As this course comes to a close, I think about how much I have learned, not just about teaching, but about learning.
This course has taught me so many ways to implement various lesson plans, whether it be Direct, Information Processing, or Social Interactive.
Thinking back, I had seen these lessons all the time growing up and in my fieldwork and subbing experiences, but I had never had a name for any of them.
I also learned that writing GOOD lesson plans is more than just jotting down a couple of notes. All lessons are made up of different parts, and all of those parts are needed in order for lessons to be successful.
I have learned to look for all of these parts when I am observing, and use all of these parts when I am teaching.
As for being a teacher, I have learned that one of the most important things I can have is flexibility. Things are going to happen in the classroom. Students are going to act up, the fire alarm is going to go off. What is important is how a teacher handles these situations and maintains control over the class. Even though lesson plans are very detailed, they are not set in stone, and can be tweaked as needed.
One thing that surprised me during my fieldwork experience was how much I prefer information processing and social interactive lessons. Even when I am subbing, I find myself encouraging students to work together and think critically. This does not mean that I am opposed to Direct Instruction. That is not the case at all.
I believe DI is appropriate when introducing a topic and also with working with students with special needs.
Overall, as a teacher, I feel as though I have become more comfortable. I am more confident when I enter a classroom and am not as intimidated when it comes to introducing new topics to students. There had been times when I sub where the teacher asked me to begin teaching a new topic to students. I would have fumbled my way through it. Now I have an idea of what needs to be done and how it should be done.
I think this confidence comes from being in the classroom frequently. Eventually you get the hang of it and are able to adjust.
As for what I can improve on, I think there are plenty of things. I believe there is always room for improvement in anything a person does, including teaching. If there is one thing that I need to work on it is patience. I need to remember that not all students are going to understand information the first time it is presented. Sometimes I will need to slow down and reteach information.
When this course began, I expected to learn about the different methods of teaching. I left with a whole lot more than that. I now feel as though I am prepared for a job interview. I am able to explain various teaching models and provide examples of how I have, as well as how I would, teach all of them. This was an experience that I have not had with any of my other class taken so far.
A significant part of this course was peer evaluation. We were often asked to provide our peers with three pluses and a wish following presentations. I personally liked being on the receiving end of this. Assuming my peers were being honest (and not just nice), it would provide me with constructive feedback and allow me to make changed and improve my work in the future.
Another major part of this course was self reflection. We were often asked to reflect on our work and our experiences. I will admit, I am not the biggest fan of reflecting, but if I am going to ask my students to do it, I must do it as well. Reflecting allows me to really break down what I learned and show my understanding. It allows me to see where I succeeded and where I went wrong. Reflecting helps me to break down and see what I really learned.
I know I still have a lot to learn, but I feel as though I am off to a pretty good start thanks to this class.
