Sierra+Leone

Sierra Leone
 * = History || Economics || Politics || Culture || Geography  || Activities  ||

INTRODUCTION  Welcome! This wiki is meant to help students obtain foundational knowledge on Africa and some of its countries. In this portion of the wiki, we we delve into the history, economics, politics, culture, and geography of Sierra Leone specifically. In addition to learning some new facts about Sierra Leone, students will be provided opportunities to complete some activities at home with parents that reinforce what they have learned! Below, you will a copy of my Educational Philosophy. I feel that the information and activities included in this wiki will help both myself and my students live up to that document!



Come and explore the intriguing country of Sierra Leone. Click the tabs above to choose a point of interest! ﻿Questions or comments? Contact Ms. Taake via email: hrtaake@ilstu.edu    Educational Philosophy  In January 2009, with my graduation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign only four months away, I decided that I wanted to go back to school to become a teacher. This decision has changed the course of my life and has encouraged me to reexamine my ideas surrounding both my own education, and education as a profession. Consequently, I feel that the continuation of one’s education—either formally or informally—is important on the individual level and to society as a whole. Lifelong learning is something I will continue to strive for myself, as well as something I hope to foster in those I will teach. In order to do so, I know that there are certain moral and intellectual virtues that I will need to focus on during my time in Illinois State University’s Teacher Education program. Specifically, I plan on developing the moral virtue of sensitivity toward diversity, and the intellectual virtues of having a wide general knowledge and deep content knowledge, and also growing an understanding of learning and teaching strategies.

 First, understanding and accepting diversity is crucial to being an effective educator. Much of my coursework has centered on connecting students’ prior knowledge to what is going on in the classroom. However, it would be very difficult to make such connections without delving into the diverse backgrounds of one’s students. Personally, I feel that I should look for new opportunities that would allow me to experience a wider range of diversity before I begin my teaching career. For example, tutoring provides invaluable experience with many different kinds of students. Most tutoring sessions that I have been involved with have lasted between 40 and 90 minutes. This allows a tutor to interact with many different students in a week, or even in a day. Currently, I am working with two fourth graders; one in reading, and one in math. I have already enjoyed getting to know them, and learning about them. Continuing to pursue tutoring as a way of learning about diversity will help me to develop this important moral virtue.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Intellectual virtues are also necessary to develop. I feel that having a wide general knowledge and a deep knowledge of one’s content areas are foundational in becoming a teacher. Without this, it would be very difficult to teach in a professional manner. In order to deepen my knowledge, particularly in my content areas of language arts, reading, and social studies, I will look for opportunities to gain insight into new teaching strategies and techniques in these subjects. Reading educational journals is one way that I will accomplish this goal. I also plan to talk to and learn from teachers who teach my prospective subjects. I can do this in person at local schools, or by reading teacher blogs and websites.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Furthermore, knowing what affects learning, and knowing appropriate learning strategies is an important goal to have as a future educator. In order to increase my knowledge in these areas, I will continue to challenge myself academically, and look for extracurricular opportunities for learning. As an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, I graduated Bronze Tablet, meaning in the top three percent of my class. I truly enjoy learning and the challenges it can present. By taking honors courses, full academic schedules, and summer classes, I can increase my pedagogical knowledge. Also, participating in observations of master teachers will allow me to actually see effective strategies being used, as observing presents opportunities to learn both from the teachers and the students. Although some observation is required through the Teacher Education program, I will try to go above and beyond these requirements in order to obtain greater insight into learning.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> In conclusion, continuing to learn and grow is essential to being a teacher. I will strive to better understand diversity, to gain a more well-rounded knowledge in my content areas, and to acquire an arsenal of effective teaching strategies that will increase learning. Even though I have focused on only three specific virtues in this essay, I know that improving in all aspects of teaching is necessary. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Creator: Ms. Taake:::: Contact Info: hrtaake@ilstu.edu::::All copyrighted information is given proper citation on the "references" page::::Created May 1, 2011