My main focus for the last few weeks has been my teaching. Can I apply the techniques I have been taught? Can I be creative in developing lesson ideas? Can I meet the needs of all my students? Can I teach these students in a way where they are learning and growing? I have all these questions running through my head, wondering if I am doing what needs to be done. Some days feel like a complete success, and others I feel so lost. It is so nice to have a mentor teacher around. Being able to have five months with a veteran teacher is so helpful in my growth as a teacher. I could not imagine only having a few weeks in the classroom and then being expected to run a class of my own. Your mentor teacher gives you ideas from being in the experience and going through the process themselves that you cannot learn sitting in a lecture class. Your mentor teacher provides you with feedback and also gives compliments which help in your confidence as a new teacher. My host teacher and I have discussed how it is really nice having two teachers in the room. This gives ample opportunities to help all students as well as complete tasks that would normally require extra hours after school. Each week with my teaching I feel more and more comfortable. Discipline is still a struggle of mine, you want to be in charge but not the bad guy, but I am working on it I promise! Another thing I now need to focus on is more individualized observation of my students. I just ask myself sometimes, if a students mother or father walked into my room would I be able to give good, specific details as to how their child is doing? A lot of times I am not sure and therefore thankful I have another teacher who does pay close attention. Right now I am struggling with making sure I am saying the right thing and I am doing the right thing that I am missing out on little behaviors my students have during my lesson. For example, can I look around during a math lesson and note who can do mental math and who is still using their fingers. The ones who are using their fingers, how can I move them forward so they don’t need that while keep the others on task and not bored? This is another reason I think videotaping is important because it allows you to see what your students really are doing while you teach. I feel like I am looking at my students but then when I watch footage I am like how could I miss that?! While I am teaching I think everyone understands and is following with what I am saying, but in reality that may not be the case. It is all very interesting to me.
You are moving through the stages quite well. I am impressed with your reflections. Now that you are getting more comfortabel with teaching, the observations will come easier. By the end of your time here, you will be able to talk to a parent about their child's strengths and weaknesses.
My main focus for the last few weeks has been my teaching. Can I apply the techniques I have been taught? Can I be creative in developing lesson ideas? Can I meet the needs of all my students? Can I teach these students in a way where they are learning and growing? I have all these questions running through my head, wondering if I am doing what needs to be done. Some days feel like a complete success, and others I feel so lost. It is so nice to have a mentor teacher around.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to have five months with a veteran teacher is so helpful in my growth as a teacher. I could not imagine only having a few weeks in the classroom and then being expected to run a class of my own. Your mentor teacher gives you ideas from being in the experience and going through the process themselves that you cannot learn sitting in a lecture class. Your mentor teacher provides you with feedback and also gives compliments which help in your confidence as a new teacher. My host teacher and I have discussed how it is really nice having two teachers in the room. This gives ample opportunities to help all students as well as complete tasks that would normally require extra hours after school.
Each week with my teaching I feel more and more comfortable. Discipline is still a struggle of mine, you want to be in charge but not the bad guy, but I am working on it I promise! Another thing I now need to focus on is more individualized observation of my students. I just ask myself sometimes, if a students mother or father walked into my room would I be able to give good, specific details as to how their child is doing? A lot of times I am not sure and therefore thankful I have another teacher who does pay close attention. Right now I am struggling with making sure I am saying the right thing and I am doing the right thing that I am missing out on little behaviors my students have during my lesson. For example, can I look around during a math lesson and note who can do mental math and who is still using their fingers. The ones who are using their fingers, how can I move them forward so they don’t need that while keep the others on task and not bored? This is another reason I think videotaping is important because it allows you to see what your students really are doing while you teach. I feel like I am looking at my students but then when I watch footage I am like how could I miss that?! While I am teaching I think everyone understands and is following with what I am saying, but in reality that may not be the case. It is all very interesting to me.
You are moving through the stages quite well. I am impressed with your reflections. Now that you are getting more comfortabel with teaching, the observations will come easier. By the end of your time here, you will be able to talk to a parent about their child's strengths and weaknesses.
ReplyDelete