MIDTERMS!!!!

It's Midterm time - The cadets researched, created brochures and made 10 minute informative presentations to their peers and Mr. Kimbrell from Anderson University for the midterm grades. Topics included Violence in Schools, Religious Rights in Schools, Sexual Harrassment in Schools as well as Autism and Child Abuse. Mr. Kimbrell was VERY impressed with the presentations. A quote: "Best I've seen!" Way to go!

December 4 - January 3

Jessica Wickline had the pleasure of keeping up with events for what seems like the month of December. Click below to read the class log from December 4 to Christmas break.

Christina is at Erskine!!!

Christina is competing for the EBK full scholarship this weekend. Send her some love and support!!!

A Cadet Christmas!

All the cadets (well most of them) went to Mrs. Turner's house for a Christmas Party/Service Project. We ate pizza, exchanged gifts and decorated about 200 cupcakes to deliver to MHS teachers for Christmas. Let's see - we had frosting EVERYWHERE - and it seems like many cupcakes should have been called poopcakes!

Parent Teacher Conferences

The cadets participated in mock parent/teacher conference. They paired up and were given a "son" or "daughter" with a problem related to school; anything from drugs to teen pregnancy, sport eligibility problems or difficulties in scheduling. The cadets role played the situations with the help of Assistant Administrators, Elizabeth Leonard & Don Alewine as well as Coach Frady, Athletic Director. Chris Smutzer, curriculum coordinator also participated in the conference.

Kimberly Kelly comes to visit!

Ms. Kimberly Kelly, a guidance counselor from Mauldin Middle School came to speak with cadets today, Monday, December 11th about life at MMS. She answered questions and shared a glimpse into the life of a middle school student preparing the cadets for their observations tomorrow. Cadets - you can answer the blog questions here or leave her a note about her visit!
1. What are the physical differences between a middle school aged child and a ten year old child?
2. What are the intellectual differences between a middle school aged child and a ten-year old child?
3. What have you observed about the social development of middle school children?

The Essential 55 - Thanks Ron Clark!

Thanks to the wonderful Teacher Cadets from 2006-2007, we have an autographed copy of Ron Clar's The Essential 55. After Thanksgiving, we began to read a rule a day. Each rule is posted here after we read it. Click on the comments to read the rules and comment!

November 20 - December 1

Megan kept the blog for this duration of time. Click on the comments below to read about our activities or to drop her a big "hello"

Elementary School Observations

December 3 & 4 The cadets visited local elementary schools to observe 1st through 5th grades. Hey cadets! - Respond to these questions, or simply share a comment from your experience!

Questions to anwers (here or on paper!)
1. What are the physical differences between a 6 year old and a 10 year old?
2. What are the intellectual differences between a 6 year old and a 10 year old?
3. What have you observed about the social development of children 9 & 10 years old?
4. What have you noticed about the types of classroom discipline systems?
5. What are the major differences that you see between these children and pre-school children?

Special Guest - Brett Vaughn

Tuesday, November 28, Brett Vaughn, Region 1 Coordinator for the Teacher Cadet Program came to class to talk with the cadets. She promoted using the CERRA website to locate good scholarships. Don't be afraid to apply for ANYTHING! She also read the book Paper Airplanes by Michael McMillan. The theme encourages students and teachers to think outside the box. Hey cadets!! Leave her a note in this box!!!

Pre-School "Design on a Dime!"

Different Groups designed and constructed Pre-schools. Each project included a layout for the entire school with a classroom model. Letters to parents were written detailing the daily schedule and teacher expectations. A daily routine and discipline schedule were devised as well as safety precautions and other concerns. Finally, each group designed an advertisement poster to recruit teachers?

Where would you send your child? Share your thoughts and comments as you vote for your favorite Pre-School.
1. The JAE Academy (Jatana, Anthony, Erin)
2. Little Tiger Preschool (Kate, Allison)
3. An Offering of Hope (Christina, Heather, Megan)
4. Munchkin Mansion (Jessica, Gayle, Bethany, Jin Mei)
5. Learn "a" lot Preschool (Michael)
6. SC School for Gifted Youngsters (Jon)

November 13 - November 17

Erin Tharpe wrote the log this week. Click below on "comments" to read about what happened in class - or leave her a big "hello!"

November 6 - November 10

Kate Sorgenfrei kept the log for us this week. Click below on comments to read her account of the week, or send her a big "hello."

We're Going to College!

Hey Cadets! Let us know when you receive an acceptance letter from a college or university! We want to fill you with HIGH POT!

Kindergarten & Pre-School Observations

We observed Kindergarten & Pre-School November 15 and 16. Here are Jon and Erin hanging out with the kids at Greenbrier Elementary. We also visited Mauldin, Bethel and Oakview. Hey cadets! Leave your comments about your experience. Anything you can't wait to share??

