Emily Costlow

Reflection Paper

Mount Aloysius College

Observing at Head Start and making my own lessons. I have learned so much about

differentiating instruction, learning about different theorists, and the different programs that they

have available for schools. I work at a daycare all year round. I have been there for two and a

half years. So, coming into the class I thought that I would be able to learn about the information

very quickly and that it would be an easy class. This class surprised me though. I learned more

information about early childhood than I would have ever imagined. This class was challenging

and a lot of fun. I learned about information that I never thought I would be able to learn in a

single class. Throughout this class I have worked extremely hard and have put in the effort to be

able to understand the information. I never worked so hard in a class before and I think that by

taking this class it has prepared me for the future. I have learned how to observe children this

semester as well as make lesson plans that are age appropriate for the children. I have learned

how to make a unit plan and how to set it up.

My views have changed a lot since starting the service project. I have learned a lot about

how to observe and help the children at Head start. I have learned multiple ways in which I can

help the children with whatever their situations may be. Some children might have autism or a

speech delay and as the teacher you must find ways in which you can help them learn and grow.

I have learned that each child needs an equal opportunity to learn the same way as the other

children. Just because they have a disability does not mean that they cannot accomplish the same

thing as the other children. As the teacher you need to encourage them to try their best and that

they can be successful like the other children. They need to differentiate the instruction so they

can learn too. Also, I have learned that by helping the children in any way can help them become

more confident and help them accomplish their work and try their best.
This class has definitely changed the way I will teach in my future classroom. I have

learned so much about many different topics. In my future classroom I will have a welcoming

environment. This will make each child comfortable and make them want to come to school. I

will have a welcoming classroom by having my classroom by creative as possible with resources

that will help them learn. Also, I will help the children by getting to know each child and holding

a conversation with them on a daily basis. I will make sure that all the children talk to each other

because they are going to be together all year long. So, if the children make friends then they will

want to come to school. I will also make sure that I provide tutoring and differentiated

instruction for the children. I understand how some children may struggle and they can get

frustrated and I want to help them. I understand what the children are going through because I

struggle with test anxiety and I have had to go to tutoring multiple times to get good grades. So, I

want to make sure that my students are confident with the information for the test. Another thing

that we learned this semester is about poverty. So many children go through this and are hungry.

As a teacher I want to help the children so I will have breakfast for the children and snacks

through the day, so they are not hungry. I will also send food home with the children so I know

that they will not be starving. I am big into physical education and I am aware that most children

in school do not get gym every day. I think gym is especially important in a child’s life and so as

a teacher I will makes sure that they are getting up and moving in my classroom every day. This

will help them with their mind and make them focus more on school. These are just some of the

things that I would do in my future classroom.

The ah ha moment that I had this semester must be how to differentiate instruction. This

was so important to me because as a child I have realized that teachers could change the

curriculum for certain people. I knew that they could change it for the people who had
disabilities. I had no clue that they could do that for everyone. As a child I struggled with math

and reading. So, if my teacher would have changed the curriculum than I think that I would have

done much better in school. The teachers I had seemed to teach one way and if the child did not

understand it than oh well. As a teacher I want to make sure that all my children are

understanding the information. I never want my students to worry about not feeling confident

about a test or worrying about it. I want each one of my students to feel confident and be

successful.

I will plan for my children in the future in many ways. I will make sure that I have my

lesson plans ready and all the materials for it ready because this will help the day go by much

faster. I will make sure that all my children are welcomed in my classroom by asking them

questions and listening to them. I will make sure that each student is doing their best and tell

them that I will be here for them if they need anything. I will also make sure that my lessons are

engaging and age appropriate and fun. This will allow the children to learn and have fun. This

will lead to the children wanting to come to school.

I have many goals for my career. After I graduate, I want to get a teaching job. Then I want to go

back to school and to get my special education certification. I also want the children to look up to

me so I want to be a positive influence in their lives. I want to be the teacher that is always

positive and all the children want to come to me to talk about whatever they are going through. I

also want to implement some type of physical activity in the schools this is because so many

children do not get up and moving like they should be. By doing this I hope to help more

children learn to love to get up and moving. I also want to open my own gym for children and

adults to go to and educate them on how to live a healthy lifestyle. I hope to help many people

create a healthy lifestyle like so many people want to.

will make sure that they children are reading good books which include Caldecott books. This

will make reading enjoyable for the children. Also, I will have a teacher website to explain and

show the parents what we did and how to help them with their work. The lesson plans have to be

developmentally appropriate for the grade and engaging. This will help the children learn more

and enjoy learning as well.

To conclude, I have learned so much from this class. I am so grateful that I was able to

take this class. I have learned that children are all different when it comes to learning. This class

made me think of different things that I will prepare my classroom and the different lessons that I

will do with them. I feel like I have more confidence on how to teach in a classroom and how to

be prepared and how to handle the class. I think that everyone should take this class because I

taught me so much. From this class it opened my eyes up and made me realize different topics. I

cannot wait to be a teacher and help the children.