I decided to do my field observation at Temple Beth David preschool. It is a private preschool in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. I decided to go with a private school, because that is my desired placement for where I would like to teach. I believe that I would excel working in a private domain. I also enjoy that while teaching valuable education it also teaches students about their religion. A small school like Temple Beth David creates a tight knit, family-like community. It brings religious leaders, teachers, parents and students close together, to ensure high quality, moral and valued education for its students. I was hoping that this field observation would reinforce my inclination. It did that and so much more. I never realized the amount of work it takes to be a good teacher. The lesson plans, mental and emotional strain, and the amount of effort that is truly required. I learned the value of a unified teaching system, what practices I will want to utilize in my classroom and some that I won’t, effective management skills, what educational theories I believe in those in which I will want to use, and numerous personal skills and values.
From the first day of observation I noticed the amount of time and dedication comes with the title of teacher. Being able to just sit back and watch really gave me a new perspective. While observing the class I noticed all the minute, but vastly important details that a teacher has to complete. For instance, while observing the class I saw the teacher fine tuning all of the supplies needed for the class projects. I also noticed the way that the teacher pays such close attention to each of her students, so that she knows when even the slightest behavior is off, for the individual student. I took ...
... middle of paper ...
...ess. It opened my eyes to many joys, lots of stress and countless hours of preparing lessons. I hope to take in as much preparation and insight as possible on my way to becoming a professional teacher. After this experience I know that this is what I was born to do; this is my true calling and passion in life. I hope that my teaching will inspire my students to achieve greatness and pursue their passions. I now see what a huge responsibility teaching students truly is, they are our future, as cliché as that might sound, and they are the leaders of tomorrow. With that responsibility will come great sacrifice, dedication and determination all of which I will gladly give to ensure my students have the most influential mind opening education. This experience has given me such good insight and I am truly excited to finish up my degrees and embark on my teaching career.
As the time approached, my attitude toward student-teaching was one of confidence and in some ways overconfidence. I believed that I was equipped with all of the tools necessary to be a superior teacher. Little did I know what truly goes on behind the scenes of a teacher. Between grading papers, attending meetings, and preparing lessons, I would often feel overwhelmed. Still, student teaching would prove to be much more valuable than I anticipated. It would teach me to appreciate the wisdom of mentors and experienced teachers, value or being organized and prepared, and lastly the resilience of students.
After my completion of the project, I re-examined my career and life goals. Before I discovered that Edutopia was my idea of paradise, I had never realized that education was so important to me. When I did, though, I decided to pursue a career in education.
Coming in to this semester I knew I was going to be taking the foundations of education course but I didn’t know what to expect. After 14 weeks of discussing, learning, and exploring I realized that my passion for teaching has been solidified. I realized the reality and the responsibility that comes with becoming a teacher and I am up for the challenge. We have the power as future teachers to influence our student’s lives in so many ways. We learned that a teacher must carry themselves as the professionals that they are. At the end of this course there are questions that I asked myself that I would of answered completely different in the first week of this course.
I have been a classroom teacher with the same school division (and its legacy divisions) for twenty two years. I have therefore, been an active participant and witness to the multitude of changes and growth that have enveloped the realm of education and my school division. My role in the classroom has mainly included English and Arts instruction at the grade 11 and 12 levels. I have considered it an honor to be one of the last teachers involved in a student’s K-12 education and have deeply recognized this important leadership role, guiding our students by way of instruction and by example, through their final educational stretch and empowering them to be leaders themselves. I feel that I have helped to create a society of learners where students are being constantly challenged, where they experienced meaningful personal and educational growth and were empowered to celebrate their accomplishments whether they were big or small.
The way I would promote the next level of development for Milian is to talk about the fishes in the tanks, the colors and the sizes of the fish along with perhaps naming the fishes. Theodore is very close to his mother, and was near her or on her during my whole time there. I would encourage the mother to join me at the tank, and we can talk about the fishes with Theodore, and also bring other infants to the tank.
In an observational method, data are collected through observation and description of a subject's behavior or an event in their natural setting (Sullivan-Bolyai & Bova, 2018). In effect, the role of the observer is vital in initiating a research that uses this method. Nurses are skilled in observing. As a matter of fact, observation is routinely practiced by nurses in undertaking daily responsibilities. Nurses use direct observation in assessing patients, interacting and understanding conditions holistically; has attention to details, recognizing signs and/or symptoms to which others might remain unnoticeable; actively listens and willing to learn from others; and record "factual, accurate and thorough" descriptions with relevant details (Salmon, 2015).