PLAY DAY!

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures! What is wrong with me!!! Anyway - Here are your questions to respond to.

1. List some specific things that you did during "Play Day" that fall into these different types of play:

• practice play
• symbolic play
• games with rules
• construction play

2. What did you observe during "Play Day" about:

• solitary independent play
• parallel play
• associative play
• cooperative play

3. What did you learn about yourself and/or your friends during "Play Day." What can you learn from playing? How could you incorporate what you did today or learned from today's activity into your pre-school model.

4. Please state your pre-school model plan: (group and project)

November "Teacher Cadet" of the Month!

Congratulations Erin Tharpe!!! - Erin, (center) encircled by her friends Heather & Christina, was voted most generous with her time, her possessions, her friendship and her help. She is November's Cadet of the Month!

Thank you!!!

How can I begin to thank each of you for your kind and wonderful surprise for my birthday. You all are definitely a bright start to my day. Thank you for the beautiful cake, the thoughtful poem - and what a wonderful gift - The 55 Essentials by Ron Clark. I appreciate how much thought and effort you put into the surprise and making my day extra special. I also appreciate how hard you work for me in class - the energy, the creativity and the fun you infuse into our room. I hope you generate that enthusiasm in your own classrooms one day. Again - thanks so much. You are all super special.
~ Señora T.

"Building" with Language

We studied the importance of language in teaching according to theorist Lev Vgostky, also known as "that guy." Cadets had to build free-standing structures using various materials. However, they could not talk, write or communicate with each other in any way to accomplish the task.

October 30 - November 3

Gayle Smith kept the blog this week. Click below for her comments. Send her a little "hello" too.

Happy Halloween Hands!!

The Cadets made "Halloween Hands" to brighten the teachers day. We delivered them on Halloween. Everyone can use a hand full of pop-corn, candy-corn and a spider ring!

October 23 - October 27

Jon Leonard kept the blog for us this week. Click below to read his comments and leave him a "hello."

T-Shirt Design!!

Erin is designing our class t-shirt with stick figures! Leave her some ideas for the type of stick figure each of us should have!! Happy Brainstorming!

Jean Piaget Reactions!

We discussed Piaget's theories on cognitive development. Write a reaction to each of the following questions critics have raised about Piaget.

1. Piaget's theories are based on case studies of a small population of white, middle-class children. Are the same stages true for other cultures, atypical living arrangements, and other populations? What influences do environmental factors have on these stages?

2. The sequences and chronology of Piaget are rigid. Some "normal" children are far behind these stages while others are far ahead. Can stages be skipped? What about precocious seven-year-old chess players? Shouldn't adults be capable of formal operational thinking. (if adults know that drinking and driving is dangerous, why do they do it?)

3. Piaget does not adequately describe adolescents. Should they have their own egocentric stage? They appear to understand rules, as in the formal operations stage, yet many feel that rules apply to everyone else but themselves. (Teenagers believe in using birth control, yet many do not use it themsevles.)

October 9 - October 13

Allison kept the class log this week. Click below to read her "comments" or to add your own!

Special Education Observations

Hey! While Mrs. Turner is gone to the Teacher Cadet Fall Conference, the cadets are busy visiting local elementary schools to observe special education classes. Please share some of your reactions to the experience. Remember DO NOT include students names. Respect their privacy!

October Student of the Month!

Congratulations Gayle Smith! Gayle is a senior at Mauldin who is extremely creative. Her enthusiasm is an added bonus to our class, and she will make a fabulous teacher one day!

A Visit with Mrs. Sorgenfrei

Traci Sorgenfrei, the Applied Behavior Specialist for Greenville County Schools came to speak with us today, Oct 9th. She taught us about the different types of special education and what kind of services were available to students. She discussed protocol for visitation and observation of special needs students. She got everyone ready for our schools visits this week. Thanks so much to Mrs. Sorgenfrei for her willingness to share her time with our class.

October 2 - October 6

Christina Land kept the log for our class this week. Click below to read her comments and give her a big "hello!"

"Only the curious will learn and only the resolute will overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient."
Edmund S. Wilson

September Library Display Cases

The Teacher Cadets are responsible for maintaining the display cases in our library. For September, Erin Tharpe, Jatana Jennings and Anthony Bufis designed a display to showcase "banned books" for Banned Book Week. May we exercise our freedom to read. Gayle Smith, Erin Tharpe and Jessica Wickline also created a display to show off our Big Books and Puppet Shows promoting self-esteem

September 25-29

Jatana Jennings was responsible for an account of this weeks activities. Click below to read her comments and give her some "love"!

September 18 - 22

Michael Harris kept the class log for this week. Click below to read his account of our activities. Feel free to leave him a message!