Thank you & good bye from EDI 15A class

Thank you & good bye
EDI 15A Psychological Perspective: Teaching & Learning
Spring, 2009
Long Island University, C. W. Post

I have enjoyed taking this class during the spring semester. This is because Dr. Boyanton is a great professor. She allows us to freely express our ideas and opinions in a respectful and comfortable learning environment. The other students in the class are also great classmates. This is because they provide excellent opinions and ideas. Our class is very diverse because we have people who all have different personalities and ideas. It is great to have a diverse class because it is not good to be with the same kind of people all the time. A person has to step out of his or her comfort zone in order to become a better all around individual. This class has been very strenuous at times because we are given a lot of work. It seems as if we have some type of assignment due about almost every day.

This class has allowed me to become a better writer because we have had a lot of writing assignments. Also Dr. Boyanton has provided me with valuable input regarding my writing. This class has definitely prepared me for what to expect when I start teaching. This is because I have learned a significant amount of information regarding a wide range of topics. The topics have included behavioral management, motivation, and different teaching styles and ideas. We have had many intense debates during the class. These debates have taught me how to better respect individuals who may disagree with my ideas and opinions.

The journal writing has been kind of strenuous because we have had 23 of them so far. I enjoyed doing them though because they really made me reflect on the class and have helped me improve my overall writing ability. I also enjoy receiving feedback from Dr. Boyanton because it is great to get advice from an expert in the field. The class has been very interactive and enjoyable. I feel that I have become a better person since the day I started this class. I was more shy back then but now I have really gotten comfortable and confident when it relates to expressing my ideas in an influential manner. As the semester winds down I feel that this class definitely made me a more complete and improved college student. Dr. Boyanton has helped me become a better debater, thinker, and researcher. This is because she has made the classes very interactive, intellectual, and enjoyable. I believe that the CESTL audience of experts will be very impressed with our class in general. (Scott Fialkoff, 4/17/09)


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It’s really sad that this class is coming so close to an end. This is one of the only classes that I actually enjoyed during my two years at C.W. Post. I wish that more teachers should be like Professor Boyanton (she should even hold a workshop where she shows her methods of effective teaching!) I really learned a lot of helpful information in her class.

I was really nervous about the CESTL conference coming up, but Professor Boyanton talked me into it and I’m really glad she did. I always had a problem with talking in front of people, but she encouraged me to do just a poster where people can ask me questions directly and I’m not the center of attention. I went from being extremely nervous, to extremely excited! I even invited some of my family and my boyfriend to attend. As I write my paper, I come up with many creative ideas to make my poster appealing and informative. It is coming really quickly, so I am worried about making my deadlines, but I will work harder to meet the required deadlines. I know that when it is all over, I will feel really good and proud of myself that I overcame my nervous feelings.

I felt that everything I learned in this class was useful and interesting, and it will one day make me a better teacher. I always said to myself “I’m never going to be like one of those teachers who lecture and yell all the time.” Becoming a teacher requires you to have patients with others. Some teachers tell me that being a teacher is what keeps them young and they feel that it is one of the best professions out there, but you really need to love it. I really love the science field, so everyone (including friends and family) told me I should become a nurse or a doctor because I’ll make more money and find a job right away. I know that if I had listened to them, I would have been very unhappy with my decision. I’m not becoming a teacher for the money, but to do what I love doing; and that’s to teach students what my passion is.

I really enjoyed the class! Your contribution was amazing and we had such a great bunch! Have a wonderful summer! (Caroline Schipani, 4/22/09)

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I feel very sad the end of the semester is coming. This class had a huge impact in my life. I learned a lot and I feel that this class taught important information on how to be successful teacher. I feel the final presentation is a great way to end the semester and a good way to practice our public speaking skills.

This class was great overall. I think this class gave me specific information that will help me in the future to be a good teacher. I would like to thank you Prof. Boyanton because you have inspire me to be a positive role model. I really like your style of teaching and the multiple activities that we did in your class. Your class has become my favorite and I have enjoyed it deeply.

My favorite parts of your class were the multiple debates. Also, the movie October sky was very inspiring. I believe I will show this movie in my classroom. I think it is very important to show my students that they need to follow their dreams. In your class I learned that every student is different and that teachers need to teach using different styles. Also, I learned that teachers need to get to know their students on a personal level in order to have a better communication with them. Journals were an excellent idea and I recommend this for future classes. I think that journals make students reflect about what they learned in class. Finally, I had a wonderful time in your class and I learned a lot about childhood education.

This self-management project had a huge impact on my personal life. Now I have more time I get to see my boyfriend more and we have become a lot closer. In addition, I see my friends more often and it makes me very happy. They told me that I look a lot happier lately. I thank you Dr. Boyanton for giving me the opportunity to work on a project that has impacted my life so dramatically. This project had a huge impact on my life. It has helped me to reflect and to be aware of my goals in life. I believe that decreasing my stress level has a positive impact in my health. Also, my mood has change dramatically. Before I used to be mad and upset because I was very overwhelm with my school work, but now I have more time to spend with family and friends and it makes me very happy. I recommend this project for future classes. I believe that this project has giving me the power to become a better person and improve every aspect of my life.

