Change for America

Finally the time has come in America where we can put behind us all of the stereotypes and stigmas and prevail as a country. A country that is chasing the same dream, facing the same challenges and hopes for the same things. Last Tuesday I was and will always be proud of the change in America that I helped to foster. It is an amazing feeling to think that I was one person in the millions of people who voted and made thier voice heard. I was one person who helped to change the course of history. To think that I was voting for the person that I felt would best represent me, my values, and the America I wanted my children to grow up in is an awesome feeling. This was the first time I voted and as a registered Democrat I wasn't sure who I would vote for when all of the candidates came out. After some time and the official nominees were announced, it was clear who I wanted to preside over my country. What an awesome country we live in!

Presidential Candidates

So the election is comming up soon and I feel it is important to voice my opinion on the candidates and what they offer or do not offer for education, since education is obviously important to me. From what we have seen so far in the debates (without the debate tonight) the candidates have answered some pretty strong questions, or in Sarah Palin's case, avoided all the questions that don't have anything to do with Alaska and her run as Governor. What we have not heard is McCain's stance on education, why? Well he isn't bieng entirely clear because he goes along with George Bush when it comes to education. McCain says that sure, there are some holes or loops in the "No Child Left Behind Act" but that overall, like the economy, the fundamentals are sound. What Barack Obama has outlined is clear on his website and clear when he speaks about it. (for more information visit http://www.barackobama.com/ ) Obama wants to give schools more funding and more room to grow. Obama also wants to increase the pay of teachers and increase the incentives given to teachers. With Obama, teachers won't have to just teach in economically bad areas to get an incentive, they can be genuinely good teachers. Obama wants to offer pay raises and increases to teachers that exemplify the going above and beyond. That means teachers that make a difference in the lives of students, teachers that give more than they have consistantly, and teachers that have been in the game for a while and take their experience and share it in a mentoring way with new teachers. As someone who is going into teaching as I type this, it is clear who the choice is for me. As for the rest of you, whether you choose Obama or McCain, know your candidate, learn about their policies, get familiar with what change they want to envoke and GO VOTE!!!!!

Big Dreams

It's funny when you think back to being a little kid. I was always playing house and school, namely school. I was always the teacher and what a fantastic teacher I was. Now that I am grown and pursuing my education it seems fitting to look back at the dreams I once had. My biggest ambition as a child and now as an adult was to teach young children. It doesn't seem like such a feat now, but at 8 years old, it was like saying I was going to fly to the moon in a rocket I made myself. I wonder sometimes how many teachers had the dream I had of becoming what they have. Are the teachers that have been acclaimed to be good teachers and vibrant teachers the ones that had that dream as a small child? Perhaps that is what it takes to be an exceptional teacher, the drive and desire from within. I know that now, as I look down the path of my childhood and toward the future of my education career, I have a sense of accomplishment that is far more satisfying than I ever imagined. Maybe, just maybe that feeling is what gives a good teacher their spark.

New and Old Teachers

I recently read an article that another blogger was buzzing about dealing with new and old teachers. The article insinuated that old teachers, or "vets" were not as savvy in the technical sense as new teachers. Also suggested in the article was the fact that new teachers have more enthusiasm and energy for the other duties that come with teaching. If you are interested in reading this article for yourself, you can find it at http://www.joannejacobs.com/ . I have some reservations dealing with the subject of young and old teachers. Or, in a more polite way of describing it, green and seasoned teachers. Either way you say it, it is still the same thing. Perhaps my feelings directly reflect my experience with teaching, being taught and learning to teach. The best teachers I have ever had have been the old, the seasoned and the veteran teachers. They have had the energy, the stamina and the dedication that only a truly good teacher will have. I have also had a handful of young, extremely green and very talented teachers. All of whom were just as effective, warm and on point as the older teachers. My point is this, it doesn't matter the age of the teacher and sometimes it may not even matter how many years of experience they have had. A good teacher, a truly gifted educator, is that way from the start. Good teachers begin good, stay good and end good.....sure, teachers can begin in all different ways and end the same, but in my experience, the teachers that are truly GOOD and the teachers that are truly GIFTED began that way, continued that way and ended that way.........

The beginning

If anyone reading this first blog has class with me, then you will understand the meaning of the beginning. This is the beginning blog, hopefully in a series of extremely phenomenal blogs. That's funny, right? This is beginning as a bonus opportunity for school, this may end many different ways. Whatever the outcome....we are here now....so WELCOME!