Our First Assignment~

Goals for this course:
     Learn more about student learning types, meta cognition and how to teach accordingly
     Learn more about student motivation behind learning
     Improve my own skills as a learner and critical thinker


I implemented the idea of giving myself breaks throughout my reading for this course as well as my others and I felt like I was able to focus so much more during the 10-15 min increments of time that I put towards that and then was able to step back and think about what I read rather than just trying to get through the allotted amount of pages in the shortest amount of time. This method took me longer than just reading straight through would have but it already has been more rewarding for myself as a student and future teacher. Because I am working about 35 hours a week and taking a full load of classes, I must plan ahead in order to get everything done that I need to and want to. On a weekly basis (at least) I make detailed 'to do' lists in which I map out what needs to be done, by which day, and which days I will devote to completing the task. I will use this method that works in other areas of my life more to school this semester in order to stay more on top of everything I must keep straight for my different classes. Living a balanced life has always been very important to me, and I have always had a lot going on, which has forced me to stay on top of my time management and I have always got more accomplished than I thought I had time for.

I will prepare myself for this class weekly by stretching out the assigned reading throughout the week so that it is not left for the last night before class. This is something that I have always struggled with. I do procrastinate, so I have trained myself to not look at due dates, but to write down earlier due dates so that I am forced to begin things earlier and therefore I do a better job on them. For this class, I think it will be important to work on the projects, reading, and studying all week so that it is not all left for Sunday night before our weekly meetings.

If I have problems understanding a topic I will reread it, discuss it with others, look up definitions, and search for meaning in other places until I do. I also find it helpful to step back from an idea or topic and think about it and discuss it away from any source of knowledge other than my own. Reexplaining ideas and topics has always been something that has solidified ideas in my mind.


I will reach my goals in this course by working to understand the readings, taking my time with the material covered before and in class, and applying for desires to learn as a student and teacher.