WebLog 1: Class Survey

1. Name, hometown, primary email- Amanda Musarra from Solon, Ohio. amusarra13@jcu.edu

2. What name do you prefer to be called? I would like to be called Amanda

3. Grade level and subject(s) that you want to teach (For graduate students: undergraduate and graduate degree(s), education license(s), current employment: grade level, subject(s) if applicable, district)- I would one day like to teach 1st grade.

4. What are you into; what makes you special? Share a few “unique” aspects about yourself that would help our classroom community get to know you a bit better.Learning Style and more: I am part of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta and I love my sisters! I learn best in a comfortable learning environment that is not all lecture.

5. Being as specific as you can, what must be in place for you to feel comfortable taking intellectual and creative risks in a classroom? Trust with the teacher and other students in the class.

6. I am interested in your perception of yourself as a student. Please describe it. Consider such criteria as a) active oral class participation; b) responsible, timely class preparation (of readings, projects, etc.); c) honest, candid self-assessment; d) awareness of your own preferred learning styles/approaches; e) first thing that you do when you cannot or do not understand something; f)other dimensions you believe to be relevant and informative. I try to participate as best as I can within the classroom, but I am somewhat apprehensive if I am unsure of an answer. If I do not understand a topic, I try to ask other students to reach the answer, but if that does not help, I will always ask the professor for clarification.


7. Is there anything I should know about you, your learning style, or life situation that may be relevant to your successful performance in this course? (Please decide what to share with the class and what to share in confidence with me). I am always eager to learn, but I learn best from examples rather than just reading out of the text book or lectures.

Education Past and Present
8. Share a formative memory from your experiences as a student. My favorite memory as a student is my high school junior year in math. I had a great bond with my teach, Mr. Heinrich, and he made it more apparent for me that I want to become a teacher. He made me love school and I hope I will influence my students in the same way.

9. Please discuss what are, for you, the some significant issues or concerns facing the field of education right now. I feel like one of the biggest concerns facing the field of education is for people trying to find a job after college in Ohio.

10. Let’s imagine, humbly, that this course is definitely going to be the most meaningful and relevant course you’ve ever experienced. EVER. Drawing on your past experience in classrooms, and thinking uniquely, specifically and BIG, describe what we need to (1) DO (activities/projects), (2) STUDY (content topics and compelling issues/questions), (3) BE (interacting with each other) and (4) AVOID (in the previous three categories) in order for your visionary views of an ideal course to be mostly realized.About Dr. Shutkin: I feel like we should engage in many projects that relate our own experiences within our society (from service) to schools within the area and even from our experiences from earlier education.

11. Write down two or three questions you would like to ask me about myself or the class. Did you grow up in Ohio? Dis you go to John Carroll University?