I actually went back and read one of my first posts today on Camden, NJ. I remember thinking at the beginning of the semester "how can we include the material we are going to learn in this class, in a district like Camden?" I honestly couldn't come up with answers at that point in time. The positive part of Camden, among ever harsh reality their city faces, is that there are many students there who want to learn, want to succeed and better their lives.
A group of us in the AEN program received our student placements for the Fall. I'll be student teaching in Syracuse, which was not a surprise for me since I requested that general vicinity. But realizing that I will be teaching in the inner city at Henninger HS is overwhelming; it doesn't frighten me, but rather makes me apprehensive: I have heard horror stories of Syracuse schools, and I have to remind myself that I need to create my own opinion of them after I participate in the learning environment. But, if these students truly do not want to learn, unlike those in Camden, how do I teach? What do I do? How can I perk their interests? Sometimes there is just more to consider than we can ever know, and we have to have answers to questions that don't even exist yet (someone else said that, I don't remember who. I'm sorry I cannot cite it properly).
Regardless, reality is here. The girls I have spent the past two semesters with will be doing their own thing next semester; no more classes together. The community we built together is changing. Sure, we can keep in contact through emails, blogs, the Colloquium, the phone... but something is different now. The "letting go" is sad, nerve-racking, and exciting. And I know that I will always have, at least, eight other people I can contact and confide in.
Tonight we, those of us going into our Student Teaching, had dinner with a few of our professors: more community. That's what we have been building all along at Cortland. We have the classroom, the study groups, and now, thanks to media literacy and our educators' persistence to integrating blogs, the internet, and the Web in our learning.
Dr. Stearns asked me earlier tonight, at dinner, if I felt I have learned anything in 307. Of course I have. You can't be thrown into material you don't understand and be expected to explain it to others without learning about it yourself. But, besides the programs, I have learned more about myself in 307. Last week we participated in an impromptu "interview" scenario. Everything we had worked on in 307 was put to test-- we just had to choose one aspect and run with it. It was through this that I realized that I have something more to offer, and that I can create lessons not solely focused around a text. I also learned that I have so much else to learn: from my professors, my fellow classmates, and my own students.
In all, part of me wishes this semester wouldn't come to an end, because I know that that's what it could bring to so many areas of my life. On the other hand, it's time to move on, and everything I have learned, studied, produced, and applied from the beginning will now exercised in a school environment-- it's what we, as English Adolescence Education Majors, strive for. Might as well make the best of it and take away from it as much as you can, right?
12 years ago
3 comments:
Nice comment Jess. I'm glad to hear you thinking once again about Camden. Last night our administrators addressed specifically how important the work you have been doing in 307 is. I wish you could have heard them. It would have given you more confidence!!
You have a mature perspective on all that you are learning. I'm glad you're reflecting. Like your music too!!!
I agree with everything you said here. It's weird to think about all of the things I literally didn't know that I didn't know. I agree with Dr. Stearns that 307 should be a two semester course. There's just so much to learn with not enough time - and I'm truly interested in everything, too.
aww Jess. That was soo sweet to read that about the sense of community we have created and how because of the Web we will be able to stay in contact: I love AIM now because I can stay in contact with the 8 of you now! and I agree with Dr. Stearns, your music rocks on here!!
About the high school you will be at in the fall, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I think you are a very intelligent young lady who pushes to do the best she can in everything she does. The students will see that and want to push themselves too I believe. and just remember this: get to know your students inside and out and you will know what to do in your heart in how to motivate them to succeed.
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