This class was very important for me and I learned a lot of valuable tips that will be useful in my classroom. Our class debates were very informative and they helped me improve my self-confidence. I believe that this class helped me become a more tolerant person and to respect others point of view. I really enjoy our class and the different activities that we did every day. Dr. Boyanton you have inspire me to become a more positive person. Thank you. (Leidy Leon 4/28/09)
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I would like to take this opportunity to write about how I feel about this class and this semester. I learned a lot about teaching and student behavior. I learned how this behavior has an effect on the entire class. I enjoyed learning the different behavioral and learning theories. I learned how to motivate students, how to say the right things to get the students attention and interest. I learned that sometimes you must be creative; learning can be fun when you incorporate games into the lessons. I learned how to handle difficult students and how to respond when they challenge your authority without losing your temper.

What I found most interesting was my observations at Commack High School. It felt strange to go back to my old high school and see things from the teacher’s point of view and not the students. I learned a great deal during these observations such as the importance of having complete control over the class. I learned that each student must be seen as an individual and how the class must be tailored to meet the needs of all students. It was strange when the students addressed me as Mr. Severin and not by my first name. I learned that you must be flexible and may have to change your lesson plans on short notice.

This class EDI 15A was a very good class. The topics we went over this semester were not only interesting but they also contained very important information for all future teachers to know when starting their teaching career. I thought the practice of writing journals every night was excellent. It not only gave us time to reflect on what we learned that day but gave us insight on how our fellow students felt about the class and the direction the class is going. The journals also helped me improve my writing skills; this is an exercise that all student teachers should continue in their future classes.

I learned a lot about teaching especially where teaching methods are modified to accommodate personality types and student learning styles and how you as a teacher should react to the different personalities and how you should handle the classroom. I learned that some personality types may be a social problem not a discipline problem and that getting hostile with the student will only make matters worse. I enjoyed the ice breaker games we played in the beginning of the year. This is something I will probably do myself when I teach because it starts off the class in a very positive way. Overall, this was a very effective course; it helped me learn how to be an effective teacher when I begin my career.

Overall, this was not an easy class, but it was very valuable and I felt I learned many tips that I can use as a teacher in the future. (Peter Severin, 4/23/09)

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I have really enjoyed EDI 15A with Dr. Boyanton. After my two years at CW Post, I am happy to say I have finally enjoyed a class thoroughly and have learned a lot from it. Finally! I was starting to think there were no good professors at the school. I have been proven wrong. Thank you Dr. Boyanton for being such a wonderful teacher. I feel that this class has made me a better student and a better person.

I really feel like education is the right major for me because of this class. It was a ton of work, but it was definitely worth it. I loved my classmates and made a lot of friends. There really was a great bunch of people who were so different, and open minded to everyone's opinion. I think that everyone in our class will be a great teacher one day.

I am really happy that I chose to stay positive as my self management project. I do not think it could have gone any better. I really would like to thank Dr. Boyanton for assigning this project to the class it was very helpful! I feel like I am a better person now that I am more positive.

I am sad the class has come to an end, but I am going to try and stay in touch with the friends I have made from class. I am excited about the CESTL and cannot wait to see how everyone does. I am sure it will be great! (Nicole Larosa 4/28/09)

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Overall, I feel that this class was a great class for me to be a part of. I have learned many different things from taking this class, and I feel that the things that I have learned will stay with me throughout my career as a teacher. One of the things that I feel that I have greatly benefitted from in this class was through the observations of the specific school that I had observed. I had learned many things from just sitting in the class and watching how the teacher was speaking to the students, how the he was teaching certain things to the students, and just in general how the teacher had run the class. This had helped me learn some new things and certain things that I would be able to use when I am a teacher in my own class.

This class was one of the best classes that I have taken here at CW Post. It was very fun and entertaining everyday and I feel that I have made some friends because of this class. (Christopher Lodise, 4/28/09)
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I had many mixed emotions during class today! I felt a great deal of excitement, nervousness, sadness, confidence, and satisfaction about ending the class and the school year. It seemed that throughout this course everyone in the class seemed to create some type of bond with one another and became very close with each other, especially in comparison to our other classes.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I know that this class definitely allows everyone to express who they are better and to form a relationship with their classmates better. I am going to miss everyone, and I will definitely remember almost everyone in this class, and that’s definitely not something I can say about all of my classes, and I feel that that definitely says something about the class. I would definitely like to keep in touch with you Professor Dengting because your class has truly made an impact on me and I thank you for that. I really had fun in this class; it was my favorite this year. Thank you for being a great teacher Professor, I will miss you! (Colette Squillante, 4/28/09)

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Today in education was our last class for the semester. There was an airy feeling about the classroom because we all knew that this was the last time we’ll get to see each other in the classroom. I was somewhat sad thinking that today was the last day I get to hear the insightfulness of my peers questions and comments. It was also the last day to experience Professor Boyanton’s teaching. I truly enjoyed this class this semester. I looked forward to it every week because it was the most interesting and upbeat class I attended.

Professor Boyanton’s teaching style was that of passion that influenced my performance in all my classes, and although I’m a hard worker and have always been, Professor Boyanton’s encouragement seemed to only fuel me during the last long stretch of this semester when things seemed to be too hard. This class was stressful, but because I’ve come to the conclusion of it without thinking my grade will be low, I feel successful and proud of myself. The work and effort I put forth in this class wasn’t asked so much of me by my other classes, and I’m proud of myself.

I am so greatly appreciated that Professor Boyanton made us all conduct a self-management project. Due to the simple fact I needed to get “my life back on schedule” and by doing this I did exactly that! (Literally) I’ve noticed I’ve got a lot more in shape, healthier diet, healthy attitude, and overall just happier because of it. Overall I’d have to say I’m am totally satisfied with what I did to meet my goal, and can no longer say that my largest yet worst attribute is my laziness. Now I can say it’s my progressiveness! (Gillian Blitzer, April 28, 2009)