Final Reflection

Final Reflection

Dear Laura,

The teacher in you has come to light! This first semester has been very enlightening – I have learned so much – not only in how to be a teacher – but also in teaching style.  One of the most important things to me when I began my student teaching was to figure out what kind of teacher I was going to be.  I knew early on that a person’s teaching persona develops organically – it is not something that can be easily constructed or formed.  I am happy that my teaching persona naturally came to be what Lemov described as warm but strict.  My cooperating teachers and evaluators were impressed with my natural authority in the classroom.  The students respected me as their teacher, and followed my lead as I instructed them in ELA content.

The goals that I set for myself were, by the end of the semester, for the most part, met.  I developed a rapport with my students – they trusted me, bonded with me, sought me out in the hallways for academic help, for help in general, or to just chat.  Above all, I wanted to know that I could reach my students – to affect them in some way.  On my last day, when I told my students that I was leaving, there was an uproar, they were sad to see me go, asked for my email, and asked for me to come visit.  It was at that moment that I knew I had done something amazing.  I had touched the lives of these high school students – I had made an impact.  As a teacher I think this is one of the most important parts of our jobs.  I understand now that what we do goes far beyond just teaching – we are role models – we have the power to change lives.   

Above all, I was afraid that I would not be able to control the students in my classroom – that they would walk all over me.  I have since learned something that no amount of schooling can teach you…high school students are people too.  Yes they need discipline, but they also need kindness and respect and guidance.  It is these three things combined that create the classroom climate that I wish to develop in my future classroom. 

The lesson plans I designed were successful, not only in terms of content but also in terms of delivery.  Each time I taught a lesson I sought feedback from my students and my teachers.  I wanted to know if they were bored during the lesson, if the understood what I was trying to teach them, and if they thought it would be a successful lesson to teach again.  More often then not the students (and teachers) were able articulate what I was trying to teach them, and they often had only good things to say about my teaching style, and the lesson itself.  Albeit not every lesson I taught was riveting – but none of them failed entirely either – which in my opinion says more about the lesson then its sheer entertainment value.  I tried many of the techniques we learned over the course of the semester – my favorites (just to name a few) were student choice, no opt out, and invitations to learn.  Beyond teaching techniques, I learned something about my own teaching personality – that above all else, student accountability is at the forfront of things that are important to me.  There is only so much instruction you can force upon a student – sometimes you just have to leave it in their hands and see where they run with it.  I even got over my fear of group work.  By the end of the semester I had tried group work lessons more than five times and in different modes, and they all went swimmingly.  Clearly, I have not learned every way in which to run group work, but I am pleased that I have left this experience with the desire to keep trying – one day I will be able to say that I love doing group work, and that I have figured out the way to make it the most effective group work I can. 

My dedication is ever growing, and I can only get better from here.  I am always, and will always be learning.  Teaching is not a stagnant profession – there is always more to do, more to teach, and more to learn.  I believe that this first experience in the classroom has showed me that I can handle almost anything that comes my way.  I am quick on my feet and fast to react.  I am not shy to criticism – in fact I embrace it – how can I get better if I react badly to what more experiences teachers have to say about my own craft?  I believe that in near future I will become a great teacher.  This semester has shown me I have the drive, the want, and the will to be the best teacher that I can be. 

-Here’s to my fast approaching, long lasting career,

- Laura