Observation discovery

         Through my visit to Noble Elementary School, I learned that I actually enjoyed being in a fourth grade classroom far more than I thought I would. I’ve always seen myself as a kindergarten or first grade teacher and though I’m fairly sure I still want to teach first grade I wouldn’t mind the idea of fourth grade either.

         Being in the fourth grade classroom a certain part of the organization and calmness appealed to me. The children all listened to their teacher and understood what he was asking them to do. They were all well behaved and had great manors. Being in a situation I didn’t think I would like and ended up liking was weird for me. I always thought that that intermediate age would be mean and snotty and being in one was a great experience.

         I think the reason I always thought I would struggle being around that age group was because the only time I’ve been around that age has been bad experiences through babysitting or work. Going to Noble was a very positive experience for me, it has opened up my eyes to the idea of potentially teaching other ages that what I originally thought.

         Although I visited a kindergarten classroom as well, which I also really enjoyed, I think am suited better for ages kindergarten and above. The idea of truly being able to teach I believe starts after kindergarten. I worry that if I were to teach kindergarten that there isn’t enough that you can really teach yet other than basic things like behavior. Luckily Noble thought me to open my mind up to the idea of potentially teaching older children. 

Why I want to teach

Question: What happens when you can't find anything meaningful to observe?

     To me there is almost always something new to be learned and observed. In the reading it said how what we observe is so different from what someone else is observing, so to me even the most basic thing is still worth observing.

   When I was in school I wish some of the most basic things that me and my classmates did was observed more than just following a checklist or a curriculum. Today’s view point is too restricted to what can be shown as learned instead of just helping children learn. If we were to observe all the small little amazing things that children do every day I think education would a very different story. The more we observe the better learners we become. So why wouldn’t we observe anything and everything as much as possible.

     If the observations that teachers make becomes more meaningful and thoughtful what they can learn from their students would be endless. However, we are still in a point and time where what every parent and what every principal says and does means more than what a certified and trained teacher thinks. Even though the teacher is the one who knows what they are doing, what every other person other than what the teacher says goes. Because of this, teachers are impaired in what they can and are allowed to do. 

     In the future I think it would be very beneficial for non-teachers to observe what wonders teachers can do through observing.

1. My name is Jillian however I prefer going by Jill.

2.I am from Chagrin falls Ohio and have lived pretty much my whole life.

3. I really want to teach first grade and even though there is no specific subject with early education my favorite is English.

4. Something unique about me is that I can walk on stilts and that I really like printmaking. Ever since I can remember I have been a swimmer however I didn't get good at it until high school. In high school I also did pole vault for all four years. This semester I will hopefully be working a lot and keeping up with school throughout.

5. The thing that is most important to me is my family and the family's I babysit for. I have become extremely close to the two families I babysit for through going on trips with them, to knowing them for four years. According to "Health Guidance, Importance of family in Our Life" by Kathryn Perry,  "Whatever we have learned from our family over the years serves as a basic premise for our actions in life" . To me this is a fact. Time and time again has proved that so much of your upbringing is a part of who you turn out to be and for me I think this is so very true. My parents, siblings, and surroundings have helped shaped me into who I really am.  

6. For me to take risks in the classroom I need to be in a fun and forgiving place to feel as though my mistakes are just something to learn from. 

7. For me a great memory in school was in my creative writing class where we could write about whatever we wanted and shared to get constructive criticism which caused me to write one of my favorite pieces so far. 

8. One of the issues for me in education right now is the fear of not getting a job once I get out of college or not getting the job that I want or where I want it. 

9. What is your favorite thing to teach and why?