Different Perspectives
Looking Back
My teaching philosophy encompasses that all instruction should foster an understanding of life long learning and its importance. I teach this philosophy everyday to the students in my classroom during all instructional activities. This philosophy goes hand in hand with my personal goal that I wrote for my graduate entrance essay at Michigan State University. Back in 2010 my goal statement was to continue my education throughout my many years as a teacher.
Looking back at the time I submitted this essay, I can say that my goal has not changed, but rather stayed the same. Not only have I been working towards my M.A in Literacy Education the past two years, but I am participating in professional development as well. I am very active with professional development in my school as well as my local ISD. My recent professional development at the MISD includes DIBELS, DRA, and MLPP K-2 training. As I stated earlier, I am also continuing my education in my school, Ojibwa Elementary, as well. I recently spent the day observing the first grade team and their RTI model, which I plan to model to fit my Kindergarten classroom.
When my M.A is completed in May 2013, I will still continue with my philosophy and goal statement. Life long learning is a commitment that will continue with me throughout the rest of my career. I may return to school in the future, but no matter what I will always find a way to continue to educate myself to benefit my career as a teacher.
Gina Munaco, February 2013
Looking back at the time I submitted this essay, I can say that my goal has not changed, but rather stayed the same. Not only have I been working towards my M.A in Literacy Education the past two years, but I am participating in professional development as well. I am very active with professional development in my school as well as my local ISD. My recent professional development at the MISD includes DIBELS, DRA, and MLPP K-2 training. As I stated earlier, I am also continuing my education in my school, Ojibwa Elementary, as well. I recently spent the day observing the first grade team and their RTI model, which I plan to model to fit my Kindergarten classroom.
When my M.A is completed in May 2013, I will still continue with my philosophy and goal statement. Life long learning is a commitment that will continue with me throughout the rest of my career. I may return to school in the future, but no matter what I will always find a way to continue to educate myself to benefit my career as a teacher.
Gina Munaco, February 2013
Looking Ahead
I am nearing the end of my Masters Degree and the final months of formal schooling. School has been a large part of my life the past 21 years. Now what? Where do I go from here? At the age of 26, I am very proud of this accomplishment and it is hard to think that this is it for me. I currently am the only family member in my household who has graduated from college and soon I will also have a M.A degree. I worked very hard with barely any breaks between semesters and my family was there supporting me the whole way. I realize I am very young in my profession and I know that my learning will not end here.
In this time of rapid technological change and globalization, I will keep learning and growing as an educator because it is needed. Change is especially seen in classrooms. My elementary days were full of chalkboards, overhead transparencies, and VCR’s on a cart. Now classrooms are well equipped with microphones, ELMOs, and interactive white boards. I am very fortunate to be in a classroom that contains updated technology. When I was first hired in my school district, all new hires were required to take a “Technology in the Classroom” seminar. The main purpose of this class was to teach us how to properly care for the equipment as well as make new hires aware of all the resources available. There was so much to learn in three hours, to the point where it was overwhelming, that I am now signed up for an extension of that seminar. Next month I will be attending a 7-hour workshop offered by my district called “GetSmart”, which will focus on SMARTBoards and other SMART products. I am confident in using the SMARTBoard, but I know there is still so much to be offered from that program that I am not using. My goal is to be proficient and make my own SMARTBoard lessons. I can see myself attending workshops like these for the rest of my life. Right now SMARTBoards are the newest technology in classrooms, but I am convinced that in just a few short years something else will come out that will require teachers to get trained in. This is very exciting to me and I look forward to what new technologies may bring to the classroom.
Formal professional development workshops will always be a part of my personal learning plan, but it does not stop there. Co-workers provide insight on new ideas and technologies, and especially in the teaching profession, are always willing to share. This year a co-worker recently shared with me the online communication service Remind101. This service allows teachers to send a text message to large group of subscribers, parents or students, with privacy and discretion still in tack. I use this service to text the parents in my classroom reminders of homework dates, permission slips, and even if there is a snow day. The parents can’t respond, nor can see the numbers of the subscribers been seen, but they are informed of useful information. This technology goes beyond classroom newsletters, websites, and email exchanges. This is just one example of how I use face-to-face resources at my disposal to manage my professional development and lifelong learning.
My experiences in this master’s program have influenced my approach to lifelong learning. When I inform people that I am completing my M.A program fully online, I always get the same response. The person I am conferring with always gives some sort of confused look and states how they learn their best with face-to-face instruction. Now at the end of this online learning experience, I can proudly say that I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It is unique, innovative, and progressive. I was able to work at my own pace in a comfortable learning environment. I look forward to new endeavors with online learning courses in the future.
Gina Munaco, February 2013
In this time of rapid technological change and globalization, I will keep learning and growing as an educator because it is needed. Change is especially seen in classrooms. My elementary days were full of chalkboards, overhead transparencies, and VCR’s on a cart. Now classrooms are well equipped with microphones, ELMOs, and interactive white boards. I am very fortunate to be in a classroom that contains updated technology. When I was first hired in my school district, all new hires were required to take a “Technology in the Classroom” seminar. The main purpose of this class was to teach us how to properly care for the equipment as well as make new hires aware of all the resources available. There was so much to learn in three hours, to the point where it was overwhelming, that I am now signed up for an extension of that seminar. Next month I will be attending a 7-hour workshop offered by my district called “GetSmart”, which will focus on SMARTBoards and other SMART products. I am confident in using the SMARTBoard, but I know there is still so much to be offered from that program that I am not using. My goal is to be proficient and make my own SMARTBoard lessons. I can see myself attending workshops like these for the rest of my life. Right now SMARTBoards are the newest technology in classrooms, but I am convinced that in just a few short years something else will come out that will require teachers to get trained in. This is very exciting to me and I look forward to what new technologies may bring to the classroom.
Formal professional development workshops will always be a part of my personal learning plan, but it does not stop there. Co-workers provide insight on new ideas and technologies, and especially in the teaching profession, are always willing to share. This year a co-worker recently shared with me the online communication service Remind101. This service allows teachers to send a text message to large group of subscribers, parents or students, with privacy and discretion still in tack. I use this service to text the parents in my classroom reminders of homework dates, permission slips, and even if there is a snow day. The parents can’t respond, nor can see the numbers of the subscribers been seen, but they are informed of useful information. This technology goes beyond classroom newsletters, websites, and email exchanges. This is just one example of how I use face-to-face resources at my disposal to manage my professional development and lifelong learning.
My experiences in this master’s program have influenced my approach to lifelong learning. When I inform people that I am completing my M.A program fully online, I always get the same response. The person I am conferring with always gives some sort of confused look and states how they learn their best with face-to-face instruction. Now at the end of this online learning experience, I can proudly say that I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It is unique, innovative, and progressive. I was able to work at my own pace in a comfortable learning environment. I look forward to new endeavors with online learning courses in the future.
Gina Munaco, February 2013