite musical as of today is Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was breathtaking and if I could see it again on actual broadway i would. the fox theatre just could not do it complete justice I'm sure!
Danielle:
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best with all your creative goals. When you say you wrote with your best friends, are all the works collaborative? If so, that's really cool. I don't know if I could even open up to anyone enough to do that. What are the pros and cons of collaborating with someone creatively like that (and for so long)?
Hey Danielle!!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of literature do you like to read? Do you like to read texts similar to ones you write?
Nicholas: Yes actually, the works are collaborative! They are mainly just for fun, but my best friend and I create our own characters and add a few in from tv shows or games that we like and just make up random plots. It's mainly to help us get our own creative juices flowing, but it certainly helps! And there are pros and cons, the pros are that it is a great way to make sure that you write every day and it helps me think of ideas for my own storylines and works. The cons, if one or the other person gets too busy, we fall behind on writing and leave the other hanging, and sometimes we want don't want to stop writing in our story to work on our own stuff and it causes procrastination! haha, but its an easy fix!
ReplyDeleteMarina: As far as LITERATURE goes, I like anything into the suspense and fiction genre. My favorite author is Ted Dekker, who is amazing. But I also read lots of juvenile fiction still like S.E. Hinton. I just like the writing style cause that is how i want to write one day. Apart from fiction though, i LOVE ghost stories. I grew up reading Mary Downing Hahn and she wrote so many ghost stories. So i like a good thriller every now and then. and when i'm not reading those, I have a secret adoration for the Inferno. my copy is color coded. But it's my favorite ACTUAL literary work that I have studied in school. that and Heart of Darkness and the Awakening, have my heart :)
Hey Danielle,
ReplyDeleteOur senior years at GCSU seem so similar.. Early College and Capstone stress. How is your capstone class going? It's getting pretty close to presentation time--are you nervous? (Don't be!)
Christine,
ReplyDeleteI am actually NOT nervous about performing. I don't have anxiety when it comes to reading or singing in front of people or giving speeches. Now presentations, that is COMPLETELY different, haha! But I am really excited to be presenting it, because I love my capstone. It's the most fun I've ever had writing! So all in all it's going well. I'm about 100 pages in out of hte 60 I'm supposed to have for my fiction requirement (yeah i go overboard), and I have about 100 more pages to go. I truly hope this becomes my first novel!
but yes, it is extremely stressful right now...but nothing I can't handle :)
Hey Danielle,
ReplyDeleteSometimes I do the singing thing too, usually if there is a song in the background, like over a speaker in a store I will catch myself mindlessly singing along. Also, you're title is from my favorite Disney movie as a kid. I wanted to ask you two things. One, being so religious and from Dacula did you attend Hebron? Also I was wondering, with all your experience in teaching why did you choose to teach high school? What appealed to you about the high school age group. That was more like three questions but the last two are really one in the same.
~Rose
Ah, Hebron. My family went there for a while. Place was insanely big. I do not know where they go now.
ReplyDeleteDanielle:
Follow up question. Will you go shopping with me and Kelly one weekend to find her that perfect pair of jeans? You can get self-satisfaction out of doing it and I can leave the store with a significant other who is not empty-handed and dejected.
She used to frequent American Eagle all the time, but these days, she claims that stores only have skinny jeans and that even their regular jeans seem like they are "skinny" now. So...yeah...when you get that store, if you could just bring it up to the CEO's attention. Thanks.
She will probably ask you to also find me a new wardrobe in the process. Ignore that request. Every Christmas, I get an ugly plaid shirt from a distant relative, a pullover, and some khaki pants. They serve the purpose.
Rose,
ReplyDeletebeauty and the beast is one of my favorite disney movies ever. It's not my FAVORITE, but it comes in i think about third or fourth. Lion King is my favorite :)
As for Hebron, I did NOT attend Hebron. Actually, I did everything in my power to AVOID it. I went to North Metro First Baptist Church and still go every now and then. I like to "church hop" cause lately i consider myself non-denominational. But Hebron was way too big for my taste in high school and EVERYONE went there. Drove me nuts, haha.
In regards to your questions about High School. I want to teach high school because that is where I was most influenced and encouraged in my career path and in my writing. I had a teacher who read my novel and edited it for me, another who nominated me for an award, and just all around loved my english teachers. They encouraged me to "read between the lines" and that no student should really ever be given up on.
I love a challenge and I know that high school students are one. Now, if i could, I'd teach pre-K for the rest of my life, but I didn't want to major in Early Childhood, so I chose highschool because I feel that at that age, the teachers really make a difference. High schoolers are practically the next generation and the teachers are supposed to be a great impact. Sure they are probably going to be difficult, but that is why i want to work with them, because I want them to have someone to connect with and I feel that at that age, communication and connection is essential. Plus, I want to teach higher literature SO bad like Dante's Inferno and The Awakening and make these kids REALLY look beyond the words on the page!
Nick,
ReplyDeleteIf I can bring my boyfriend along then I'll be happy to help you pick out jeans with Kelley! (I bring Rob - my boyfriend - on most of my shopping trips - he is awesome like that)
And so you can tell Kelley, the next time she goes into an American Eagle, tell her to try on the Slim Boot and Favorite Boyfriend jeans. They are not the skinny style anymore. They are comfortable and a boot leg kind of jean. And have a nice 18-20 inch flare so it's not too big. Boyfriend jeans are a little baggy, but they are really comfortable and look great and Slim boot is the most versatile jean in the whole store!
but when i do own my own store, i will definitely make sure to tell the CEO to knock it off with the skinny. they won't be in style forever anyways.
anymore questions on jeans and just ask! That's why I'm a jean expert. I could tell you the inseam on each jean and all the details that make each wash different. It's a gift and curse really. I can't go jean shopping anymore without being meticulous.
Hey girl,
ReplyDeleteSo I worked at American Eagle at the MoG during my senior year of high school and I only laster during the holiday season. ha. Do you think people should work in either retail or the food industry to have an appreciation for the people who help us in customer service??...I was always told that I should have at least one job in food industry to learn respect for when we are on the shopping/dining out side
You mentioned that some students are discouraged by the way the world percieves them. How do you encourage them to become inspired to take an active interest in their education?
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteI've actually heard opposite and have heard that you should at least work one retail job in life. I have heard horror stories about food industries, but working in retail is no walk in the park either, especially at a high maintenance store like the AE at the MoG. But it's definitely worth the experience. You meet and deal with the biggest diversity of people and you gain so much appreciation for what people in retail of ANY kind do. I actually fold and put away the clothes in other stores as if I were an employee. So one OR the other would give someone an insight to see just what the "real" world is like. I will miss the AE when i have to leave this summer to start the MAT.
Lorien,
ReplyDeletewith this past year, I've really encouraged my students to kinda "go crazy" with their creativity and to really write whatever inspires them (provided there are some guidelines). That truly helped out a lot with allowing them to "get out of their shell." But I also find that encouraging them to share with the class (and sometimes even making it mandatory once in a while) actually helps boost their confidence. When my students have read outloud and received positive feedback from their peers, they have wanted to improve or learn more. So I have learned really that the more you encourage and give them that little nudge out of their comfort zone, it really makes an impact.