Blog Post #1

ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Janie Wells. I am majoring in Elementary Education. I am married and have two children. My husband is a Rescue Swimmer in the Coast Guard. My son is a senior in high school and my daughter is a sophmore. I should graduate college the same year my daughter graduates high school. I was born in Ohio, but I have lived in North Carolina, Michigan, twice in Alaska, and this is our second time here in Mobile. I love the adventure of living in so many different places and have enjoyed each place for the unique things it had to offer. I really loved Alaska and would like to go back there to teach one day.

I enjoy being outdoors, which can be a bit of a challenge here at times. You can always add another layer of clothing if its cold, but you sure can't hide from the heat and humidity. I am an avid reader. I read quite a variety of things. You can usually find something good to eat in my garden, even in the winter. Cooking is cathartic for me. It's akin to meditation. There is nothing better than cooking for family and friends.

I have attended college in four states. I have an Associates degree. This is the second time I have attended USA. The last time I was here USA was operating on quarters instead of semesters. I look forward to graduating from USA with my Bachelors degree, finally.

I have thought about being a teacher for quite some time. When my children were small I operated a home daycare. I primarily had preschool aged children with whom I had daily preschool lessons. Later, I was a Special Education Paraprofessional. This was a very rewarding job. The teacher, with whom I initially worked, was very inspiring. Through the years my children have had some remarkable teachers that have made a lasting impression on both my children and myself. That is the kind of teacher I aspire to be.

MY CLASSROOM
EDM 310 is my first course in the College of Education. I think my ideas of the kind of teacher that I wish to be and what my classroom will be like are still developing. I have not yet decided which grade I would like to teach. They all have something unique to offer. I'm sure that the vision that I have now will grow and transform as I continue my education. With that being said, I desire to be a teacher who reaches and inspires all her students to have a love of learning. I am particularly passionate about reading. I have had a love of reading from a young age and hope to pass that along to my students.

My students will have access to a much wider variety of learning tools than my children had and even more so than when I was in school. I think a hands on learning approach is vital. Whether that comes in the form of a smart board, computer, or activity centers, each has its own benefits.

When I was in school I remember that we had pen pals from another state. Waiting for a return letter was so exciting. Now you can communicate with someone across the world with just a touch of a button. My students will have access to the world in a way that I never imagined as a student myself.

My classroom will be a place where there will be learning through exploration. There are often many roads that lead to the same place. I want my students to be able to take the road that works best for them. Learning is not one size fits all.

RANDY PAUSCH ON TIME MANAGEMENT
Mr. Pausch's lecture on time management focused on procrastination as well as goals, priorities, and planning. He suggests that when you are faced with a task you should ask yourself a series of questions. One of those questions was "Why will I succeed?". I think this question will be particularly helpful when a task seems overwhelming. He also suggests having a to do list where you break down tasks into small steps and do the most unpleasant thing first.

I know that even when I have the best of intentions I can be overcome by procrastination. I find that doing the thing that causes the most stress first is very helpful. If I don't, then I will continue to think about it even when I am working on something else. I have found that this can can be a big time waster.

Randy Pausch was a Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. His Last Lecture that he delivered before succumbing to pancreatic cancer was captivating.

TIME MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS
I found that I already do several things that are suggested here. One of the things that is suggested is to find the best time of day for you. I know that I am a morning person and that after everyone comes home in the afternoon it can be a struggle to concentrate on school work. I try to get everything I can done during the day. I also use a color coded planner. I did the time management exercise and was surprised at how quickly the hours add up.