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About Mr. Rickel
Mr. Rickel's CyberSpace
I graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Native American Studies. I obtained my teaching credential through a joint effort with Humboldt State University and Hoopa Elementary School, Hoopa, California. I have four grown children, two grandchildren, and a wonderful partner in life. I am currently teaching in Happy Camp Elementary School, Happy Camp, California as an 8th grade teacher and advisor. At present, I teach in a contained classroom. My teaching philosophy is to allow the students to think for themselves and I view myself as a teacher who is also their mentor, allowing the students to be in an environment to learn through real world content. I want to empower them to be self-motivated, obtain project management skills, gain confidence through oral communication, become researchers and collaborators. I strongly believe that these skills will not only empower my middle school students, but to prepare them for high school and beyond in their educational journey but also for the workforce and living in the 21st Century.
I graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Native American Studies. I obtained my teaching credential through a joint effort with Humboldt State University and Hoopa Elementary School, Hoopa, California. I have four grown children, two grandchildren, and a wonderful partner in life. I am currently teaching in Happy Camp Elementary School, Happy Camp, California as an 8th grade teacher and advisor. At present, I teach in a contained classroom. My teaching philosophy is to allow the students to think for themselves and I view myself as a teacher who is also their mentor, allowing the students to be in an environment to learn through real world content. I want to empower them to be self-motivated, obtain project management skills, gain confidence through oral communication, become researchers and collaborators. I strongly believe that these skills will not only empower my middle school students, but to prepare them for high school and beyond in their educational journey but also for the workforce and living in the 21st Century.
Lasting Thoughts
The Learnnovation Lab
As I reflect on this project and the information that I have gathered, I have come to a simple realization of how can my students know what they need to know if they don’t know it yet? Sound confusing? Well then, how can they know the need to balance a checkbook before the need is there?
This project has left me with many more unanswered questions and I have realized that there is a need for more research on my part. The exciting aspect of this research and web site was not only the information gathering, but its ability to answer my questions through your input. I became more aware that the adolescent brain learns differently than the brains of those younger and older. Because of this, I will spend more time making sure the information on essential learning is offered in the classroom and given in such a way as to ensure that it is embedded in students’ brains for future use.
The research has helped me understand this age group I teach in a different way. Now, I am aware of various strategies that can help build the middle school student’s brain, and by using this information, I will change my teaching style to differentiate the instruction. I will use this information as a springboard for the continuation my career and i know that my students will be the ultimate benefactor.
The Masters Program
I have always considered myself a teacher and educator. Completing my Credential Program made it possible to be officially recognized as one. It has always been a personal goal of mine to obtain my Masters in Education. Choosing a program that would fit my work load, my home and property responsibilities, and allowing time for friends and family was a long and time consuming journey. I responded to an ad in the CTA magazine regarding Touro University. From the minute the correspondence started, I knew that I had made the right decision as choosing Touro as my choice to complete my Masters Degree. It has not only been a professional development success, but the collegues that I have met have become friends both professionally and personally. I quickly realized that my learning curve was steep, but with the help of a great staff of educators, particularly Dr. Redmond I have been successful in completing a program that I feel has prepared me to be a qualified educator in the 21st Century. I have used many of the techniques learned in the program in my classroom, and have been able to teach these techniques to many of the staff at my school. I have retained a major part of the information I have been given, simply because this is a program that is not only hands on, but the techniques are easily transferable to my classroom practice. I have been pleased with the program, I have gained professionally insight and more importantly, I have been able to position myself as an educated educator. I will recommend Touro University to anyone looking for a Masters Program.
As I reflect on this project and the information that I have gathered, I have come to a simple realization of how can my students know what they need to know if they don’t know it yet? Sound confusing? Well then, how can they know the need to balance a checkbook before the need is there?
This project has left me with many more unanswered questions and I have realized that there is a need for more research on my part. The exciting aspect of this research and web site was not only the information gathering, but its ability to answer my questions through your input. I became more aware that the adolescent brain learns differently than the brains of those younger and older. Because of this, I will spend more time making sure the information on essential learning is offered in the classroom and given in such a way as to ensure that it is embedded in students’ brains for future use.
The research has helped me understand this age group I teach in a different way. Now, I am aware of various strategies that can help build the middle school student’s brain, and by using this information, I will change my teaching style to differentiate the instruction. I will use this information as a springboard for the continuation my career and i know that my students will be the ultimate benefactor.
The Masters Program
I have always considered myself a teacher and educator. Completing my Credential Program made it possible to be officially recognized as one. It has always been a personal goal of mine to obtain my Masters in Education. Choosing a program that would fit my work load, my home and property responsibilities, and allowing time for friends and family was a long and time consuming journey. I responded to an ad in the CTA magazine regarding Touro University. From the minute the correspondence started, I knew that I had made the right decision as choosing Touro as my choice to complete my Masters Degree. It has not only been a professional development success, but the collegues that I have met have become friends both professionally and personally. I quickly realized that my learning curve was steep, but with the help of a great staff of educators, particularly Dr. Redmond I have been successful in completing a program that I feel has prepared me to be a qualified educator in the 21st Century. I have used many of the techniques learned in the program in my classroom, and have been able to teach these techniques to many of the staff at my school. I have retained a major part of the information I have been given, simply because this is a program that is not only hands on, but the techniques are easily transferable to my classroom practice. I have been pleased with the program, I have gained professionally insight and more importantly, I have been able to position myself as an educated educator. I will recommend Touro University to anyone looking for a Masters Program.