Experience 10 - Wednesday May 7th, 2014

As a means to compensate for the absence the past February I came and surprised my field placement teachers. My field placement teacher was awfully nice to let my lead the class. The class played United States of America BINGO. It was fun but not easy. I did use my Teacher Voice but I was laid-back. I threatened to end the game every time the kids started to chatter but the kids were well-behaved for the most of it.

Experience 9 - Thursday May 1st, 2014

The cafeteria is unique since the students help make the food. The chefs teach the students about hard work and cooperation. The chefs are excellent at making the food on the spot and teach the students about nutrition. The dietary needs of the students are met and are even provided after-school snacks of milk with nutritional granola bars. The snacks change and the lunch itself have less calories than the traditional school meals.

Experience 8 - Thursday April 24th, 2014

The students have been giving me a great opportunity to see what their school system has done to them. What the students look for in teachers is someone who is patient, honest and passionate. One of the teachers is extremely strict and impatient while the other one is walked all over by their students. The field placement is always a delight since Maritime Academy is fighting the stigma with the term "charter school". 

No Field Placement (Spring Break for Maritime Academy) Thursday April 17th, 2014

This week I had no Field Placement due to the fact that Maritime Academy was off for Spring Break. My Field Placement teacher was visiting the Congos for 10 days. I should ask her how it was. It sounds super exciting. Other than that I had missed my students and I was very unproductive that day. I had nothing to do that day since I had no Field Placement. I mostly napped that day. It was that unproductive and I was devastated when I woke up from my 4+ Hour nap. 

Experience 7 Thursday April 10th, 2013

           Maritime Academy of Toledo has resources including Simulator. Simulator is located at Toledo Town Hall. Simulator allows students an opportunity to get the experience as if they were on an actual U.S. Marines ship. The U.S. Marines is a big theme for Maritime Academy of Toledo since it is half education as well as half discipline of the Marines. The uniforms emulate the U.S. Marines and the disciplinary actions also reflect the Marines. I had the opportunity to see their simulator. The simulator is at the Maritime Academy Headquarters. The headquarters has a computer lab for students to practice steering a boat. The second room has mapping and route mapping for students to practice coordinating ships. The final room has an elevated simulation of a boat with plasma screens of the bow.
           The academy has a strong after-school program where each teacher will focus on a specific subject and teach it to their class until 4:00pm. There is also classes dedicated to games and movies. 

Experience 6 - Thursday April 3rd, 2014

Maritime Academy of Toledo emphasizes discipline yet some teachers are laid back. Some teachers are laid back to the point that they will allow students to listen to iPods or other MP3 devices while working on their Study Island. Study Island is a resource tool for students to catch up in other classes via online education. Study Island incorporates education, games and grading to make sure the students are well-rounded for that class subject. Study Island is not a class itself but is what students work on during their study period. Study Island may not work for everyone but it seems to be the best way to allow teachers to have extra planning time in their busy schedule. 

Experience 5 - Thursday March 27th, 2014

Maritime Academy struggles with handling students who lie, cheat and are afraid to speak their true mind. The students here have been known to steal from the cafeteria, cheat on school projects and cover up their true emotions. Whether or not the family plays a role in their lives is out of the question. There are not that many extra-curricular activities that are affordable, enjoyable and work with the student's compressed schedule. Students have been given more than ever due to the 2013 winter break snow storm. The snow storm may have ended but the Blizzard Bags teachers have been giving students show no remorse or empathy for what the students had have to endure. The students have been fortunate enough to see snow days due to below-freezing temperatures but are now paying the price for the many breaks. Maritime Academy needs to find a balance between discipline and success. The two are never seen working hand in hand and need to- at the very least be seen meeting somewhere in the middle.

Experience 4 - Thursday March 20th, 2014

The students are not afraid to share their interests with people closer their age. Whether or not there is age-discrimination there seems to be tighter relationships between teachers who are under 35 and students. The teachers are seen more active, curious and passionate in the lives' of their students. They pull out their phone in the middle of class to text, surf Facebook and even share their favorite YouTube videos. The only down-side seems to be the struggle with connecting it with the class lesson. A light seems to be turned on whenever a student gets one-on-one with a favorite teacher. They seem more open to discuss problems in class and their relationships with peers their own age. Intervention Specialist have been known to be snagged by charter schools young and ready for anything. Young intervention specialists are seen as the most-valued teacher since they just got out of school, know the recent changes for intervention specialist and might be even dating. This is not always the case but more of a diamond in the rough opportunity. 

Experience 3 - Thursday March 6th, 2014

Maritime Academy struggles to find teachers who are well trained at handling students who have special needs. Many may have taken a basic course for intervention specialist but have not taken it to a deeper level. Students need to be understood that they are important in the classroom and are not a pest. Many of the faculty struggle with showing content and feel that they are allowed to do what they are pleased since their job is not on the line. Their job is not on the line since it is a charter school that desperately needs educators. Whether or not the pay is another factor for their behavior it is simply not a reason to expose your true colors in front of a 6th grader. The students cannot get off of the hook too easily since they show no remorse for their failing grades. The students do not have a good motive to continue which only emphasizes why I want to be the one who can show them that they are valued and that if they put their front foot forward they will get out of the metaphorical rut that they are in currently. 

