Structure is important. Lesson plans are important. Organization is important. Being prepared is important.
This Monday on September 14 I had my first true experience with teaching where I wasn't assisting a professional. I was asked by one of my professors to help out with a theater program she teaches at Thomas Jefferson Grammar School. There was a problem with communication, so only ten students had signed up. I arrived at the school and things got a bit hectic. Thirty students got off of the bus. We walked into the theater, and my professor split them up into two groups. Third grade to Fifth grade in one group, Second grade and below in another, and I was head of the younger ones. Now my professors plan was to teach me what I needed to know and do after the first day. I was completely unprepared. Fortunately I improved and pulled through and the first day was a success, but it would have been so much less stressful if I had a set structure that I stuck to. I first hand saw why not only the teacher needs to know what they will be teaching, but if they don't the students will run all over the teacher and have no respect for them. It was an intense day.
I love my education class. I look forward to this class every day. A class that's two hours long seems like it would just keep on dragging on, but I wish we could stay longer. My professors are captivating. They teach us the knowledge we'll need in our future. With every new point they make in class, the more I start to judge my other teacher's strategies. I can pick out exactly where the teacher goes wrong in the classroom instead of just saying "They're a bad teacher.".
We are learning how to teach in different ways. Yes content knowledge is good, yes using technology works, but we have to do this with pedagogy (teaching methods used well). It is not enough to just "know your stuff" or put a student in front of a computer and tell them to work. There are methods we need to use to be effective in our classroom.
Here's what I don't understand. We compare students to each other, and this is in no way fair. We should judge a person based on their own success from their past experiences, not another students past experiences or success. Not one child is the same, it's time we start treating them as individuals. I believe we should test each student differently. My twin sister has a photographic memory. She can memorize and test well, but not truly understand the content. I can study for hours and not know all the content she knows, but I will have a better understanding of what is going on in the content.
"How do I know what they know?" This is what I will focus on in the classroom. Not the memorization, but the deeper understanding of the content.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post this week. I can only imagine how hectic your experience was on Monday. Things like that can often be very intimidating but I think difficult times like that can also produce some awesome learning experiences. By your comment, I can tell you learned a lot just from that one day which is awesome. I too agree that in my other classes I have really started to zone into the way that my other professors teach and I catch myself assessing them on a deeper level then just saying they don't teach well. In some of my other education classes, I am learning different ways to teach and I think this is essential to being a good teacher. That last question you included is something that will stick with me throughout my career to really help me keep my focus where it should be. Awesome post!
Stephanie Blackwell
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points on making learning personalized for each student. (Technology allows the teacher to do this more effectively than ever before...if...the right technology is used for the right reasons.)
What are your action steps to learn more about differentiation and personalized learning? What connections can you make to the NCTCS?
Dr. Parker,
DeleteSince I am still in the learning process on how this all works, I first need to find out the different techniques I can use while I teach. But I am learning how I already know how to teach. I have been trying to slow down while I talk so they can understand each word I say. Also if I see a student looks absolutely confused I go up to them and ask what they are having trouble understanding and go from there with how I explain.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about the class being interesting, I have five classes and I really don't like three of them. But this class I actually look forward to; I love the discussions in class and the way it makes you look and think about things in a new light. I've also being looking at my professors differently and inspecting their methods. I think it also gives us an interesting advantage to look at different teaching techniques as students. Seeing how "good" or "bad" a teacher or professor teaches and why it is "good" or "bad." Talking with other students about the class and the teaching lesson and method; getting into the mind of a student because we are students are selves.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that really stood out to me in your blog were your opening and closing thoughts. Your opening statements were bold and demanding attention. They set the perfect tone for your blog. It's great that you're already able to see the direct connections between what we discussed over the past week and how you will apply it. Younger elementary school students can be a handful if you don't have something new to keep them invested and occupied every 5 or so minutes. Having many activities in mind and ready to go is key to captivating their attention just like in a regular classroom setting. The other factor is how you finished with directly applying a key question to your future classroom. Although it is perfect for facilitating your students in the future, how can you implement that question in your after school theatre program now?
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