Westwood High School

Student Teaching

Summary

 

 

 

Jeremy D. Pach

 

 

 

Dr. Pagel

 

 

 

Date Due:

March 20, 2003

 

 

 

Introduction

 

            This is a report for Dr. Pagel that describes in detail what his student teacher Jeremy Pach has accomplished this semester.  The accomplishments listed here are what Jeremy has done above and beyond his student teaching requirements.  Jeremy began his student teaching at Westwood High School on January 2, 2003.  Jeremy’s supervising teachers are Jon Hayes, and Carol Cox.

 

 

1. InvestSmart.com

            I initiated the InvestSmart.com, “Free” Internet game for the accounting class.  InvestSmart.com is a stock market simulation game to be played by anyone who is learning about investing in the stock market.  InvestSmart.com is a resource-filled website and is an excellent addition to a finance, accounting, or general business class.  The web site has a very informative tutorial and a comprehensive online quiz.

            In the past, Mr. Hayes (my supervising teacher) has used the Michigan Economics Association web site for his students in this capacity.  They do compete for cash prizes, but only within the State of Michigan.   This particular site, he previously used was sponsored through Northern Michigan University, and required a special meeting in order to receive the resources that accompanied the web site.  Along with this meeting, there was a $30 processing fee.  The game begins after the teacher sends in another $25 for the student’s fee.

            My InvestSmart.com website allows schools and other organizations to log in for FREE, taking out the fees that were previously paid for this student enhancing program.

            InvestSmart.com’s web site has several dynamic lessons within the subtext of the game.  It gives students a chance to see some investment basics, investment lessons, market simulations, and other features such as a financial goals calculator.  This site also gives the students a chance to win prizes, after they fill out some very basic information.  I simply told the students that we will only compete within the classroom, for prizes to be negotiated later.  Mr. Hayes agreed that he would be in charge of the prize patrol.

            I found this web site and realized that it would be an excellent opportunity for the students to forego normal fee associated with the previous game.  Again we did not use the Michigan Stock Market game, but have done so without any repercussions.  Mr. Hayes and I have essentially eliminated the $30.00 instructor fee and the $25.00 student fees, and have not sacrificed any learning or curriculum problems for the students.

            Students in my Accounting class registered for this new game. The students tell me that there is no difference between the previous game and the InvestSmart.com simulation we are currently using.  In fact, this new simulation has many more realistic features that help simulate a more real financial world feel.  A few new features are as follows; commission charges on both buying and selling, interest rates on both borrowing and saving, and loans to possibly cover losses at a higher interest rate, just as it would be in the real financial world. 

            If I had to choose one thing that I have done thus far to enhance my classroom, it would be this simulation.  I saved myself some money and I helped save the students some money simply by looking on the Internet for ways to change the curriculum paradigm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Marketing Business Plan Model

            I enhanced an existing lesson plan that existed in Mr. Hayes’s previous marketing classes.  These plans could be used to actually start a real business from the ground up.  Many of Mr. Hayes’s students have, in the past, opened businesses similar to those they have crafted in his marketing class.

            These plans give the students viable options if they cannot find satisfying work in the real world.  The plan gives the students options other than just settling down for a regular job.  It gives the students options to surpass their first job opportunity, or to be developed concurrently with college.  These business plans are very detailed, and none will be as detailed as the ones the students are currently devising in my marketing class.  These businesses could easily be taken from the papers they write in this class and be intricate buildings with products and workers, in less than a year.

            Mr. Hayes and I have upgraded these business plans this semester by using a more Northern Michigan University based business plan structure.  This structure will also aid the students to ensure that if they decide to attend college they can showcase a comprehensive business plan that was structured after an entry level college business class.  This new plan will benefit the students greatly.   The plan will be more comprehensive and it will be more applicable for when the students are in their introduction to business classes at the college level. 

            The main idea here is that these plans can greatly increase the student’s awareness of how businesses are run, and how much work goes into owning your own business.  The students have real life experience doing the research of how to open and keep a business running.  These are valuable experiences that will help assist the students in the world of work.  The other main idea is that done in detail these plans will assist the students in many of their lives phases, in college or as a simulation of the real world occurrences.

