Things I Need to Know

I read about four important things that UMF Secondary Education majors should know and this is how they affect me.

1. Praxis

*The test has three parts that I have to pass in order to teach.

* It has to be passed in order to get a license.

* I would need to improve some skills before taking it

* The test costs money, therefor it impacts me.

2. Transferring

* This does not affect me.

* It does show that you have to be doing well in any major to transfer.

* Transferring affects me because I am transferring away from education. Any information is helpful.

* It is important to be aware of how you are doing in school and the path you might take.

3. Practicum

* It is important to have a decent GPA.

* This doesn't directly affect me because of my major changing, but it still shows the importance of doing well.

* Being able to apply for Practicum is only allowed if you meet certain guidelines. This shows me that I must carry myself in a professional manner.

* I would have to make sure my schedule could handle Practicum if I chose to come back to Education

4. Laptop Requirement

* I have a laptop that meets the requirements.

* I received it through UMF.

* Laptops allow access to Campus, Major, and General information about UMF that helps make my education successful.

* Having a laptop means that I can successfully find my way through technology. I will be ahead of those who have not had the benefit of having a laptop so far.

Professional Organizations

These are some professional organizations that support teachers.

-National Education Association

-http://www.nea.org/

-International Reading Association

-http://www.reading.org/General/Default.aspx

-National Council of Teachers of English

-http://www.ncte.org/

-American Federation of Teachers-A Union of Professionals

-http://www.aft.org/

Chapter 2: Today's Students

In the text, “The Joy of Teaching,” Gene E. Hall and others express the affect of socioeconomic status on students and their education. There are different ranges to the status of families, ranging from low-income families, to the middle class, up to the upper middle class. Hall presents that students who come from low-income families usually have health problems and are unable to attain higher education, making them struggle to live. The middle class, or the White and Blue-collar workers are families that make enough money to live and support their families and are more able to attend higher education, allowing for more opportunity. The higher class families are able to ensure that their kids “able to achieve high academic levels and attend college,” because of the wealth they can achieve (66). Socioeconomic status affects the level of education that one can achieve and the life that they lead.

Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher

“Joyful”

· Joy would be brought to a teacher when the student they are teaching starts to understand the material, or finally “gets it.”

· Helping develop young minds and being able to fill them with the courage and the motivation to learn more.

· Being able to support students in a positive way so that they may go on to succeed in college, and in their lives.

“Un-joyful”

· The amount of assessments that have to be taken to prove your teaching ability.

· The difficulty of finding a job where you want to because of socioeconomic status or availability.

· An un-joyful aspect of teaching would be the stress of being put in to a situation that you are not ready for.