As I was contemplating a career change, a path that I was
looking to embark on was that of becoming an Educator. I started the path off by becoming a
substitute teacher. I was not sure which
grade I wanted to teach so I started off by subbing for some elementary school
classes. After subbing for a few
elementary classes, in which I enjoyed I felt it was time to see what middle
school classes were like. It ended up I
subbed for one middle school class and it turned out to be a nightmare for
myself so I decided middle school classes were not for me. I then moved on to high school classes. I substituted a couple different high
schools, but then ended up taking on a long term sub position for teacher who
chose to retire mid-term. The students
were Special Education, and after spending three months with them it was then
that I decided I wanted to become a Special Education Teacher.
I applied to get into the Alternative Licensure Program and
was accepted and by doing this it allowed me to get my Intern License. After getting my I-License it enabled me to
get a teaching job while I went to school.
I am a Special Education Teacher for an Alternative High School in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Something that
I have observed at both my current school as well as the one I was a long term
substitute for was that some of my special education students could not read
very well. The book that I read for class was “There are no shortcuts” by Rafe
Esquith. Mr. Esquith states in his book that
“reading is the most important subject in school. If a child cannot learn to
read well and love to read, the chances of that kid finding success and
happiness on any level are low.” In this book Mr. Esquith talks about how elementary
school kids develop a hate for reading due to the basal readers that they were
required to read from. The stories were
boring as well as requiring the students to do a lot of work sheets to build
the student’s skills. The kids did not learn any skills from these sheets; it
caused the students to dislike reading.
So in my school for elementary students learning to read
well along with developing a love to read will be of most importance. Mr. Esquith eliminated all state-sponsored
books since he felt that they killed the joy of reading that reading is
supposed to give. He chose to read literature
with his students and this is also the curriculum I would like to use at my
school. Mr. Esquith is teaching at an
Elementary School in Los Angeles, California.
The school is in a lower socio-economic neighborhood, and I too would
like to teach in a lower socio-economic school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
I think I might read the book that you read since you told me it would be good for elementary school teachers. I think finding exactly what you want to teach will be a struggle for me since I pretty much like all the grades but it is really good that you found that you are passionate for teaching special education. My Mom taught special education for 20 years and is now an ed diag but she loved helping kids with special needs. It takes a certain kind of person to succeed at the job.
ReplyDeleteI too think I might be interested in reading that book. I do think it is very important that our education system steps up the level of literacy we require in our students. It sounds like a good idea to focus a curriculum around reading and literacy.
ReplyDeleteI share many of the same views. I also read THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS and I find it to be essential reading for every teacher especially those at the elementary level. The basal readers that are required in Los Angeles seem to benefit lazy teachers who don’t want to enter into more difficult material. Personally I didn’t really love to read but that changes when it becomes a more social activity. When I read with a group in school, at least for discussions, I found it to be more enjoyable. Reading is the most important subject and skill that every student needs to master. Being a proficient and skilled reader and able to comprehend well will allow a student to reach higher levels across all subjects. Rafe Esquith is an exceptional educator and his passion for reading has benefited his students immensely.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that reading is important I think that all basic elements of education are crucial to future success. A child can read but not be able to formulate thoughts onto paper. Would this child be successful later? How about a child who knows how to read but can’t balance a checkbook or make change at the store? If we don’t make any of these things fun then the children will hate them and therefore be less successful in further pursuits. I think that reading and writing are most often written about because the people who are passionate for those subjects are inherently adept at writing those thoughts down. People who spend time in equations may not be as adept at writing about them as doing them so they are not often the subject material of books. We must keep in mind that without a good foundation and love for any particular subject an individual we not be as successful.
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