Here are a series of BIG questions or statements that revolve around or
impact in some way teaching and learning. These were created by me, and
perhaps more importantly, your peers. We think that if you can answer these
honestly so that others will easily understand what you are saying, and
answer these with some level of self-understanding, conviction, and
passionate assurance, then you are ready to go out into the world of
teaching and learning.
Read through all of the questions and then pick at least 6 to answer.
Post your carefully crafted answers to your chosen 6 to the blog space you
create in a public blog area like those at
https://www.blogger.com/start so that you
can get feedback from your peers.
Also, your compiled answers for all
6 questions
will be handed in as a formal assignment. On my copy each question should have three
parts -- first, very brief justification as to why you chose that
particular question, then your answer to the question, and finally, segments
of pertinent feedback or sample comments from peers . You may also add research
information to support your beliefs if you think it may strengthen your
response, or add personal touches like quotes or metaphors. If you use
quotes or research, please cite the original sources
using APA style. You may certainly use this assignment, or parts of it,
in your professional portfolio.
SLPs and audiologists
you may certainly change the questions a bit to better suit your major.
Questions:
1. What
are schools for? What do they offer?
2. Why do
you want to be a teacher or speech pathologist?
3. What
real world experiences have you had that make you sure that you can say with
some level of certainty to your students/clients, "you will need this skill,
content, or process in the real world?"
4. What
things would you change about schools and why?
5. Name one
social issue of concern and project how schools, schooling, or you as a
teacher might be able to help address this issue. What good will it do, what
part can you play?
6. Which
habits of thinking, mind, intellect, and character do you possess that make
you an example or role model for today's youth?
7. Name
three things you hold dear and on which you will not compromise. Why?
8. Why does
society hold teachers to higher standards of moral and ethical behavior?
9. How do you plan to leave your
"mark" on
your students, your peers, your school, or your profession?
10. As a future teacher what do you see as
your main weakness (or weaknesses) and how will you work on improving this
(these)?
11. Why do you think you will be a good
teacher? Specifically, what talents and gifts do you have that others don't?
12. What makes you marketable as a teacher?
Why should a district hire you over someone else?
13. What makes a teacher successful and who
should be the judge of that success and why?
14. Name a serious challenge you may face as
a teacher, and some strategies you would use to correct, amend, accommodate,
mitigate, or fix this challenge.
15. Why is collaborating with other
teachers, or integrating courses or curricula, a matter of importance to you
or your students, or to their futures?
16. How do you plan on putting your teaching
philosophy into practice?
17. Placing the concepts in their future,
designate 3-5 essential concepts or elements from your discipline that you
want your students to know and remember. Also, state why these might be
important to know and remember.
18. Why should one strive to become a
"keeper of the future"? Why might it be important to the students and the
profession?
19. Name 2 topics in your discipline that
you are excited to teach about and tell us why?
20. What way can you have an influence on
your school and you students besides teaching?
21. Name and describe some selected
teaching strategies you might use to enhance the learning experiences of
your students?
22. On any given day, if a stranger entered
your classroom what would they think about the learning environment you
create? What would it tell them about you as a teacher, or your relationship
with your students?
23. What is an important part of your
professional training where you feel you need more training?
24. What subject(s) did
you dislike or struggle with as a child? Was there are definitive reason why
you disliked this subject(s) -- what were the factors: teacher, learning
environment, techniques used, boredom, etc?
**Note: If you can think
of another question not covered here, but one you think is important, please
feel free to share it with me so that perhaps you can substitute it for one
of the above.
