Blog in the Field

http://mathleticism.net/

The blog I found is from a math teacher. I like this blog because the teacher uses it as a way to show what goes on in that school's math department. In the blog there are posts about working on lessons and so many other things.
I think having found this blog will be very beneficial to me. I will be able to view the blog and possibly get ideas about what to do in my classroom. I will also be able to use this blog as a way to see what happens in other math classrooms around the country.
I think that teachers having blogs is a very helpful thing in the world of education. This way others teachers from all over the world will be able to see what is happening in different classrooms and be able to get ideas of what to try or what not to try in their classrooms. Besides getting ideas, blogs can also be a good way to discuss with other teachers certain methods or lessons that have worked or not worked. These teachers can also ask for advice or give advice to others. With some of the social networking getting bad light in the education world. I think blogs are a safe and helpful tools for teachers to use.

Technology in Education

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/25/high-school-classes-increasingly-blend-in-technolo/?page=all

This article illustrates how technology is very useful in classrooms and has many advantages for students. Because I will be teaching math, I especially like how the article talks about the use of technology in math class. The way technology is being used in this school is both beneficial to the students and to the teacher, which is what technology in the classroom should be like.
In the article, there is a reference to using laptops in a math classroom. I especially like how this technology is being used for the quizzes in the classroom. I think it is very helpful, for both the teacher and the student, to do quizzes in this manner. As mentioned in the article, when doing the online quizzes teachers can see how much time a student takes on each question. When a teacher notices that there is more time used for a few questions, then he or she can address these questions with the student to see if the student is struggling. Unlike a paper and pencil quiz, these quizzes allow teachers to address any issue that a student may have right away, rather than waiting until the quiz is completed, or maybe not even realizing at all that the student is struggling.

My Teaching Philosophy

Every teacher has a different philosophy when it comes to teaching. Because I am not a classroom teacher yet, I cannot be positive about what my teaching philosophy is, but when I think about it I have a general idea of what it will be when I do get into the classroom. Because I will be teaching math, I believe that my teaching philosophy should be centered around this topic. I believe that every student should have a safe and welcoming classroom environment to learn in. Keeping this in mind, my classroom will be such an environment. I will make sure that all of my students know that they are welcome to share ideas and ask any questions that are necessary for them to understand the concepts that I will be teaching. I will also make sure that all students know and understand that if any ideas or questions asked are put down or made fun of that there will be consequences for the student or students that initiated the action.
Another belief I have has to do with the idea of homework. Not all students are comfortable with every math topic that is taught as soon as it is taught. That is why I view homework as a learning opportunity, rather than a means of assessment. In my classroom I will grade homework on completion, rather than correctness. In doing this my hope is that students will be able to work on homework problems in an attempt to make sure that they understand the topic. After the homework is completed I will make solutions available for the students and they will be able to see any mistakes that they made. This way they will see the mistakes and be able to get any help needed before a quiz or an exam, both of which I will grade based on correctness.

Autobiographical Information

My name is Jennifer Neubauer, but most of the time I go by Jen. I am currently a junior at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin, and I am studying Secondary Education in Mathematics. I currently live off campus, in a house, with two of my friends. One of my roommates is from Brazil. I consider myself very lucky to have made a friend from a different country because I am able to learn about the culture of Brazil, and I am planning on visiting in December!
I also spend time in my hometown of Kaukauna. I have lived in Kaukauna my entire life. I like to spend time with my family, which is made up of my dad, my mom, and my younger brother Matthew, who is a sophomore in high school. I also work when I am at home. I work at the Piggly Wiggly year round. I mainly work in customer service when I am there, but I also help out in the floral department when I am needed. During my summers I work at a paper mill close to my house. It is a well-paying summer job that helps greatly when it comes time to pay tuition and rent!
When I am not working or doing school work, I love to watch sports. I especially like to watch football, and I cheer hard for the Green Bay Packers every Sunday during football season! I also like to watch college basketball, especially during the March Madness Tournament. I also have a passion for baking, and trying out many new recipes when I have the time!