Four Major Strands of Work:

Communication is very important and it's needed in all aspects of life whether it's reading, writing, singing, smiling or body language.  It is communication when people notice us just by looking or talking to us.

Research is part of growth as we seek to learn and to understand our environment.  Our world is changing everyday and sometimes we are not aware of the changes taking place.  It's scary to think in that line.

Technology has become an important instrument in our lives.  How was it when we did not have computers, e-mails or cell phones?  How was our lives then?  Was it more slower or was it more stressful than the present time?  Technology makes our research and communication much faster.  More accurate?  I am not so sure about that.  Machines do make mistakes.

Collaboration is a word that I am beginning to understand a lot better due to my classmates and instructors.  I would sit in class or be around my classmates and I would listen to new information about a scholarship or what new idea worked for someone and they'd just pass it on.

All these strands we got to use in the classroom in communicating with our students, staff, parents or the public; we need to research with our students because we are not done learning or understanding; we will be utilizing technology to help us graph reports or new findings; and we will be collaborating with our students to know and understand them better and how they are making a differnce in their own lives and in our lives also.

Five Dimensions of Learning:

Confidence and independence (understanding) is being able to set the pace for our students.  They will be watching each day and maybe each hour or minute to see how we handle different situations.  Students will be depending on us to become independent and to gain confidence in themselves.  This will be achieved through practice and work.

Skills and Strategies (Practice) will what we are learning while taking courses at UNM by good instructors.  Skills will be asked of us while we teach a new concept, explaining a new step in mathematics, writing creatively, or teaching science experiment.  

Knowledge Content (Understanding) will the whipped cream topping when a student's eyes start to sparkle like a firecracker.  What knowledge we gain while attending these UNM classes will show up in our own classrooms.

Use of Prior and Emerging Experience (Understanding) will become more important as we teach because we will be looking back to our experience as students in elementary school.  This will help us to know how it was to be ten years old or how it was to be shy.  At the same time, we have to put our past with the present and with the future.  Attitudes and emotions do not change in people.  I guessed that's why it's said history repeats itself.  Each time changes, people think it's a new idea, but it really wasn't.  

Critical Reflection (Understanding, Practice, Professional Identity) is what I am learning and becoming more aware of it.  I have and need to assess myself as well as students.  We are in it together.  It is always good to look at yourself and see what you lacked or what you have over done and see how you can improve yourself.  There is always room for improvement just like there's always room for jello.  I guess reflection would mean just being aware as much as humanly possible.  You don't have to be perfect; after all, we have precious minds in our hands.   

Midterm Evaluation

I enjoy this class very much because the class is teaching me how to get along with people that are different from me.  I think this harder than studying for tests because tests do not have feelings, but people do and they make judgements about you.  You always want to see the best in people, but sometimes I do not.  I have learned to say what I think and I am not afraid to ask questions.  This class I have learned more about myself than all the other classes that I have taken.  It is helping me to appreciate myself, my family, and especially my childhood.  I feel proud to have parents that raised me in a way that they did and taught me to work.  I am thankful for my husband for showing me a different side of life with wonderful children and grandchildren.  I don't deserve an A, but I will gladly take it if that's my grade.  I have tried to participate in class and listen to others' opinions.