Experience 2 - Thursday February 27th, 2014

Maritime Academy of Toledo is evidence that not all charter schools are dirt-poor. Like any school there could be better funding but that isn't a surprise. Maritime is fortunate to have generous organizations provide the technology inside each classroom and to have a state-of-the-art submarine simulator for students to get a feel of the marines. They even respect the marine's core keys to success of honor, duty and success. The students are expected to be on their best behavior and negative behavior is immediately taken care of. Students dress in accordance with school dress code and have a uniform that even mimics the marines. Just because it is a charter school doesn't mean it is a utopia. The school struggles with keeping order when it comes to breaking up fights in the 'schoolyard' (hallways). Students are exposed to a variety of intolerance since it is a very diverse setting. There are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students all trying to find themselves and their purpose in life while trying to get an education. An education is especially important for them since it does mean whether or not they get into a good college or not. 

Experience 11 (Thursday December 5th, 2013)

Today was a very boring day. I sat quietly and patiently observing my supervising teacher do her lesson. She's really good at making the lecture fun but struggles to show empathy for them as a class. On a one-on-one  basis the teacher is excellent at showing true empathy for a struggling student and happily gives up her lunch period to help the student grasp the day's lesson. I think she is a very good role model when it comes to the time and dedication into her students' success. Going back the class view, my supervising teacher needs to slow down so she can prevent any struggling students or students who are falling behind in their work. 

Experience 1 - Thursday February 13th, 2014

Maritime Academy of Toledo is a local charter school in the heart of Toledo, Ohio. They are known for their marine-themed environment and principles. The school is very passionate about their students, success and reputation. They put great empathy on discipline, honesty and integrity. There is a diverse background when entering this charter schools. It is half and half: half are from lower-middle class caucasian families while the others are in the lower-class but are being well supported and encouraged at Maritime. The Maritime Academy of Toledo has also recently moved to a hotel. This means that the classrooms are still set up with bathrooms and are very fortunate to have a pool, fitness center and even hotel rooms that are designated 'dorms'. It is even still has the hotel keycards for faculty and staff to enter and exit their classrooms. It is great that they encourage student creativity and participation by making them help the culinary students in the large kitchen. They lunches are healthy and affordable. Faculty and staff may have to pay a hefty $3.00 compared to the reduced-lunch plan of only $0.40 per a meal. However, there is a below-average intervention specialist program but it still needs time to grow. Unfortunately the school is unable to afford a social worker so the 4th/5th grade social studies teacher Mrs. Amy Hineline has to deal with students inside and outside her classroom. Overall the Maritime Academy of Toledo is excellent at keeping the parents involved with their child's academic life and encouraging students to remember their manners with Maritime Bucks which is their reward system. The Maritime Bucks is a form of currency that can be exchanged, at the end of the grace period, for rewards such as an iPod, Kindle or other goodies.

No Field Placement (Due to Emergency) Thursday February 20th, 2014

On Wednesday February 19th, 2014 at exactly 3:30pm I was sent to Flower Hospital in Sylvannia, Ohio as a means to get help for my suicidal ideation. During my stay, I met some interesting people there. I made new friends and learned a lot about myself. I was heart-broken that I had missed my Field Placement. I love my Field Placement teacher and the students. The students say the cutest things and I learn a lot from each experience.

Experience 12 (Thursday December 12th, 2013)

I find today was extremely educational today than normally. My teacher let me grade some more papers. I don't know it now but grading papers is a lot of fun. It's really strange to be there for most of the school day and see how my supervising teacher repeats a class lecture. The afternoon class seems to lag a little because the energy from the teacher is falling. It's no surprise since the teacher has no break. The morning class benefits from the boundless energy she has acquired from her morning tea. I believe overall that today was super productive for me, the students, and the teacher.

Experience 10 (Thursday November 21st, 2013)

Today was okay. Nothing really exciting. But each day is a new learning experience. I am getting closer with my supervisor and enjoy the students. The students are slowly warming up to me. I think I felt really good knowing that I knew how to help the students without looking at the answer key this time. I was very confident and I even impressed myself. I was, however, lacking in the ability to explain why their answer was wrong in the correct mathematical sense. Either way I know that I can only go up from here.

Experience 9 (Thursday November 14th, 2013)

Today I had a real drive throughout the school day. I think it was because that I knew the answers to the math questions. My supervisor shared me the Answer Key so I walked around checking students' answers with full pride and confidence. I was quite proud of myself but I should have known it would get the best of me. Unfortunately, they were covering a chapter that my high school math class skipped over because of its irrelevancy. I felt bad that I could not help the students by telling them how I got the right answer. I was only able to say either that they "didn't get the correct answer" or they were "right on the money". This limited my abilities to interact with the students. Other than that I felt really good knowing that I could walk about the aisles of desks and look over students' shoulder to see if they were focused or on track.

Experience 8 (Thursday November 7th, 2013)

Today was super fun. I had the opportunity to interact with a lot of students casually. It must have been a relaxed day since I had got the time to talk to them one-on-one. I can see why the students love the teacher and I hope that the students themselves come to me more often for help. I like to point out how special I feel when the teacher addressed me as, "Mrs. Lanier." It sounds so weird and I hope I soon get used to it. I am learning a lot about myself and the mathematics class with each Field Placement day.