Blog post #3

We are now approaching the end of the pre-student teaching semester, making this the perfect time to reflect on the past events of this semester.  I know that for me in particular, this has been a tough semester.  I have learned that every class is unique to the circumstances that the students and teachers bring to the classroom.  Even though it has been said numerous times that baggage should be left outside the door but that is definitely not always the case.  A lot of time the students are not mature enough to do this.  The teacher is sometimes required to be cheerleader, guidance counselor, friend, mentor, and still teacher.  As if the circumstances are not overwhelming enough at times, occasionally as teacher candidates, we also have the delicate responsibility of dodging additional land mines.  One very important lesson I learned this semester, how to dodge all these land mines and still remain sane.  I think one of the most important things I will take with me regarding these issues is this: every day is a new beginning and it should be allowed to begin with a clean slate. 

 

I was fortunate enough to be able to switch to a different classroom to observe for the remainder of the semester and the difference has been like the expression, “night and day.”  I am now reminded that there are students out there who care about their grades, want to learn, and want to establish a future for themselves.  The first thing the teacher did was explain to the students what the opening activity was and what the expectations were.  The teacher told the students to begin work and they did!  The class was divided into 7 groups of students and every single group began planning their activity.  I could not believe this! I am used to a classroom where the teacher had to prod and prod, redirect and constantly monitor.  These students were already engaged and following through with only the expectation of receiving extra group points.  I realize that to some people this may seem silly or exaggerated, but I honestly was surprised.  I have spent the last several years in classrooms where we had to keep redirecting and steering the students back on task, so this was unchartered territory for me.  After the opening activity, the students were read to and then asked to finish reading the chapter independently.  The silence in the classroom was astounding.  Every student was actually reading, taking Cornell notes and working on extra work if finishing early.

 

I am really looking forward to spending more time in this classroom and experiencing the treasures it has to offer.  I believe that there is a lot I will learn from both the teacher and the students in this classroom and I am looking forward to having a new and positive experience in the weeks to come.