Journal of a Future Teacher
  • Home
    • Call to Action
    • Instagram
  • About
    • Publications
  • Blog
    • Additional Resources
  • Shop
  • Contact

The battle for visibility: playing defense in early childhood

3/21/2023

2 Comments

 
Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!

At a recent union meeting I attended (a perk of student teaching with a cooperating teacher with many hats), the conversation between early childhood representatives concluded with observation, "It sounds like you are acting more on defense than as advocates." 

"That explains it!", I thought. This differentiation between defense and advocacy validates my exhaustion from struggling for simple recognition. 
​
​

Read More
2 Comments

Lessons from a future teacher: What have I learned from field experience?

8/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
That's right folks! The school year is officially less than one month away. Usually, this time of summer signals me to start preparing for my next field experience and a semester of classes. However, this year is a little different because I am student teaching!

I always feel nervous before the start of a new school year. Another year of college as an education major means putting up barriers to self-doubt, practicing mindfulness and self-compassion, and establishing a new schedule. "Am I good enough?" begins to creep back into my head.

I've always found the first day in the field to be the scariest. Honestly, field experience can be kind of lonely too. I step into the classroom --representing myself as a future teacher and guest-- with vulnerability, humility, and anxiety. Each field experience taught me much about teaching, pedagogy, and the education system. Throughout the last three years, I have become an active observer of my growth, resilience, failures, mistakes, and accomplishments. 

So before student teaching begins, I would like to share some of my main takeaways from the past three years of volunteering in the early childhood education field.

​

Read More
0 Comments

Stories, Values, and Children's books: Reflecting on my anti-racist research

5/18/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture

Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!

What does being an “educator” look like? To me, being an educator extends beyond a classroom. It starts with building a community with other teachers, teacher candidates, students, professors, and professionals. This community, just like knowledge, continuously expands with more experience and time.

Being an educator takes initiative, perseverance, and confidence. Placing myself in new, uncomfortable positions is a part of the learning process. Seeking out resources and listening to others' perspectives keep me grounded and alert. "Fake it until you make it" is my daily mantra. I recognize the spaces for growth within the education system, research, and my practice. 

I learned to question what "effective practice" looks like. Experience in a classroom confirms or denies what is taught in my textbooks and curriculum. I am an agent of change. I am creative, adaptable, and capable. I push the boundaries of what it means to be an "educator" through my everyday actions. However, being an “educator” looks different for each teacher and teacher candidate. There is no one right way to be or become an educator.

Throughout the past year, I researched the changing perception of effective early childhood practice I understand that it takes an anti-racist, critical lens --constantly questioning myself and providing curricula-- to progress my field and classroom.  I can contribute to systemic change through my everyday actions, decisions, conversations, and read-alouds.

My research project --“Stories, Values and Children's Books: Portraits of Three White Preschool Teachers Committed to Anti-Racist Pedagogy”-- is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning, growing, and acting as an agent of change. Although my formal research is (almost) complete, I am just getting started.

Come along with me as I take you through the tumultuous journey of my undergraduate capstone research project!

Read More
1 Comment

Why are some families and schools against antiracist education? Let's talk about it.

7/27/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture

Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!

This summer, I began to research antiracist teaching practices and strategies for my junior capstone project. While working on my literature review and browsing through social media, I stumbled across articles and posts addressing "Critical Race Theory," or CRT. 

Since my research centers on current teaching practices that address race and racism, I was intrigued by this practice. Does it apply to early childhood education? Is it a newly founded strategy? And, most of all, why is it getting so much backlash?

The pushback against CRT and other antiracist practices in schools starts an important conversation. Why are families, school districts, and politicians (who are unsurprisingly majority white) uncomfortable with teachers actively choosing curriculum that addresses the truths about racism?

Let's talk about it.
​

Read More
2 Comments

Tips for effective, meaningful read alouds

7/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!

Welcome back, education enthusiasts!

In this post, I will be sharing five tips for leading effective, meaningful read alouds. These tips are for everyone! 

There are several ideas surrounding read alouds. So, to clear the air, I have provided a definition of "read aloud" (from my course readings).

Read aloud: a shared, out loud reading of a book to one child or a group of students

Read alouds are an essential activity to include in early childhood classrooms because they provide several benefits for children's literacy development, including. . .
  • demonstrating phrased, fluent reading
  • developing understanding and skills related to reading, literature, and literacy
  • exposing children to complex ideas and diverse language patterns
  • strengthening teacher-student and caregiver-child relationships

A read aloud can be a magical learning experience for young children. However, you cannot simply read a book aloud to lead a meaningful read aloud. To ensure you create a rich, enjoyable reading experience, explore the tips below!


Read More
0 Comments

How to Put our Love for Children into Writing

2/22/2021

6 Comments

 
Picture

Have you joined the email list yet? Click the button below to get more personalized updates!
Join the Email List!
Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!

Welcome back to the blog, education enthusiasts! 

For those of you who are new. . .

My name is Meghan, and I am a sophomore at the University of Minnesota Duluth studying early childhood education and Spanish. I created Journal of a Future Teacher in May, 2020 to share content on important educational topics and my journey in becoming a teacher! To learn more, visit the About  page.

In this post, I discuss “writing on the job” from the perspectives of two early childhood teachers! Although it is not often discussed, you will need strong communication and writing skills to be a successful teacher. Read on to learn about the information I gathered from the interviews and other outside resources! 


Read More
6 Comments

10 Strategies for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

11/4/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture

Have you joined the email list yet? Click the button below to get more personalized updates!
Join the Email List!
Follow the blog on social media!


Read More
2 Comments

The Power of Children's Books (Part 1)

10/23/2020

0 Comments

 

Want to buy the books mentioned in the recording?
Use my Amazon Affiliate links!

If you like to shop for school supplies on Amazon, check out my Amazon Affiliate links! I earn 10% of what you buy, I will donate half to a charity (ie. UNICEF, BLM), and you don't need to pay any extra!

These links are also provided in the Sources/Additional Resources section of this post.

Shop Now

Follow the blog on social media!


Read More
0 Comments

The Mind, Brain, and Relationships Triad

10/20/2020

4 Comments

 
Watch this video for a brief introduction of this week's topic presented by neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Siegel!

I have provided a link to a more in-depth look at IPND in the "Sources/Additional Resources" section of this post.
​

Want to be a part of an amazing blogging community and get personalized updates? Click the link below!
Join the Email List!
Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!


Read More
4 Comments

Multiple Intelligences (MI) and why schools must support them

10/6/2020

2 Comments

 
Watch the video below to hear a few words from Howard Gardner himself!


If you like to shop for school supplies on Amazon, check out my Amazon Affiliate links! I earn 10% of what you buy, I will donate half to a charity (ie. UNICEF, BLM), and you don't need to pay any extra!
​

Shop Now

Welcome back to the blog! This week, I will be discussing the theory of multiple intelligences (MI) from psychologist Howard Gardner and why schools must support all intelligences.

You have an opportunity to discover your strongest intelligences! Click the button below to take the quiz!
Multiple Intelligences Quiz

. . .

Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!


Read More
2 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Author

    Meghan Hesterman (she/her) is a child advocate and education blogger. While a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), she created Journal of a Future Teacher to share her journey in becoming an early childhood teacher. 


    Categories

    All
    "50 Myths And Lies"
    Children's Books
    Facebook Livestream
    My Experiences
    What I Have Learned


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020

    RSS Feed


      keep up with content!

    Subscribe to Newsletter
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Call to Action
    • Instagram
  • About
    • Publications
  • Blog
    • Additional Resources
  • Shop
  • Contact