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About Me
- Arlinda Lopez Rodriguez, PhD.
- I am an associate professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus. My specialties are TESL, Curriculum and Instruction, Technology Integration and Online course design./ Soy catedratica aasociada en la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Aguadilla. Me especializo en TESOL, Currículo e Instrucción, integración de la tecnología y diseño de cursos en línea.
33 comments:
Melissa Torres Sánchez
EDPE 4005 L11
September 21, 2008
Reflection #2: Towards Reflective Teaching
Throughout the beginning of this school year, we have been hearing of the importance of being a reflective teacher. At first it may be difficult for us to become a reflective teacher, since we are barely starting, but with practice and dedication we can achieve it. One way of becoming a reflective teacher is by observing and reflecting on our own teaching and using the information that we gather to change certain aspects of our teaching that need improvement. We can also achieve reflection by observing another teacher’s class and by focusing on certain details that we think that needs changing. First you watch the event, and then you analyze it and finally ask yourself questions on your own teaching. There are many ways to achieve reflection, but I would have to say that my favorite is the journal, because I can write in it my most inner thoughts and then go through it and after a while, I can evaluate, how much I have progressed and what aspects of my teaching still need improvement. It really does help to keep a journal, you can organize your thoughts in it and you can write what you observed and how you felt by that experience and it helps you to remember what happened with clarity and understanding. A reflective approach to teaching involves changes in the way we usually perceive teaching and our role in the process of teaching. Experience joined with reflection can be a powerful force for teacher development. Because with each experience that we acquire, if we are willing and open to change we can most certainly change the way we teach and improve it. We can also make our students more enthusiastic for change and we can help them become critical thinkers. Furthermore we can help them reflect on their own lives and hopefully they can have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
I will reflect on the class in general. My first impression of this class was that is was going to be challenging. I was not wrong! It is not that it has been difficult, but there is so much to learn and so little time. I have enjoyed the class up to now because I feel that I am growing in this reflective process. I have come to a better understanding about many different topics, such as ‘reflective teaching’ and ‘effective’ teaching rather than ‘better’ teaching. This course has made me see that teaching will not always be an easy task but with all the knowledge I am acquiring, I know I will be able to survive and give my best to help students actually learn and apply that knowledge in their daily lives. I hope to become a good reflective teacher because I do not want to center my teaching in myself. I want to find the most effective strategies, activities and approaches that will engage students to learning a lesson. To achieve that, I have to apply what I have learned. I have to try different ways to teach, analyze if they are working and make the necessary changes in order to teach effectively. I guess reflecting leads to effective teaching. That is what I want to become as a teacher.
As the semester goes on, I think more and more of what kind of teacher I will become and I can picture myself there in the classroom setting. Before this class, I had never felt so anxious as I feel now to reach my goal of becoming a teacher and of acquiring more knowledge to improve my skills. Sometimes, I get a little frustrated when I want to learn so many things at once but I remind myself that life itself is a learning process so it is better to take it step by step. What got me most frustrated was that I learned lesson planning with another professor and now I am learning it a different way and it gets my kind of confused as to which is the correct way. Although I like the way I am learning it now because it makes more sense to me and it is actually easier, I would have liked it if professors got together and decided to teach us the same way to make lesson plans according to the Department of Education because this will help us enormously when we go to do our practice. That is another thing that I am excited about. Soon I will be doing the observations in a High School and I will make sure to apply all that I have learned in the classroom setting. In conclusion, I want to give thanks to the professor for sharing her experiences with us because this helps us have a picture of what we might encounter in a future!
I will reflect on the class in general. My first impression of this class was that is was going to be challenging. I was not wrong! It is not that it has been difficult, but there is so much to learn and so little time. I have enjoyed the class up to now because I feel that I am growing in this reflective process. I have come to a better understanding about many different topics, such as ‘reflective teaching’ and ‘effective’ teaching rather than ‘better’ teaching. This course has made me see that teaching will not always be an easy task but with all the knowledge I am acquiring, I know I will be able to survive and give my best to help students actually learn and apply that knowledge in their daily lives. I hope to become a good reflective teacher because I do not want to center my teaching in myself. I want to find the most effective strategies, activities and approaches that will engage students to learning a lesson. To achieve that, I have to apply what I have learned. I have to try different ways to teach, analyze if they are working and make the necessary changes in order to teach effectively. I guess reflecting leads to effective teaching. That is what I want to become as a teacher.
