Experience Reflection
Hi Everyone,
Hard to believe this life changing semester is just about over! Chris has asked me to share this prompt with you:
Reflect on your experience overall. Share what you have learned aobut teaching, learning, and yourself that will help you distinguish yourself in a job interview.
I'll also be posting another prompt for those of you overseas, so make sure you see both!
Heidi
posted by Heidi @ 8:31 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well, it’s hard to wrap up all I’ve learned and conquered this past semester in Bamberg. I’ve become a better teacher and I’m learning it is a constant process you have to go through if you ever want to be successful (trial and error), especially in the teaching realm. I think some of the most valuable things I learned were my strengths and weaknesses. It allowed me to gain perspective on what I need to improve on and also what I can use towards my advantage with my teaching style. I want to have a relaxed classroom and quickly I saw that it isn’t possible without showing students your expectations so you can have more trust in them to do the right thing. At first, it was unintuitive for me to get strict at student. I wanted to be understanding and keep them happy, however, it only worsens situations and creates more trouble in the end if that is just the focus. Discipline is an act of love because you care enough to show what is rightfully expected of them.
Specific to a military base school, I’ve experienced the emotional baggage children have to deal with and ways they cope with their feelings (or sometimes not at all). Structure and fairness are very important to them. My time here has not only opened up my eyes to what I need to do as their teacher, but also how the state of our world is effecting young minds in general. Being a part of DoDDs is a unique experience that doesn’t compare to anything other teaching practicums I’ve had. The TPA was tedious work and it challenged me. However, it really forced me to think through what I was doing, how I was planning and what I need to do in the best interest of the kids. When it comes to learning, I’ve learned that learning has to come from an inner desire to want to learn. It has been extremely difficult to reach children that have no desire to learn, or who don’t have any motivation to really do anything, but only what they want to do. Personally, I’ve realized how respect is truly shown between people and more so in a teacher-student-parent relationship. Considering that we’re responsible for streaming children into becoming active members of a society, it’s of the utmost importance they learn how to show respect towards others, become responsible for their choices and evaluate their achievement.
What I’ve learned and shared about my experience in DoDDs will set me a part in a job interview because of the valuable lessons I’ve learned in the classroom from my cooperating teacher and the students.
I can’t believe that this experience is coming to an end. For me, the time really flew by; it’s hard for me to imagine that after school on Friday I will be leaving this school, sadly, never to return. I have made a life here with new friends and peers in the short time that I have been here. When I look back on who I was in January, just arriving here in Bamberg, I really wasn’t prepared for what I have experienced. This is really a job that you learn from doing. Yes, I did think of my classes that I took, and yes I did think of advice that I have received over the years. However, there is never a simple answer or equation that you can use when you are impacting someone else’s life.
As I start preparing for the job market (no matter how small it is), I think of the skills that I have gained. The first time I was left alone with the students this panic ran through my body, I was so thankful that the students didn’t realize that I had no control, I just pretended like I did. Now, some things haven’t changed, but I don’t have that fear anymore, I have gained the confidence to stand up in front of the class, gain their attention and teach them something valuable. Another growth that I think about is, right before I started taking over the classroom I came into school on a Sunday and just sifted through curriculum. My head was spinning, I had no idea how to organize the curriculum and I questioned where to begin and how to teach this stuff. By the end of my solo time, I had figured out an organizational plan that works for me and I can now plan a unit or just a lesson with ease, comfort and confidence. Sometimes it’s complete spur of the moment, something that would have doomed me in January. These are just two growths that I think about often.
Overall, this experience has shown me what my role is at the teacher. I’m not here to be a friend or to show the kids a good time. I’m here to teach, I’m here to build a foundation with these kids so they can be successful. It was hard, especially when I had so many “friends” having complete meltdowns over a color change for bad behavior. I wanted to steer clear of those students, but it’s not about making them happy, it’s about creating an environment where all students can learn, even if that means that I have to come down on one or two students. I don’t want them to cry but I have learned that they all still love me. I’m pretty sure I will be a complete mess on Friday, I’m dreading it, and I hate goodbyes.
This experience has been absolutely incredible. I am so glad that I chose to come over here as I felt that the experience of living with other student teachers was so much more valuable than being on my own in Washington. The fact that I got to see Europe was an exciting bonus.
I have learned so much about teaching. I really didn’t have a clue before I started. Aside from having gone through the education departments requirements I had no real teaching experience. It was eye-opening and I learned that teaching does not come naturally to me. That being said, I have improved by leaps and bounds. I have made great progress towards being more organized, being able to keep details straight and maintaining order in the classroom. I am gaining confidence in my classroom management. I will have to change my style a bit when I have my own classroom but I have already started reflecting on how that might look.
I have learned that teaching is a full time job. During the first few years I expect that I will end up living and breathing being a teacher. I love being in the classroom with my students. As I was teaching, I got to experience first-hand that there is no one correct teaching practice and different things work for different people. I have learned that being a ‘perfect’ teacher is a journey and despite having years of experience you can always try something new and work on improving.
Something that will distinguish me in a job interview is that I have an interest in becoming part of the school improvement team. I learned an incredible amount from watching my teacher as she battled for her sanity while heading the CSI team. Because she was part of the team, she was always looking for new ideas ways to implement better teaching processes and making sure that the school was trying to work towards achieving the goals laid out before them. I feel like this is a very worthwhile goal, and while I did not necessarily enjoy everything that came out of it, I felt like being part of school improvement kept my teacher working towards using excellent teaching practices.
Hello everyone,
Next time I student teach, I want to go overseas! I don't think I even knew about that when I was at WSU!
While student teaching, I read the book and saw the movie "Speak" by Anderson. I liked it so much because all of the adults in the student's life gave her such a difficult time without understanding the core problem. It helped remind me that you never know what's going on with a student--and I think that is a tremendously important perspective to maintain.
I had a student in guitar class that caught on very quickly and I'm quite certain that he's gifted. I don't think anyone in his school career ever noticed. He had average grades in average classes, but I know he has above average intelligence. He never had a parent, guardian, or teacher advocate for him once as far as I could tell. This also means that he was a pain in my backside discipline wise . . .
As a whole, I have learned that I can come back and succeed at something, even if many years have passed. I learned that the West B and E tests are annoying, but NOT intimidating. I spent a long time worrying about math, and that was my highest score.
As for the job interview, I have the ablility to develp rapport with students while at the same time holding them to academic standards. I try to handle discipline by keeping the class engaging.
Thanks everyone for your comments over the semester and good luck in your career pursuits.
Eric
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