Fulfilling the Promise Chapters 5 and 6

These chapters were really good! It is amazing how much I am learning and want to learn from this book. The chapters taught me how to relate the curriculum to everyday life. It is important to understand that if we apply the things we are teaching our students to their life, they will want to learn more. I also think that as teachers we should get to know every student on a individual basis, know their strenghths and weaknesses and help them grow and develope their skills. I understand that there is just going to be more and more to teach, "We teach in our classrooms like hamsters in a wheel." I think we feel that we need to go so fast to get everything in, that we don't take time to look around and see that our students are individuals. We must make the curriculem and instructioon engaging for students to want to learn. I am so scared that teachers are not going to go about this the right way, that I am going to make sure I am not that "hamster on a wheel" Children want to learn, but I think that teaching so fast is too much for them to handle, so they start to hate learning all together. In my classroom I am going to find the balence of getting all the material in and really getting to know my students. To me knowing my students and them knowing me is the most important thing.
"Because you matter, the teacher says to the student, and because learning matters to you, I will do my best." I love this quote, I think that students think that they must get A's on everything for a teacher to think that they matter, this is why I think that some students hate school, becuase they don't think they matter to anyone. It is important to make sure that my students know they don't have to get A's on everything or 100 percent to matter to me, because each one matters and is a special part of the class. Learning is a big important part of school, so if I have a good attitude and create a community in my class the students will know that I will teach them things that will be valuable to them. "Because I see your value, I will conect with you." These chapters along with this whole book have showed me what it means to be an amazing teacher. I want to connect with my students, I want to engage their minds, I want to teach them inportant lessons and I hope they teach me. I want to students to know I have a passion for teaching and for them. This book makes me feel like I can do this!