Tutoring

What does it mean to tutor? We tutor people in explaining a specific skill or concept. We can tutor in math, science, reading, world languages, writing, etc. I have tutored various students in different concepts within the English realm. Examples would be dramatic speech, writing and now reading. For a class I am taking in Graduate School, I have to tutor or mentor a student in his/her reading and any other literacy skill. I got an opportunity, with the help of people within the public education field, to tutor and observe a student within an ESL classroom. I met with the ESL teacher and I am excited for the opportunity. This student has been in this country for a year and has to take the New Jersey High School examination (HSPA's) in March. What I need to work with this student is to improve his reading when it comes to big passages on exams such as the HSPA's and possibly the college entry exams such as the SAT and ACT. With talking the teacher, she gave me the lowdown of this student and what she has observed from the student's progress. So it will be my job to try to help this student get rid of bad habits and create new, better habits when it comes to reading. What was fascinating with the student was that he does not like reading his native language. I wonder what I can do to help him out. However, I only have 5-6 sessions with the student. Hopefully there will be a turn around in his performance and that there will be confidence in his reading abilities. I will keep posting of my tutoring session with this student along with fieldwork which will happen soon.

Wounded: A poem from my collection of poetry: Poetry from a Graduate's Notebook

Here is a sample of a poem I wrote within my poetry collection which I have been working on for 2 years now. I am almost completed the collection and still in working process.

Wounded

Beat down.

Broken down.

Hurt.

Wounded.

That is what you left me.

Actions and words are like weapons

That pieced my heart and soul.

Beat down.

Broken down.

Hurt.

Wounded.

You left me out there to bleed

And embarrassed

In front of the world.

Beat down.

Broken down.

Hurt.

Wounded.

Will I stay down forever?

Be a victim.

Wounded.

NO!

I shall put myself up

And let my wounds and pain

Take the best of me.

I will be stronger than ever.

Beat down.

Broken down

But not my heart.

I will care and treat my wounds

And the scars they will leave

Will be a sign of what happened

And what it will become.

Become a stronger

Unique

Brave

Daring

Individual.

The fire will never die inside.

Wounded

But not left for dead. 

Rocky of Education

Have you ever watch any of the Rocky movies (excluding Rocky V and Rocky Balboa) and felt the desire to be a fighter? When I say fighter, not just a boxer. However, I always wanted to try boxing but it would mess up my body and face. Look at Mickey Rourke. When I mean a fighter, it is not only for fighting physically with fists and/or other body parts. A fighter can fight with his words and actions. A fighter never gives up. There is time involved and you finish to the end of the given time. You fight the good fight. When it comes to education, you are the trainers and spark the fighter inside each student. I am not saying to go in a frenzy but more in the lines of a fighter of what each student MUST believe is true and false. You must find a truth behind everything. People create lies to hide the truth. Fight through it and the truth will be in front of you.
These are ideas I follow every day of my life. Even though it is easy to be ordinary, it is harder to be extraordinary. Stand out of the crowd. Students need to be open to what will be in front of them. The real world is a bleak place and they need to keep their heads high and go above the masses. With what you teach everyday, find a way to change a life or inspire it to do something better. That is where your leaders will come. A true leader is a true fighter who believes in what they believe is right. So for my final words in this blog, fight on!

Introduction

Welcome to my blog page!
Let me start of with a small introduction of myself. I am going into my last year of Graduate School at Montclair State University going for my Masters and teacher certification in English and Special Education or teaching students with disabilities. I will placed in a school soon to begin my last year to do fieldwork observation and student teaching. This is what I am looking forward for a long time since I got into Graduate School. I want to educate, inspire and motivate younger generations and expose them to the truth and values of life. What are inspire you as a teacher?
You are probably wondering, why I would name my blog site, Heart in Education? Education is a journey and a team effort. I envision education as another part of coaching. You got to have heart and passion in what you teach to these students. Why should they care? You should make them care with the material that you present to them. That way they can pick up why it is important to learn this material. Heart and passion for the material is essential in teaching students of any grade. Make it matter to them.
This blog will not only have education as my passion. It will illustrate my other passions in life like writing, poetry, the theatre, sports (mainly football), politics and anything else that comes to mind that I have a passion for and would like to express to the public. There will be more to come so keep your eyes open for future blogs. Write on everyone.