As the semester goes on, I think more and more of what kind of teacher I will become and I can picture myself there in the classroom setting. Before this class, I had never felt so anxious as I feel now to reach my goal of becoming a teacher and of acquiring more knowledge to improve my skills. Sometimes, I get a little frustrated when I want to learn so many things at once but I remind myself that life itself is a learning process so it is better to take it step by step. What got me most frustrated was that I learned lesson planning with another professor and now I am learning it a different way and it gets my kind of confused as to which is the correct way. Although I like the way I am learning it now because it makes more sense to me and it is actually easier, I would have liked it if professors got together and decided to teach us the same way to make lesson plans according to the Department of Education because this will help us enormously when we go to do our practice. That is another thing that I am excited about. Soon I will be doing the observations in a High School and I will make sure to apply all that I have learned in the classroom setting. In conclusion, I want to give thanks to the professor for sharing her experiences with us because this helps us have a picture of what we might encounter in a future!
I will reflect on the class in general. My first impression of this class was that is was going to be challenging. I was not wrong! It is not that it has been difficult, but there is so much to learn and so little time. I have enjoyed the class up to now because I feel that I am growing in this reflective process. I have come to a better understanding about many different topics, such as ‘reflective teaching’ and ‘effective’ teaching rather than ‘better’ teaching. This course has made me see that teaching will not always be an easy task but with all the knowledge I am acquiring, I know I will be able to survive and give my best to help students actually learn and apply that knowledge in their daily lives. I hope to become a good reflective teacher because I do not want to center my teaching in myself. I want to find the most effective strategies, activities and approaches that will engage students to learning a lesson. To achieve that, I have to apply what I have learned. I have to try different ways to teach, analyze if they are working and make the necessary changes in order to teach effectively. I guess reflecting leads to effective teaching. That is what I want to become as a teacher.
As the semester goes on, I think more and more of what kind of teacher I will become and I can picture myself there in the classroom setting. Before this class, I had never felt so anxious as I feel now to reach my goal of becoming a teacher and of acquiring more knowledge to improve my skills. Sometimes, I get a little frustrated when I want to learn so many things at once but I remind myself that life itself is a learning process so it is better to take it step by step. What got me most frustrated was that I learned lesson planning with another professor and now I am learning it a different way and it gets my kind of confused as to which is the correct way. Although I like the way I am learning it now because it makes more sense to me and it is actually easier, I would have liked it if professors got together and decided to teach us the same way to make lesson plans according to the Department of Education because this will help us enormously when we go to do our practice. That is another thing that I am excited about. Soon I will be doing the observations in a High School and I will make sure to apply all that I have learned in the classroom setting. In conclusion, I want to give thanks to the professor for sharing her experiences with us because this helps us have a picture of what we might encounter in a future!
Reflection #1
As each day goes by, I find myself thinking more and more about what it means to me to become a teacher. But not just any teacher, I mean an effective teacher. Over and over people have told me many negative remarks towards my profession. Some talk to me about how underpaid teachers are, or how many headaches they get each day, or how awful the Department of Education of Puerto Rico is. Yes, I know that they are not lying to me when they tell me this. Yet I always answer: “…but teaching is what I love and what I want to do for the rest of my life”. This is the profession I have chosen and I honestly can not see myself doing anything else. The reading’ “Effective teaching”, made me think about something I have always believed in. To me, teaching is a profession that grows from the heart. You have to love it and give it your all in order to be an effective educator; admired and respected by your students and colleagues.
As I read chapter three from “Pedagogy of Freedom”, I thought about how many educators are barely “doing their job” by forcing their students to memorize certain things that may even be irrelevant to their lives. This reading encourages me, as a teacher, to do much more than that. I have to be open to new ideas, questions and curiosity. I will not baby feed my students. Quite the contrary, students should always be involved in the construction of their own knowledge; I am here to guide them in the process.
In my favorite section of the chapter, Freire talks about ‘joy and hope’. He states that “…hope is an essential component and not an intruder” and that “the absence of hope is not the “normal” way to be human. It is a distortion.” As humans, it is hope that carries us towards a better tomorrow. We are born with it, although some people lose hope along the way. The author made me realize that I should fight to weaken the objective reasons for hopelessness that stop me, or my students, from growing. As an educator, I have to open my students’ minds and make them believe in themselves. It is my task to make them understand that their reality is not unchangeable and that “to change is difficult but possible”. I can make them see that although things can get worse, they are able to intervene to improve them. It is the same for me, as a teacher. It is obvious that the situation the Department of Education, and every school, is going through is not easy and thing may seem worse every day. Yet knowing this, I am sure that I will do what is possible to make the difference in my classroom, and in my school. I plan to place my grain of sand towards changing the reality we live in today. And if each educator did the same, things would never be the same again…
Reflection #2
I have heard many people make awful comments about the teaching profession and it makes me wonder “Why do I want to be a teacher?” Some even advice me to change my profession because as days go by, things in the Department of Education get worse. So, again I ask myself “Why teach? What have I gotten myself into?”
In the preparation process of becoming an educator, I am aware of the problems in the educational system compared to other people in our society. We are the ones who see directly how the respect for authority figures has gone out the window. We are the ones who see how many of these troublesome students have parents who permit them to continue on the path they have chosen.
