Overall from this semester, this class, and as a future teacher I have become a more critical thinker and sharing what I feel and believe. What has helped me achieve this was through open discussions, higher level thinking and questioning, and the constant reflection of how to become a better teacher. I have had the willingness and openness to share what I feel whether I was right or wrong or agreed or disagreed with anyone. I am proud of myself for doing this because I feel it is very important for teachers to be open, willing, and reflective to their students and themselves.
I have learned quite a few strategies I will definitely take along with me and adapt them to my Elementary Education major. One strategy I really loved was the Gallery Walk. This is great for students of all ages and also different content areas. It allows students to see other students’ work that they have done. They can reflect or do whatever you ask them to do with what they posted around the room. This strategy I have never seen before and I would love to try it with my students in the future. Another strategy I really enjoyed was all the different ways to group students. Students get used to the same thing day to day. They need different ways to interact with one another and also different people. Students won’t get bored when you change things up which will lead to more thoughtful discussions and thinking. As a teacher, I would definitely change the way I group my students day to day just so they are used to everyone in the classroom and not just a certain four or five people.
I have certainly learned a lot from preparing and delivering content to my students. This is an area I feel I have made progress but also an area that progress can always be made. As a teacher, I will definitely over plan, but I will not rush my students to complete all of those activities. I would rather see my students getting the content or having a great discussion than be worried about time and my lesson plan. I WILL NOT STRESS if I don’t get something completed or even if something does not go as planned. That is what being a teacher is about. It’s about learning from your experiences and your lessons day to day. That is why it is important to REFLECT about everything you do, whether it went well, should I do this again, how I should change this, am I getting across to all of my students; the list goes on and on. As a teacher, I most definitely will do this so I know if my students are being taught in an appropriate way. There are also different ways to reflect by either asking yourself or even your students.
This class and everyone in the class have taught me to be open, have no fear, there is no right or wrong, and most importantly showing respect. All of these go into creating the right environment you want set for your classroom and that is a comfortable, open setting. That is what I want to achieve and set for my students. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to take this course. I have benefited from this class without a doubt even if it isn’t the targeted grade level I will be teaching. It is great for me to take a class like this to see different ways literature can be taught. I may have a student someday be at a much higher level and I will have to use everything I learned to make sure I am getting the most out of that student. It has made me become more aware and open to new ideas. Every day I am learning more and more ways to be a better teacher and that will never end. I think that is important for teachers to remember that learning never stops.
Few things--
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love the title of this post. It's incredibly accurate, especially as a teacher. Second, I like how you emphasize no stress. I definitely have to start working on that. :)
I like how you have said that you have grown over the semester -- I think I have too. I am able to actually imagine being in a classroom and think about the things I would like to implement. I also like how you said that you could still use a lot that you learned from this class, even though you are elementary education. It's always good to look at the positives of the situation.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty amazing that we all felt so comfortable sharing with each other, I wonder how we can make this happen in the classroom. I think that was the most empowering part of this class in particular...everyone had a voice and their voice was heard.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with Greta's post. Your blog emphasized the idea of being open and that is how I want my class to be fascilitated. My students should feel they are able to say what they feel about the learning with out reprecussions. Your opening paragraph def. states it all, and I am glad that you have grown as a person from this class!
ReplyDeleteI think Dr. Shannon made us all feel as if we could be open and reflective in her classroom, and be comfortable doing so. The fact that this kind of classroom environment allowed you to learn so much tells us what our classrooms should be like as well.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with you, and with Greta and Amanda. I think that we can encourage our students to be open by being open ourselves. After giving adequate wait time, volunteer yourself - join in as a participant, and offer something personal; make yourself vulnerable such that your students feel it. Most people possess some empathy enough that they will contribute if only to rescue an other, and then the ball will be rolling!
ReplyDeleteMaybe, too, part of our job is to actually get to know our students, whether through conversation or journals or even some background research. When we have done that, we can create greater appeal for them - especially those in need of being drawn out - in the materials we present in class, such that they may not be able to refuse to contribute, to be open and maybe even vulnerable.
I say "vulnerable" because I think everything good in life - all learning, without doubt - is the result of risk-taking. Speaking up in class, moving across the country - or out of the country, approaching a potential new friend or romantic interest, or embarking on a new career or job: these are all risks. If we take them, we learn and grow; we continue to evolve as humans. If we do not take these risks, because it is uncomfortable, we do not learn, we do not grow, we do not evolve as humans. We therefore have to treat a simple act like speaking in class as a moment of great important in the development of a human; we have to teach them to do so, not because what they say will be so dire, but because we have a responsibility to teach our students to learn, and that will always involve taking risks.
Good job this term, Alysia. I always enjoyed reading your posts! And good luck to you!