About Me

Hi there, my name is Holly Longenecker. I'm a student at The University of South Alabama, majoring in Physical Education. I'm a gymnastics coach, I love to move around and it's very hard to sit still at the computer most of the time, but I'm making it work. This is my professional blog for my EDM 310 class, I've enjoyed working on it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. :)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Conservative Liberalism (not the political kind?)

An oxymoron at least, and the way I feel at best, for lack of better words. I believe that a teacher should go above and beyond their "job description" all day, everyday. Reaching out to students and making a difference in one child's life is enough for me to make an "executive decision" to bend the rules? I say this because not just one, but TWO of the (most amazing) teachers that have had the most impact in my life (and decision making) have had to resort to leaving their current positions due to ignorant Zaxs!

I guess my point is, (and agreeing with Randy Pausch) we must take risks. I'm not cocky, but I WILL always have my students' best interests in mind, and if that means carrying through with something that might seem controversial, I will do what I believe in. I've signed up to teach, I'll take the tests, I'm taking on the responsibility, but rest assured, I will not hide in fear. I will not be afraid of learning, at any cost. And neither will my students. :) I love life and I want to learn as much as possible throughout my time and I will only be encouraging the same for my students!

Blogging in the Classroom





Once I'm in the classroom, one thing is for sure, I WILL have a class blog. Blogs are one of the coolest things IN THE WORLD! I also will stream my classes live as long as I have the equipment to do so. If a student is ever absent, work will be posted to the blog. If a parent wants to know what their child has been/is working on, there it will be, on the blog. If questions need to be asked, students and teachers AND parents will be able to participate through comments. The benefits to blogging (for the classroom) outweigh the bad by virtually 100%, and I definitely will be using this important, convenient tool in my future as a teacher.

My Professional Philosophy




Writing my own personal philosophy began with a lot of thought and contemplation. I know what I believe, but I’m looking forward to writing down my thoughts and seeing just how dynamic my thinking runs. The eclecticism of my beliefs will serve me through the next chapters of my life, providing a sound philosophy to guide me and base my decisions on.

Health and Physical Education have always been two areas that were very important to me. More important than the subject content is the way each of these have entered my life and how they have affected me. What attracted me in the first place were the people that taught me about Health and Physical Education. I knew at a very young age I wanted to have an impact on others as these people had had on me.

The Alabama Educator Code of Ethics gives us nine standards that should be upheld by professionals in the field. These standards, along with my passion for being an effective teacher, are the base for my professional philosophy and my career. I strongly believe that to be an effective teacher, one must have developed their own sense of self. Only with the sense of who I am will I be able to reach my students in an effective and relevant way. My excitement about subject matter is irrelevant without the connection with my students.

My goal for writing this paper is to understand fully what I believe to be true and necessary to be able to excel in my profession. My number one concern is and always will be the student. My role as a gymnastics coach has given me insight on how impressionable these kids are and how much they desperately need guidance and support from their teachers. Students need their teachers to be there for them. Sometimes a teacher is all a student has and we must not take for granted the position that we hold. I value the time that I get to spend with each one of my students and to have them FEEL that is almost indescribable. I appreciate my students most when they share with me new things they’ve learned, and it over joys me to know that they’re sharing with me because they know I truly care.

Displaying trustworthiness, along with having an appropriate relationship with each of my students are two characteristics that are most important to me as an educator, and coincidentally, these comply with Code of Ethics set for Alabama Educators. Accepting my students as individuals, sharing with them my passions (playing, laughing, seeking knowledge, listening, fairness) and having them share their passions with me set me apart from others and help me understand and appreciate myself and others better. A good teacher is fair, conducts herself in an ethical way, professionally and personally, encourages her students to fulfill their potentials, promotes health and wellness, values differences, has a developed a sense of self, incorporates different approaches to teaching, sets clear objectives for her students so they may feel a sense of accomplishment, builds character, is technologically literate, and is passionate about their work.

My only hope after articulating what is important to me is that I am able to live the example that I want to portray. I want to reflect through the programs that I teach my own responsibility to my role. One of my own personal goals is to be more thoughtful and open minded when making decisions. I know that I can only get better with practice and I’m very excited to begin this new journey.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

A Great Link to Visit

See my EDM 310 Class blog here!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Strange Technology




Over the course of this semester I've learned some things regarding technology that I didn't even know existed. Now, I didn't come in here completely oblivious, but I definitely feel more confident about being in front of a classroom full of technologically savvy students than I did in January.

Even though my major is in Physical Education and I might not be in the classroom for some time, I'm excited about all of the tools I'll be able to use to do projects with my students and all of the interactive things they'll be able to do and be able to blog about. I love Mr. C's live stream of his classroom, and I'd love to be able to do that too. I think this shows openness and honesty, and the more this is done, diversity can take place. With diversity in place, learning is created, and technology was the catalyst for it all. Thank you Dr. Strange for introducing me to your world. I'd love to introduce you to mine... maybe you'd like to come to a power tumbling class?

Mad Skills

This semester has been a trying one for me, all of my classes having a large workload. I've been lucky in the past not being so overwhelmed, but the test of time proved that it was my turn to stress. Skills such as time management, initiative, perseverance, and plain old "just doing it" are ones that I've had to apply to my life with especial care this semester.

These skills were never just "known" for me, and as a teacher, I want to make a special effort to encourage my students to fully understand self-responsibility. Some students don't come to school prepared (some of the time through no fault of their own), have poor modeling at home, and I take it upon myself to teach these children they can rise above, and make a difference for themselves, through education.

I will work as hard as I can to impress upon my students the value of others, and I truly believe that that is one of the best skills one can possess. To be able to understand where another person is coming from is one of the greatest learning experiences that exists. The collaboration that will be reaped from this will be a foundation for more learning experiences to build upon, and has the potential to reach the entire world.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Diversity in the Classroom




One of the most important things to me as a teacher is maintaining a diverse environment. I believe that being around people that aren't "LIKE" you enhances the opportunity to learn. As a teacher I will be able to learn from my students, and my other students will be able to collaborate and learn from each other as well.