I honestly believe that teaching is a privilege because not everyone can teach. Teaching involves vocation. It is a huge responsibility because students’ education depends on how well-prepared we are. We also have the responsibility to teach our students about respect and goal setting and caring about their work and potential.
I know that being a teacher is difficult. Teachers teach the skills they do because they follow the Department of Education’s curriculum. They are given objectives that are to be met and it is the teacher who decides the best way of presenting the material. As a future teacher I am going to try to incorporate different activities or teaching strategies in order to meet the needs of all students. Teachers have to show students they deeply care about the students’ success. The success a student has in school is the basis of the success they will gain in the real world. Knowing I have the power to make the difference and impact someone is satisfying and rewarding.
It sounds intimidating and challenging to know that this is what I have gotten myself into and this is what I will be doing for the rest of my life because teaching is a calling; not a job. Besides with this career not only students are acquiring knowledge, but also teachers because we have to be updated with the latest in order to transmit effectively and get better response from students. This makes learning fun both for teachers and students.
Finally, teachers learn to be teachers not because they obtained a degree from a university. It is through practice that we grow and enrich.
Lesliebeth Acevedo
Reflection #2
I have heard many people make awful comments about the teaching profession and it makes me wonder “Why do I want to be a teacher?” Some even advice me to change my profession because as days go by, things in the Department of Education get worse. So, again I ask myself “Why teach? What have I gotten myself into?”
In the preparation process of becoming an educator, I am aware of the problems in the educational system compared to other people in our society. We are the ones who see directly how the respect for authority figures has gone out the window. We are the ones who see how many of these troublesome students have parents who permit them to continue on the path they have chosen.
I honestly believe that teaching is a privilege because not everyone can teach. Teaching involves vocation. It is a huge responsibility because students’ education depends on how well-prepared we are. We also have the responsibility to teach our students about respect and goal setting and caring about their work and potential.
I know that being a teacher is difficult. Teachers teach the skills they do because they follow the Department of Education’s curriculum. They are given objectives that are to be met and it is the teacher who decides the best way of presenting the material. As a future teacher I am going to try to incorporate different activities or teaching strategies in order to meet the needs of all students. Teachers have to show students they deeply care about the students’ success. The success a student has in school is the basis of the success they will gain in the real world. Knowing I have the power to make the difference and impact someone is satisfying and rewarding.
It sounds intimidating and challenging to know that this is what I have gotten myself into and this is what I will be doing for the rest of my life because teaching is a calling; not a job. Besides with this career not only students are acquiring knowledge, but also teachers because we have to be updated with the latest in order to transmit effectively and get better response from students. This makes learning fun both for teachers and students.
Finally, teachers learn to be teachers not because they obtained a degree from a university. It is through practice that we grow and enrich.
Lesliebeth Acevedo
Second Reflection Based on Lesson Planning
While I was thinking in what topic I was going to reflect, I decided that I should talk about Lesson Planning. Why lesson planning? Because I think that this is a hard work that most of the teachers have to do. We as good or effective educators have to take into consideration a variety of points before doing lesson planning; such as Gardner Multiple Intelligences' Theory. Why teachers should be aware of this? They have to be aware of this, because students have different ways of learning and different interests.
When Professor Arlinda Lopez made us create a concept map based one of our best lesson plans I thought that would be helpless, but the truth was that then I started to analyze the way I did the lesson, my weakest and strongest points (the things I mastered and the thing I do not) and what things were missing in my lesson plan. Then I started to change and add things to the lesson in order to make it more appropriate to thee grade level and to make it creative and innovative.
Also, the professor made us assess our lesson plan using a checklist. With this, I noticed that some of my lesson plan parts were missing, such as students' self-evaluations. I think that self-evaluations are very important for teachers, because this provides information about the knowledge that the students are acquiring and or learning.
I really think that doing this exercise help use integrate new things that maybe we did not took into consideration while doing our first lesson plan. Personally I really enjoyed doing this exercise, because I improve my lesson plan after analyzing and meditation on the first one.
"Perfil del Maestro"
Does the perfect teacher exist? After having read "El Perfil del Maestro" I could not help but feel intimidated. As a future teacher I am given this document to read and find myself wanting to be the perfect teacher. Everyone in life wants to succeed and I personally want to be able to complete everything stated on the document; however reality sinks in. I find this document to be very valuable because it reminds me why I chose this career. I want to be the ideal teacher that is able to control chaos that havoc's around the classroom and at the same time develop activities that will motivate my students. Being a teacher should be a privilege, not a burden. For this reason, I find the "Perfil del Maestro" to be achievable , as long as one enjoys their profession and truly appreciates the wonders of guiding ones students in the right path. Overall, there is no such thing as the perfect teacher, however being an inspirational one is just a good. I just want to continue being myself and motivate my students through learning and at the end of the day feel proud of what they have accomplished in life.