 

3. BPA Advisor/Chaperone/Mentor

            I have been as actively involved in Business Professionals of America as possible since I started my student teaching at Westwood High School.  I feel that this experience along with the many opportunities that I have been afforded have made me realize how important an organization such as this is for business students (and for teachers).  I feel that over the course of this semester I have seen enough to persuade me to join this association once I have acquired my own classroom.

            I served as an assistant at the regional competition, but I ensured continuity between contestants and judges and also added up and ensured each student’s scores were correct.  I was also a “new” chaperone and watched over the students when Mr. Hayes or Mrs. Cox were busy with other more important competition aspects of the contest.  The regional took place at Bay De Noc Community College this year, and I was very interested in the overall organization of the operation.  This was a very fascinating contest.  This valuable experience has given me the opportunity to forge some rewarding contacts, and to network with other business education teachers.

            I also attended the Business Professionals of America State Competition in Detroit.  I had the opportunity to chaperone 31 students, with the assistance of my two supervising teachers and another Westwood business teacher.  This is an unforgettable experience that I have learned a tremendous amount from, and I feel that I will be much more prepared for teaching students the different business aspects because of this time spent with the students and with my supervising teachers.

            I spent 5 days and 4 nights with the students and teachers learning the intricacies of the association, and how to conduct a field trip of this magnitude.  I have learned invaluable aspects of the planning and logistics that go into planning a trip such as this.  Over the course of these “few days” I drew nearer to the students and assisted the teachers in student practice, student behavior problems, student scheduling conflicts, and overall student stability.  I feel that I helped in many different phases, and ensured an overall safe and successful trip. 

            This trip has successfully shown me that there are many worthwhile organizations for the students to be a part of.  There is much work involved in organizations such as this, but to see the look of pride on the student’s faces, after some of them won places to compete in the National competition, more than made up for the work that was put in by my supervising teachers. (I feel that they would agree with me on this one.) It is a wonderful feeling to see students competing against other schools in the State of Michigan and winning 1st place out of them all.  (Especially students from schools in the Upper Peninsula.)

           

 

4. Marquette Country Convention and Visitors Bureau, Volunteer

            I have assisted the students and my supervising teacher with many different volunteer aspects for this organization.  I have volunteered and assisted my supervising teacher and my students in fulfilling several community development and community service surveys that will assist in drawing tourists to Marquette for the UP 200 Sled Dog Races in the future.

            I have assisted in various ways for this organization.  I took a Friday evening and supervised the students as they conducted surveys that the students actually formulated for the MCCVB.  The students spent their own Friday evening polling tourists and community members about different aspects of advertising and how some of the spectators had previously heard about the sled dog races.  The students polled close to 300 spectators and are currently in the process of compiling all of the data they found.  The students will then turn around, once the compilation is finished, and give their findings to the MCCVB for the organization’s own use.            

            By generating activities such as these with the public, each student learns valuable communication skills, and learns how to interact with others.   This was an invaluable lesson for the students to learn.  Diversity is the spice of life, and after interviewing a variety of people at the sled dog races, I feel the students realized that this was a much larger lesson than just a survey.  The students braved the winter elements, learned proper interviewing techniques as well as manners, and lastly, acceptance and defeat.

            I learned some valuable lessons that evening also.  I learned how to conduct an interview process such as this, with 12-to-15 students.  I learned how much work goes into giving up your personal time for special functions outside of school.  I learned that no matter how much planning goes into what you are about to do, you can never plan for everything.

 

 

 

5. Attended Meetings Concerning Annexation of Republic-Michigamme Schools with Westwood High School

            I have attended several school annexation meetings that have helped me to understand what is currently happening with the future of these two schools.  The talk thus far has been for the 9-12 students from Republic-Michigamme High School to come to Westwood in an attempt to assist each school in costs, revenues, and to provide the best learning environment possible for all the students who are involved.  I feel honored to be a part of these meetings so early in my career.  This will be a valuable lesson for me to have been a part of so early in my professional career.

 

 

6. Chaperone for Winter Dance

            I was asked by the Student Council at Westwood High School if I would give up a Friday evening to chaperone a winter dance in the cafeteria.  I gladly accepted.  Once I had arrived at the dance, I realized that another student teacher was there to share in the festivities.

