Introduction

Readers, welcome to my first blog for TE 818. I look forward to sharing my ideas, opinions, and learning's throughout this semester. I am anxious to document my understanding of curriculum and the educational system publicly and share with, not only my peers in this course, but any other interested person who may stumble upon this web address.

To fully understand my thoughts and opinions as I proceed to document them on this blog throughout the course, I first must share with readers more about myself. My name is Carole Harkins. I teach eighth grade math and science in a K-8 building under the jurisdiction of a traditionally urban school district. I am in the middle of my third year of teaching. I hear, after the third year, the chaos and challenges (that seem to be overwhelming at times) in my chosen career, will lessen. However, I also believe I should always feel challenged when I am teaching. I can always improve and be a better teacher, and overcoming those challenges will only help me be more successful in the future.

I have seen many things in my three short years. I have taught in four different school settings. I have experienced teaching in environments with little to no parent involvement, young children in gangs, a large distrust in the school system, failing test scores, and extreme teacher and administration turnover. I had to quickly learn how to still be successful and thrive in places where many people would want to give up.

My teaching career, so far, has been far different than my school experiences growing up.  Learning to teach in a setting so different than the setting in which I had learned, proved to not only be challenging but also enlightening. I have come to realize the many dynamics of what makes a school successful versus unsuccessful, along with what helps a child be successful versus unsuccessful in any environment.

One such factor is literacy, which brings me to the present. I am currently certified to teach Mathematics and Science through eighth grade. But as I have learned from my experiences, we are in a literacy crisis, and we need strong literacy education in schools in all disciplines. It is such a multidimensional topic, as I have come to discover. So I am currently seeking my Masters degree in Literacy. I value skillful reading and writing as the foundation for all subject areas,  and most importantly as the key to being a  productive member of society. I feel most valuable to my students, and the educational system by expanding and broadening my own understandings and teaching capacity.

In addition to growing as an educator, I am always trying to grow to be a better friend, partner, daughter, and person in general. As part of bettering myself, I have recently learned how to ski. I am afraid however, instead of it helping me to expand my experiences, it has only served to expand my bumps and bruises all over my body.

I am also excited to marry the love of my life in June on Mackinac Island. My life, both professionally and personally, is ever changing and becoming better and better as I continue to grow and learn.