"Perfil del Maestro"
Does the perfect teacher exist? After having read "El Perfil del Maestro" I could not help but feel intimidated. As a future teacher I am given this document to read and find myself wanting to be the perfect teacher. Everyone in life wants to succeed and I personally want to be able to complete everything stated on the document; however reality sinks in. I find this document to be very valuable because it reminds me why I chose this career. I want to be the ideal teacher that is able to control chaos that havoc's around the classroom and at the same time develop activities that will motivate my students. Being a teacher should be a privilege, not a burden. For this reason, I find the "Perfil del Maestro" to be achievable , as long as one enjoys their profession and truly appreciates the wonders of guiding ones students in the right path. Overall, there is no such thing as the perfect teacher, however being an inspirational one is just a good. I just want to continue being myself and motivate my students through learning and at the end of the day feel proud of what they have accomplished.
When I read “Reflective Teaching” I could see myself in every word of the article, getting feedback had always helped me get my goals accomplished. I believe that teachers hold an important part on all of our lives that even those who had never been to school had set an example for us and have been a teacher in their own way. Time has passed and everything has modernized and now we have sources to become more constructive and useful for our people and society. Teachers gain knowledge and pass it through our student to become successful in life. We all need something to learn from one and another, me as a professional teacher want to be a path for my students and lead them until they can keep on their own I want my student to have confidence, that they can feel protection from me and want to be on an environment that can teach them become successful in life. What we made of our student indicates our success as teachers. I believe that an important instrument to give to our students its feedback, it’s a way of guiding us into effective teachers that is the goal we want to achieve or become in the first place. Feedback makes the student proud of themselves and won’t want to give up on them because you believe in them and that what make them meaningful, as a teacher that I will become we need to have in mind that teachers do the difference and that we need to belive in ourselves to know what’s important for our students.
Nataly Rodriguez
Reflection #2
I do not want to force a reflection out of myself; I want to write about actual things I have reflected on. I have chosen to write about all the thoughts I have had since our seminar class last Wednesday. All the stories told by our professor Arlinda had me reflecting on my future profession more than all our recent readings. If I recall correctly, she told us about (1) the student from hell, (2) the emotionally disturbed student in a Spanish classroom, (3) the hole-on-door-and-a-head-moving incident, (4) the exited kid in the empty classroom, and (5) the teacher who liked his students in a sick way. These are all serious matters I am going to face when I become a teacher; these and many more, because these were the stories that could be told in only forty minutes so I need to be sure if I truly want to be a teacher.
When I thought about all these stories I understood I must learn now as much as I can about what I will face, and be sure I too, as our professor, know the laws that apply and protect me and my students. I recognized also that I should think about situations I might encounter and talk to teachers, good-responsible-effective-caring teachers, about how they would handle a situation like this, because I know I must be as much prepared as I can when I step into that world.
During my reflection, I thought many thoughts, but not once did I think I must run. My goal is to be a teacher and to be in contact with students, to teach them and help them as I can. Again, it all comes down to this: my students are important to me. They are important to me although I do not know them or have not yet met them. They are important and that is why I will make sure to provide for them quality education. All these situations that might rise will just be impediments on my teaching, and that is why I need to be prepared, because I cannot let them interfere in my students learning and in me achieving my goal. I will not quit or run, because the main goal I want to achieve is in a classroom and no place else.
Being a Teacher is not an easy task there are a lot of things we have to be prepared for and many other we need to be aware of when providing instruction inside the classroom. There are so many things out there to teach that personally it feels exhausting just thinking about: How will I (as a teacher) will accomplish all those areas in approximately ten months.
The Seminar and Curriculum is being very helpful to fulfill my anxiety. After hearing and watching each presentation from the Appendix part of the Standards I feel more relaxed. In addition there are many things we will learn through the passing of time and while we acquire experience working with so many different students.
One of the best terms discussed in class so far (which I personally like) was PRAXIS. This term may seem complex but is just what all student teachers need to follow while preparing to teach. This term is why it is so important to prepare ourselves for the future. First we should learn about teaching and not how to teach. I want to point out there does not exist a book or a manual that says how and what to teach. We are guided by our professors but they cannot tell us a specific way to teach. The key word here is guidance. They guide us but we make the best out of what they teach us and giving our instruction our own style and flavor; taking into consideration who we are and our students. Always focusing on the students because we have the ‘knowledge’ it is them who need us to guide them as our professors guide us.
Finally we should put into practice (teach) according to what we learned, our students and what we still have to acknowledge.