            I learned many valuable lessons from this chaperoning experience.  I was surprised to see the wonderfully cheerful other full-time teaching staff that had also volunteered their time to ensure a successful and entertaining winter fundraising dance.  I have pulled away many memories and valuable lessons about chaperoning a dance for high school students.  I learned that there are many ways that community and staff involvement help to connect you as an individual to the community for which you teach in.  I feel that there is no equal sense of community pride and devotion as when you volunteer some of your personal time to aid the benefit and well-being of your students. 

           

 

 

 

 

7. Money Saver Cards and Miscellaneous Fundraisers

            In my Marketing class, I have assisted in many worthwhile fundraisers for both the students and the business department.  I have been part of helping the students develop a Money Saver card that the students sell to help offset costs for BPA.  The students do all of the leg work and they deserve a large portion of the credit for getting this program to where it is today. 

            The students contact businesses in the local area and ask them to donate discounts on products or services that they provide.  In return the business department gets these discounts printed on wallet size cards for the students to sell for profit.  These cards help to promote local business and to promote the well being of the student body at Westwood High School.  It is a win-win situation for both the students and the local businesses.

            As I stated earlier, the students do all of the work contacting the businesses, speaking with the management, designing the cards, getting them printed and they finish this by selling the end product, the cards themselves.  They are the integral links that help this project get finished.  The students don’t really realize all the work that is put into these, but it benefits the community and the students in many ways.

            I am also assisting in a portion of a new fundraising effort that my marketing class is taking over; they are in the process of designing, printing, and selling new Westwood Basketball t-shirts.  These are being made in wake of the basketball team’s progress downstate for competition.  There will also be t-shirts made up to give the wrestling team its due after their wonderful try at the state championship.  The Westwood Wrestling team placed and qualified to go downstate, being defeated by a small margin in state competition.  The marketing class is also working with the wrestlers to finish a shirt that will mark their momentous achievements this year.

 

8. BlackBoard Feedback Page

            I tried to also work in some different angles with the online syllabus production, and I have also tried to work in this amazing class driven web page.  I have worked with the students in trying to have them answer as much of their assignments online as I could fit in.  I know that there is more that I can do in the future, and once I have mastered the use of such resources I will be a much more prepared and comprehensive online teacher.

            I tried to have student feedback on many different issues.  I used this in my Word Processing class.  I tried to have the students answer current events, or spur of the moment debates online, using a discussion forum.  The students never realized that they were using their typing skills and using their grammatical skills to complete these particular assignments.  I feel that by using this resource to my advantage, I will have more teaching resources to use when I take over my own classroom.

            I also tried to get student feedback on my teaching, and how it would best fit the needs of the students.  I understandably did not take all their suggestions to heart.  I did however get many valid opinions and arguably, many well thought out answers.  I appreciated the student’s honesty and integrity when answering these particular questions.  It helped me to become a better teacher, and helped me to understand particular student’s needs.

 

9. Hall Monitor

            This may not sound like the most important job aspect, but it is a needed job nonetheless.  I set up a small schedule to last the rest of the year so that students in my 5th hour business class can clean the hallways of discarded trash immediately following lunch time.  This is a business department issue that was needed to offset the ability of the business department to continue to sell candy to the students for fundraising purposes.  The payback for the students comes in the form of the ability to continue to purchase candy and so that this particular 5th hour class will be “paid” with a pizza party at the end of the year, courtesy of the business department.

 

10.  Review

            I feel that I have done well considering the short amount of time that I have been at Westwood High School.  I feel that I have interacted with others on both the learning field and the teaching field.  I feel that in the end my supervising teachers have taught me many valuable business and educational lessons.

            I have been a part of many other worthwhile things in my time at Westwood.  I have also helped to fill out state driven paperwork for technology learning.  I have assisted with the junior high orientation for students.  On the same occasion, I stayed after school until around 10 o’clock in the evening, assisting the teachers in informing the parents about Westwood High School’s business department core curriculum, and how they work to ensure the best for the incoming students.  I have spoke on behalf of the Westwood business department at this meeting and I assured the parents that their children would be in the hands of teachers who are on the cutting edge of business and technology in the Upper Peninsula. 

            I feel that this student teaching opportunity was best for me because I have seen how diverse classrooms co-exist, even in the same departments.  I also enjoyed it tremendously because of the technology based learning format.  I also enjoyed it because the students have learned many applicable real world applications.  I have most enjoyed apprenticing with these teachers because they learn these new technologies and then go on to teach it.  They are truly motivating, and helped me to see the true work involved in teaching in the 21st century.