Matt's Blog

 Module 4  February 16th, 2022 *After reviewing the syllabus I realized I put Chapter 9 in my Module 3 Blog Post, so Chapter 13 will be put into this blog post.*  Module 4 Reflection      I think this weeks assignments and discussions were interesting to discuss and read about. This week we also wrote our research papers which currently I have halfway done, but I am enjoying researching the difference between an Authoritative vs. Authoritarian Classroom Management styles. Creating the concept map for chapter 9 was also a new way to learn new material.  Chapter 10 Overview      In Chapter 10 we start to look at including the social context of learning and the notion of constructivism. "Constructivism is a broad perspective that calls attention to two critical aspects of learning: social and cultural factors." In this chapter one of the more important ideas to understand is the environment that can be created by students and the instructor...

 Teacher Interview February 2nd, 2022  Interview Link *Before you watch: This interview was filmed and recorded on the day of our terrible winter storm. Internet connection is an issue and there are a few moments where audio cuts out.*  Being new to anything is always a scary experience. Going into a brand new field is something that is sure to keep new teachers on edge and always wondering if we are doing the right things or if we are on the right track. Being able to talk to a seasoned teacher who has 15 years of experience under their belt is definitely a good way to gain some confidence, especially since I am going into pre-student teaching this semester as well as student teaching in the fall. For my teacher interview I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Adam Winchell who at one point was my old tennis coach in high school and is currently my boss for my summer job at the Oak Lawn Park District and my coaching position at the same high school he coached me at. Bein...

 Module 3  January 29, 2022  Module 3 Reflection      I enjoyed discussing the topics in this weeks module. Seeing a teacher talk to his students like that is a very sad and uncomfortable thing. I think that this is something we all should keep in mind when we are teaching our future students. We cannot take things personally and shouldn't treat our students that way regardless of the situation. Secondly, talking about the reward system argument was a great way for us to get ideas and see what everyone has gone through with their teachers. The reward system argument is something that will be debated for a long time.  Chapter 7 Overview      In chapter 7, Woolfolk discusses the general definition of learning that we use for the opposing views of "different theoretical groups". These groups include the behavioral theorists and in chapters 8 and 9, the cognitive theorists. Woolfolk also talks about the four behavioral learning processes: co...

Module 2 

 Module 1  January 16th, 2022 Chapter 1 Overview      Chapter 1 tells us about the impact that teachers have and what can make a great teacher. It also talks about the role that Psychology takes in the field of Education. This chapter teaches us about the different ways we can be a better teacher and improve in our professional development. Overall, this book can help us as future educators be the best that we can be for our students.  Chapter 1 Reflection      Slowly but surely we are all in the homestretch of getting into our fields as educators. Currently, I am in my last "class" semester before I start student teaching in the Fall. Many different feelings of anxiety and nervousness always linger around. The main reason behind these thoughts is the question, "what if I am in the wrong field?". This is something that concerns me even though I know that I am on the right path and that I want to be a teacher. Many "what if's" always come up, ...

      Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well especially during these trying times. I wanted to talk a little bit about my overall experience using Twitter as a PLN. Using social media is something that we all partake in, in one form or another. One of the biggest benefits that the internet provides us is the opportunity to connect with other educators and their experiences. Throughout the semester I found myself follow a few Twitter accounts that posted a lot of unique concepts to introduce to classrooms.  Here is a list of a few of those accounts that I found very informational and inspiring.  Dr. Erik Youngman -  https://twitter.com/Erik_Youngman  Matt Townsley - https://twitter.com/mctownsley  Wallace Ting - https://twitter.com/TingWallace Dr. Rick Snoeyink (of course) - https://twitter.com/rsnoeyink  Kyle Bragg - https://twitter.com/ElemPE1       These are only a handful of accounts that...