I want to reflect on how much i have learned throughout this class. I have learned about how improtant is the job of a teacher because you have to teach but at the same time you have to be a counselor to much of these students that need all your help to keep on going with their studies. I have also learned that as a teacher you have to be a professional and be the best at teaching and become an effective teacher. I have also learned that as a professional you have to have some sort of distance between you and the students because if you do not follow this rule you as a teacher can be in a lot of trouble. Being a teacher is not an easy job but as i keep on learning i'm mor sure that the profeccion that i selected is the best because i want to be the best and make a difference.
Reflecting about the Teaching Profession
Reflection is always necessary to plan and improve our actions. Reflecting about the teaching profession and the challenges involved the experience that I had as a Teacher Assistant came to my mind. It was my first time in the classroom context. I was really excited because finally I would be a “Mrs.” Then I become Mrs. Rios for all my eighth graders and my job as an educator begun. I remember the satisfaction that provided helping special education students. It was not worthwhile at all. They were students with problems that needed to be guided and accepted. I observed that when a teacher demonstrated interest they worked. After observing for a few weeks I decided to act. With suitable words I started demonstrating interest in their daily class works and assignments. I assisted one by one those students with mayor difficulties, and guess what? Students that never worked in class changed to be the first ones in turning in. at that moment the smile on my face couldn’t be erased.
It is easy, look at them and demonstrate that you believe in them. They need security and guidance. Today I know that it is possible. It is possible to get students work in class, to believe. Remember never leave behind a child, they can do it.
Sherley
Reflecting about the Teaching Profession
Reflection is always necessary to plan and improve our actions. Reflecting about the teaching profession and the challenges involved the experience that I had as a Teacher Assistant came to my mind. It was my first time in the classroom context. I was really excited because finally I would be a “Mrs.” Then I become Mrs. Rios for all my eighth graders and my job as an educator begun. I remember the satisfaction that provided helping special education students. It was not worthwhile at all. They were students with problems that needed to be guided and accepted. I observed that when a teacher demonstrated interest they worked. After observing for a few weeks I decided to act. With suitable words I started demonstrating interest in their daily class works and assignments. I assisted one by one those students with mayor difficulties, and guess what? Students that never worked in class changed to be the first ones in turning in. at that moment the smile on my face couldn’t be erased.
It is easy, look at them and demonstrate that you believe in them. They need security and guidance. Today I know that it is possible. It is possible to get students work in class, to believe. Remember never leave behind a child, they can do it.
Sherley
In my reflection I want to talk about my experience so far in the class. I enjoy being in the class a lot because one always learns something different. Every day that goes by I like it even more, and I say this is were I really want to be. Being a teacher is not an easy task how everyone says, to become a real teacher one has to care for the students and if they learn. One as a responsable and caring educator should think that one is not there just to sit give work and assigments and that is it, an educator is more than that. We are the ones who are teaching the future because the students we teach are the ones that are going to become the future doctors, layers, teachers, etc. they are the future of this world and if we want to make a difference we have to start wih the education.
I am learning a lot in this class, and i hope I learn more because when I teach I want to make a difference.
Yashira Perez
I think that one of the things that scare students the most is speaking orally in the English language. The sad reality is tat we live in a cruel world and students are often quick to point out the faults of the rest. Oral communication is very important for me because I think that this is the skill that is least taught in the public school system. I think that many teachers shy away from practicing this skill because of the difficulties that they face when trying to motivate their students to speak in the target language. The question that I ask myself is “How can I motivate my future students to speak English more frequently and without fear in the English classroom.”
The first thing that I will do is make a rule that stresses the importance of respect inside of the classroom and respect among peers. Secondly, I am going to give the students a variety of techniques that they can use to combat the fear of public speaking. I would probably send a whole class period teaching these techniques, or perhaps even more, depending on the needs of the students. I also plan on providing the students a podium so that they can feel more secure when they are standing in front of the classroom. Another good idea is for me to point out that everyone is on “the same boat” and that they should not be shy when speaking English in small steps. I might begin by simply letting them have informal conversations amongst themselves (but by using English) and work my way up to oral presentations.
I am confident that a little patience and determination can go a long way when motivating students to speak English. My goal as an educator is to make sure that my students know how to perform well in the four strands of English, even though oral communication is the most difficult one to achieve. The suggestions that are stated above are not set in stone. I know that m techniques might change and improve as I get more teaching experience and they would change depending on the needs of my students. But the most important thing to me is that my students get practice in this much needed area.
I think that one of the things that scare students the most is speaking orally in the English language. The sad reality is tat we live in a cruel world and students are often quick to point out the faults of the rest. Oral communication is very important for me because I think that this is the skill that is least taught in the public school system. I think that many teachers shy away from practicing this skill because of the difficulties that they face when trying to motivate their students to speak in the target language. The question that I ask myself is “How can I motivate my future students to speak English more frequently and without fear in the English classroom.”
