Reflection Paper

6. October 13, 2015 – Before Brooke and I examined this chapter on the behavioral and constructivist perspectives, I was convinced that I was a constructivist teacher. Now I realize I incorporate a bit of both types into my teaching. While I am forced to practice the behaviorist perspective in the way of a scripted lesson and time frames given, I realize I also choose to use this method. I reward students for good behavior and choices, I allow time (when able) for students to have the opportunities to practice skills and provide feedback in order to evaluate their performance and master skills. I thought I was more of a constructivist type teacher in that I try to make learning meaningful, have the students work cooperatively to solve

December 1, 2015 – Interesting discussion and presentation this week on England’s educational system. There is potential for learning all the time. Education was a child centered educational system where goals of the schools are clearly stated. Teachers set expectations and communicate with each other. Integrated lessons across subject areas, students experience learning, teachers are involved in roles within the learning process, and students can justify what is happening. Students use initiative in learning, work in small collaborative groups and move at their own pace. Relationships are the main concept to get right – relationships between all within the classroom. Relationships where students and teachers can rely on one another and be a vehicle for motivation. The faculty had a collaborative approach in examining what is being accomplished. I feel this is how our education system was in the past, but has moved away from this in the past couple of years. With all the changes of our curriculum and expectations, the goals of the county are not clearly stated. The goals seem to change while we are attempting to aim for them. While we strive to build relationships among those in our classroom, outside stressors tend to make this difficult at times. We try to collaborate with our grade level teammates, but end up feeling frustrated. Many of us are frustrated in knowing what we are attempting to do with our students is not developmentally appropriate and feel like we are unable to change the ways mandated at this time. Something needs to change, as our students will be the ones who receive a negative impact from our current educational