Why can't it all be fun and games?

As a teacher, I will most certainly use games in the classroom. There is no better outlet for the pressures put upon students than recreational situation. Yes, there is a curriculum to adhere to, but allowing the students a bit of free time, and joining in on the fun, lets them know you care about them and that your not just some boring shlum that is in the classroom to make their lives hell. Lets face it, the teachers we remember the most are the ones who made life fun, they were the only reason we didn't beg our moms to let us stay home for the day. As teachers, we will develop the sixth sense ( not the "I see dead people" one) that will tell us we are frying little brain cells. it is at that moment that we must abandon the plan books and let the children be children. It is foolish to think that we should chain students to their seats and structure every second of the day with stern reprimands.
   As we learned in class, many of the licenced games have educational qualities, and a good teacher can identify those qualities and turn them into a fun teachable moment. Plus, there are many games that can be adapted to suit the needs of the content area.

motivation

Motivation is an underlying factor which compels a person to behave in a certain manner, take action,or perform a task. Conversely, motivation may also dissuade a person from any such actions. For students, peer-pressure is one of the greatest motivators, especially in the upper grades. One of the biggest tragedies of adolescence is the locking away of intelligence and identity to impress those who are unmotivated in their own educational careers.

In respect to my educational endeavours,I am motivated by my interactions with the students that I have met during my field-based observations. The experiences were positive (even with students whom the teacher deemed to be "bad"), and so it is with such pleasant memories in mind that I push through classes and homework assignments. I look foreword to the day when I may have my own classroom and am able to follow my own standards, rather than those set by the teachers who have hosted me.

Culture and Literacy

Now that I am viewing the world through the eyes of a teacher, the connection between culture and literacy is of great importance. When I was a student, I would have called "bullshit" on anyone who told me that my environment and the people with whom I associated would impact my educational career. Because I fraternized with disinterested and disgruntled juvenile delinquents, I too shared their habits and turned my back on the lessons taught in school. My only saving grace was that I was naturally bright and my mind would not be dulled by dim-witted behavior. Now I can see that the importance a cultural sect places on literacy affects the importance an individual places on developing skills in such literacies. As a teacher, it is important to wstablish a culture of the room, and therein place value on the rewards of a strong education.