The first thing that I will do is make a rule that stresses the importance of respect inside of the classroom and respect among peers. Secondly, I am going to give the students a variety of techniques that they can use to combat the fear of public speaking. I would probably send a whole class period teaching these techniques, or perhaps even more, depending on the needs of the students. I also plan on providing the students a podium so that they can feel more secure when they are standing in front of the classroom. Another good idea is for me to point out that everyone is on “the same boat” and that they should not be shy when speaking English in small steps. I might begin by simply letting them have informal conversations amongst themselves (but by using English) and work my way up to oral presentations.
I am confident that a little patience and determination can go a long way when motivating students to speak English. My goal as an educator is to make sure that my students know how to perform well in the four strands of English, even though oral communication is the most difficult one to achieve. The suggestions that are stated above are not set in stone. I know that m techniques might change and improve as I get more teaching experience and they would change depending on the needs of my students. But the most important thing to me is that my students get practice in this much needed area.
Throughout the semester I have been reflecting on many issues related to the teaching process. I have changed my point of view, but only so slightly, because I stick to my philosophy of education; one that encourages authentic learning and is child-centered. I have heard in class different criticisms about what we should and should not do as teachers and I agree with those that go against the traditional teaching style.
During the semesters I spent doing classroom observations I encountered a few teachers who adopted this teaching style. I could feel the pressure of some of those teachers who would, as I consider, advise me so wrongfully to forget about many of the things they teach us in college about being so positive and motivated to teach because that “does not work in real life”. I could sense their unhappiness as teachers who do not enjoy their profession and cared very little for their students. I asked myself: have their experience been so traumatic for them so as to transform them into everything a teacher should not be? Isn’t experience the key to success in the teaching process? Shouldn’t you learn from them?
At first, at the moment I was told this, I was very upset, intimidated and confused. I wondered if I have to be like the rest of the teachers so as not to look “naïve”. But then I realized: isn’t this the intimidation they leave in their students? Why do I have to let this overcome me as if I were a student of hers? I know it is not easy to break the barrier and be different as soon as you step into a school for the first time, but it is the only way to change this cycle, which is nothing more than everything we hated when we were students.
As teachers, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: What made classes be so boring? Were teachers unrespectful or careless towards us or any of our classmates? In what way, and if so, why? Do we want to be like them? I personally look forward to be a successful teacher by not doing many of the things I hated as a student. It is not about being an easy teacher that lets students do what they want to do, but being tough when it’s about group control and creative when it’s about the subject matter.
Throughout the semester I have been reflecting on many issues related to the teaching process. I have changed my point of view, but only so slightly, because I stick to my philosophy of education; one that encourages authentic learning and is child-centered. I have heard in class different criticisms about what we should and should not do as teachers and I agree with those that go against the traditional teaching style.
During the semesters I spent doing classroom observations I encountered a few teachers who adopted this teaching style. I could feel the pressure of some of those teachers who would, as I consider, advise me so wrongfully to forget about many of the things they teach us in college about being so positive and motivated to teach because that “does not work in real life”. I could sense their unhappiness as teachers who do not enjoy their profession and cared very little for their students. I asked myself: have their experience been so traumatic for them so as to transform them into everything a teacher should not be? Isn’t experience the key to success in the teaching process? Shouldn’t you learn from them?
At first, at the moment I was told this, I was very upset, intimidated and confused. I wondered if I have to be like the rest of the teachers so as not to look “naïve”. But then I realized: isn’t this the intimidation they leave in their students? Why do I have to let this overcome me as if I were a student of hers? I know it is not easy to break the barrier and be different as soon as you step into a school for the first time, but it is the only way to change this cycle, which is nothing more than everything we hated when we were students.
As teachers, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: What made classes be so boring? Were teachers unrespectful or careless towards us or any of our classmates? In what way, and if so, why? Do we want to be like them? I personally look forward to be a successful teacher by not doing many of the things I hated as a student. It is not about being an easy teacher that lets students do what they want to do, but being tough when it’s about group control and creative when it’s about the subject matter.
Reflection #2
I think the topic that we have begun to discuss in class about lesson planning is definite must. I’m glad we started Lesson Planning because I really want to master this. Why? Well because in order to become an effective teacher we have to be well organized with what exactly is it that we want to teach our students. I dislike the fact that there are just so many teachers that arrive to class without a clue of what they are going to teach their students. I just think it’s awful because there are so many ideas and activities out there waiting to be used. Oh, and thanks God for technology because what would we do with out it. We have access to so many activities that we can use with our students that it’s just a shame how many teachers just make their students copy information of the board. Of course, every information and activities we find should be well evaluated. We can’t print something just because it might look pretty and say this is what I will use. We should ask ourselves if the material is useful or not. I think teachers should be creative and have a clear objective while constructing activities. This is why we should prepare our lesson with time and care. We must be prepared and master well the contents that we are going to teach. We should evaluate each and every detail of our lesson plan to see what is missing and what is still needed.
