21 Student Teaching Reflection

1 Joyce Spaulding Meyer Student Teaching Reflection Dixie State University

What did you personally learn from this experience? Theres so much more to teaching than testing and lessons; being a teacher also means youre a social worker! Student A and Student B are friends, but they had a disagreement today (last week it was two different girls) and Student A was in tears. I took some time with them while the rest of the class was at the library and it turned out that Student B has been missing Student A (but she didnt know how to handle it so she had told Student A she didnt want to be friends anymore). This school is a Leader in Me school so it follows the Seven Habits of Happy kids by Sean Covey. We focused on the habit, Seek first to understand, then to be understood and the girls were able to work out their differences. Their conference even ended with a hug! Through student teaching I also learned that I do, in fact, have many of the skills necessary to be a teacher. While I was teaching my unit for my teacher work sample, I worked hard to create meaningful lessons. I tried too hard! I stressed myself out and I dont think I did as well teaching these lessons as I did with a previous unit, nor did I teach the concepts any better that I would have otherwise. I learned that I need to just be me and rely on my strengths and talents. I dont need to worry about being excessively cutesy or have a more creative approach, sometimes simple is better.

What were your strengths? Ive never been good at multitasking; Im a one-job-at-a-time kind of person. Ive learned to jot a quick note to myself so I can remember what I need to do later. Ive carried this over to my students as well. As I go through students journals, sometimes the feedback I need

2 to leave is more than a comment or quick note. At these times I will leave a sticky note in a students journal or on assignment that Ive passed back to them that say, See me. This gives me an opportunity to give them verbal feedback, sometimes to help them work on something and sometimes to tell them how I like how theyve done something. They know they can come to me during independent practice time or at the time I specify on the note. This helps them take responsibility for their work. Also, Ive done well with providing students with work samples of what I expect from them. Before we begin a project, I show them an example of one thats completed so they will know where we are going. For example, my class recently has been working on animal research projects, so Ive done a project as well! I chose an animal that no one else chose and Ive gone through the whole process with my students, often doing mine on the ELMO so they can see how I do it. Im always working ahead of them to help them prepare for the section that will come next.
Which areas can you improve? Ive discovered that the areas I need to improve in are actually already improving through practice! Since entering this program, I have struggled with giving clear directions. I could picture in my head what students needed to do, but didnt realize they had a different picture of what I was asking them to do. Now, before we go back to class after being at the computer lab I tell my class things such as, When we get back to class, sit in your place on the rug or, Remember, when we are walking down the hallway our voices are off and our hands are to ourselves. Even better is having the students tell me what the rule or procedure is. I will continue to work on giving clear directions during transition times during class time as well.
3 How has student teaching influenced your personal efficacy and vision of education? I feel so much more confident than I did when I first started! I really feel that not only can I be a teacher, but I can be a very good, effective and compassionate teacher as well. Also, Ive discovered that teaching really is an art. I can express myself in my own way. Its okay if I have a different style from my mentor teacher and other teachers I work with. The most important thing is that my students are learning what they need to know. Different people, and therefore different teachers, each have their strengths and weaknesses. I can use my strengths toward effective instruction and continually work on improving my weaknesses. This means I need to be continually evaluating my students learning and my own delivery, methods and effectiveness as well. Ive also learned that teachers really do set the tone for their own classroom. Students are responsible for their work and behavior, but I set the expectations for them. I need to be consistent and always keep my word to my students so they can trust me. If I tell them they have earned a reward (like lunch in the classroom with me) I need to be sure to follow through with it. Likewise, if I say I will take something away (losing recess minutes) I need to follow through with that as well. Ive noticed that what I do and say has a powerful effect in my classroom and I believe as I endeavor to stay positive, my classroom will have a better and more cooperative feeling to it.
My most special moment of student teaching. I witnessed the sweetest thing at school during my student teaching. There is a girl with severe special needs in my class (she doesn't look different, but intellectually she is much lower and is more immature than the rest of the class). Another student passed her a letter at the end of
4 the day that went on for a whole page telling this girl why she is so wonderful and that she is her BFF (Best Friend Forever). I was so proud! I could only imagine how this special little girls mom will feel when she read the letter. I actually was able to follow up with this special little girls mom when she came with us on our hiking fieldtrip to Zion National Park. She told me she had cried when she read the letter and that she has posted it on her facebook page, on twitter and on the refrigerator in their kitchen! Im so glad I sent it home! It has been a privilege to serve and contribute to the development of each one of my very special students this year.

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1 Joyce Spaulding Meyer Student Teaching Reflection Dixie State University

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