My teaching and learning experiences enrich my lifelong passion for education, both as a teacher and student. As the first class of a pre-medicine focused middle college, I matured through understanding the rewarding nature of teaching as a writing fellow, tutor, and supplemental instructor. I became a more organized thinker, writer, and student, driving me to better myself as an educator. Developing analogies and providing examples led students to discover information themselves, while it also deepened my understanding of the course material. In addition to learning more, I became better at quickly mastering any subject. For example, I learned to develop my interpersonal and intercultural communication skills to have more meaningful interactions with my mentors, patients and friends. I love learning vicariously from those around me to help me make the right choices to develop as a well-rounded and empathetic person. By integrating teachi...
Teacher education is the beginning of a career long process of professional development (Clarke 2007). The culmination of most teacher education undergraduate programs is the student teaching experience. During this period, the pre-service educator or student teacher begins what typically is the lengthiest amount of time spent in front of a class in the role as a teacher. The student teacher experiences all the day to day situations, hours, struggles, successes, and failures of being a practicing educator with actual students. Because of this expanded experience, student teaching is considered one of the most important aspects of the teacher education process (McIntyre, Byrd, & Foxx, 1996; Guyton & McIntyre, 1990).
Do you remember the teacher that inspired you to do your best? Or maybe the teacher who believed in you when the rest of the world had turned against you? Teachers have a way of touching students’ lives, whether in a large or very minute way. I can think of numerous times that a teacher made a difference in my life. I am so appreciative of them, and I want to do for other students what many of my teachers have done for me. That is why, after I obtain, both, my Bachelor and Master degrees, I plan to enter the teaching profession.
Teachers serve as the guiding force in a student’s life. They are responsible for molding a student’s personality and shaping his/her mental orientation. Teachers deeply impact our lives and direct the course of our future. One cannot deny the influence of teachers in one’s life. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that, till a certain age, out life revolves around our teachers. They are our constant companions, until we grow old enough to come out of their shadow and move ahead on our own.
As I reflect on my experiences observing in three different classrooms over the last three months, I cannot express how much I have learned by being in the classroom. I began the Master of Science in Education last fall and previous to the practicum experience I had taken 8 classes. I read books, listened to the experiences of my classmates and instructors, reflected on my own education, and tried to imagine how this information was going to prepare me to face a classroom of elementary school students. While I learned theories and skills that should be known by any educator, these classes could not teach me what I most desired to know: what tangible steps could I take to correctly implement all of the correct ways of teaching.
Being a teacher is not an easy task as many people could think. To be a teacher does not only imply to know the subject to be taught, it also includes being willing to constantly improve oneself integrally, as much as updating the resources and materials one uses in teaching. Reflecting and analyzing over and over again the best way to teach to learn and how to make students to extend what has been learned. The many hours spend in the classroom will never be enough to plan lessons, prepare materials, review pupils tasks and exams, as well, all the administrative requirements one has to cover for whatever institution we work. Besides all this a good teacher, a professional one, will have to find the time to keep preparing to improve oneself.
In today’s classroom, the teacher is no longer viewed as the sole custodian of knowledge. The role of a teacher has evolved into being amongst one of the sources of information allowing students to become active learners, whilst developing and widening their skills. Needless to say, learning has no borders – even for the teacher. One of the strongest beliefs which I cling to with regards to teaching is that, teaching never stops and a teacher must always possess the same eagerness as a student. Through several interactions with other teachers, I always strive for new ideas, techniques, teaching styles and strategies that I might add to my pedagogical knowledge. Furthermore, through personal reflection, feedback and evaluation...
A Teacher Holds the Key to Knowledge, Success, and Fun The greatest gift a teacher can give students is a positive learning experience that lasts a lifetime. An outstanding teacher is a good role model, fair, consistent, and open to new ideas. A good teacher can motivate and entertain without students realizing the learning process it taking place. It is a great achievement for a teacher to see the “light bulb” come on over a student’s head when he/she understand a problem or can figure out an equation.
My time observing was not only educational for me on how to become the teacher I desire to be, but as well as how to better myself as a student and improve my own learning. I observed some wonderful learning tools that I have since implemented into my own education to develop my own learning.