Lissette Soto Beltrán
Reflection #2
I think the topic that we have begun to discuss in class about lesson planning is definite must. I’m glad we started Lesson Planning because I really want to master this. Why? Well because in order to become an effective teacher we have to be well organized with what exactly is it that we want to teach our students. I dislike the fact that there are just so many teachers that arrive to class without a clue of what they are going to teach their students. I just think it’s awful because there are so many ideas and activities out there waiting to be used. Oh, and thanks God for technology because what would we do with out it. We have access to so many activities that we can use with our students that it’s just a shame how many teachers just make their students copy information of the board. Of course, every information and activities we find should be well evaluated. We can’t print something just because it might look pretty and say this is what I will use. We should ask ourselves if the material is useful or not. I think teachers should be creative and have a clear objective while constructing activities. This is why we should prepare our lesson with time and care. We must be prepared and master well the contents that we are going to teach. We should evaluate each and every detail of our lesson plan to see what is missing and what is still needed.
Lissette Soto Beltrán
When I finish reading the article “Effective Teaching”, it keeps me thinking about my future as a teacher. I love to teach however that is not enough. I need to be prepared academically and psycologically because the teacher not only is educated in the university. The teacher learns day by day in the field, since the learners give the teacher the necessary feedback to do a better job. The teacher needs to get ready psycologically because the students cames with differents situations to the classroom,so is very important to understand the student’s background, because prepare the teacher to understand better the student and the classroom behavior.When the teacher understands the students, find the way to be fun and creative with discpline. My goal as a future teacher is not just to be able to teach the language, but to inspire and motivate the students to learn. I want my students to dream, to think about their future, and to go beyond their possibilities. To accomplish my goal I need to improve myself as a person and as a teacher. If I improve as a person, it will be reflected in my relatioship with my peers and my students. As a future teacher, I need to have empaty, autocontrol, and respect for other and myself. Those characteristics are very important to shape an effective teacher. Is very important analyze myself and when the time comes, took peer profesionals evaluation, student’s evaluation; they might give me ideas in how to be more effective, so the students can have an effective intruction. I want to be prepared to teach and to inspire my students and most of all I want to be an effective teacher.
When I finish reading the article “Effective Teaching”, it keeps me thinking about my future as a teacher. I love to teach however that is not enough. I need to be prepared academically and psycologically because the teacher not only is educated in the university. The teacher learns day by day in the field, since the learners give the teacher the necessary feedback to do a better job. The teacher needs to get ready psycologically because the students cames with differents situations to the classroom,so is very important to understand the student’s background, because prepare the teacher to understand better the student and the classroom behavior.When the teacher understands the students, find the way to be fun and creative with discpline. My goal as a future teacher is not just to be able to teach the language, but to inspire and motivate the students to learn. I want my students to dream, to think about their future, and to go beyond their possibilities. To accomplish my goal I need to improve myself as a person and as a teacher. If I improve as a person, it will be reflected in my relatioship with my peers and my students. As a future teacher, I need to have empaty, autocontrol, and respect for other and myself. Those characteristics are very important to shape an effective teacher. Is very important analyze myself and when the time comes, took peer profesionals evaluation, student’s evaluation; they might give me ideas in how to be more effective, so the students can have an effective intruction. I want to be prepared to teach and to inspire my students and most of all I want to be an effective teacher.
When I finish reading the article “Effective Teaching”, it keeps me thinking about my future as a teacher. I love to teach however that is not enough. I need to be prepared academically and psycologically because the teacher not only is educated in the university. The teacher learns day by day in the field, since the learners give the teacher the necessary feedback to do a better job. The teacher needs to get ready psycologically because the students cames with differents situations to the classroom,so is very important to understand the student’s background, because prepare the teacher to understand better the student and the classroom behavior.When the teacher understands the students, find the way to be fun and creative with discpline. My goal as a future teacher is not just to be able to teach the language, but to inspire and motivate the students to learn. I want my students to dream, to think about their future, and to go beyond their possibilities. To accomplish my goal I need to improve myself as a person and as a teacher. If I improve as a person, it will be reflected in my relatioship with my peers and my students. As a future teacher, I need to have empaty, autocontrol, and respect for other and myself. Those characteristics are very important to shape an effective teacher. Is very important analyze myself and when the time comes, took peer profesionals evaluation, student’s evaluation; they might give me ideas in how to be more effective, so the students can have an effective intruction. I want to be prepared to teach and to inspire my students and most of all I want to be an effective teacher.
When I finish reading the article “Effective Teaching”, it keeps me thinking about my future as a teacher. I love to teach however that is not enough. I need to be prepared academically and psycologically because the teacher not only is educated in the university. The teacher learns day by day in the field, since the learners give the teacher the necessary feedback to do a better job. The teacher needs to get ready psycologically because the students cames with differents situations to the classroom,so is very important to understand the student’s background, because prepare the teacher to understand better the student and the classroom behavior.When the teacher understands the students, find the way to be fun and creative with discpline. My goal as a future teacher is not just to be able to teach the language, but to inspire and motivate the students to learn. I want my students to dream, to think about their future, and to go beyond their possibilities. To accomplish my goal I need to improve myself as a person and as a teacher. If I improve as a person, it will be reflected in my relatioship with my peers and my students. As a future teacher, I need to have empaty, autocontrol, and respect for other and myself. Those characteristics are very important to shape an effective teacher. Is very important analyze myself and when the time comes, took peer profesionals evaluation, student’s evaluation; they might give me ideas in how to be more effective, so the students can have an effective intruction. I want to be prepared to teach and to inspire my students and most of all I want to be an effective teacher.
What is on my mind now is the starting of the observations. It makes me think about all the readings we have had in the class and some of the experiences the professor has shared with us, and I wonder if being in a school for that period of time, if I would get something that can compare to them. The whole deal with the “student from hell” intrigues me, in the classroom I’m going to be observing I know that even if I didn’t try, I would still be looking for a student that would fit the description, just because I would like to see one in live action, you might say, but more because seeing the teachers actions when dealing with them.
Right now for me it’s all about to keep in mind everything that has been said and try and put it together because I will soon need it when starting to go in to a class and seeing what happens on daily basis, I can’t just sit there look and write down random facts that won’t make sense. It is being prepared to find what I am looking for to help me to become a teacher, and it just scares me in a good way and I am looking forward to it.
What is on my mind now is the starting of the observations. It makes me think about all the readings we have had in the class and some of the experiences the professor has shared with us, and I wonder if being in a school for that period of time, if I would get something that can compare to them. The whole deal with the “student from hell” intrigues me, in the classroom I’m going to be observing I know that even if I didn’t try, I would still be looking for a student that would fit the description, just because I would like to see one in live action, you might say, but more because seeing the teachers actions when dealing with them.
Right now for me it’s all about to keep in mind everything that has been said and try and put it together because I will soon need it when starting to go in to a class and seeing what happens on daily basis, I can’t just sit there look and write down random facts that won’t make sense. It is being prepared to find what I am looking for to help me to become a teacher, and it just scares me in a good way and I am looking forward to it.
As a professional, you are expected to act as one at all times. I believe that my behavior in an observation foreshadows my attitude when I become a teacher. In my opinion, the ethics that the teacher should fallow are no less more strict of that of a doctor or a lawyer.
Trust is one of, if not, the most important thing a person can give you. When you do an interview that person is opening up and sharing trusting you with information to use it in the best matter and with confidentiality and discretion. It is extremely important that you, as an interviewer, fulfill that commitment.
In the subject of “what should you do if you see something illegal while observing” I think it is important to notify the actions to the superiors at the school to alert them, without saying names or place. That way you are protecting your ethics and doing what is morally right.
When I am observing, I am looking for behaviors, psychology, taking ideas and see how the teaching process works and not to mention names that can damage images, make fun or even demean a future colleague. It is important to rationalize and use your better judgment with the situations that happens on a school.
As a professional, you are expected to act as one at all times. I believe that my behavior in an observation foreshadows my attitude when I become a teacher. In my opinion, the ethics that the teacher should fallow are no less more strict of that of a doctor or a lawyer.
Trust is one of, if not, the most important thing a person can give you. When you do an interview that person is opening up and sharing trusting you with information to use it in the best matter and with confidentiality and discretion. It is extremely important that you, as an interviewer, fulfill that commitment.
In the subject of “what should you do if you see something illegal while observing” I think it is important to notify the actions to the superiors at the school to alert them, without saying names or place. That way you are protecting your ethics and doing what is morally right.
When I am observing, I am looking for behaviors, psychology, taking ideas and see how the teaching process works and not to mention names that can damage images, make fun or even demean a future colleague. It is important to rationalize and use your better judgment with the situations that happens on a school.
Teacher
Friend, family, guide, facilitator, nurse, doctor, mother/father, sister/brother, ears, eyes, counselor, psychologist, example/model, entertainer, mediator, tutor, support, relatable, advisor, administrator, motivator, expert, helping hand, inspiration, caring, available, attentive, firm, wise, intellectual, police man/ woman, mute, fun, vertical, ethical, objective, reflective, skillful, transparent,open minded.
Teacher.
Do you have the courage?
Once again I have greatly enjoyed reading your reflections. You show how you are continuing to connect your previous knowledge to your future practice. I can see how you are visualizing yourselves in the classroom and what your practice will be like. Keep up the good work.
Prof. Arlinda Lopez
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