The profession of teaching is comprised of high and rigorous standards. As an educator, you serve as a role model and professionalism is an important element that should be portrayed to students and colleagues. The Introduction to Teaching course allowed me to gain a basic understanding and knowledge of teacher responsibilities and expectations in the classroom. In addition to the information obtained from class, I was able to gain in-depth knowledge due to the valuable information I collected from my observations of a seasoned kindergarten teacher at Creek View Elementary School. Through these observations, I was able to capture the essence of what it means to be professional and ethical, as well as learn how to solve and manage problems and issues involved in teaching a diverse class. Proficient teachers are devoted to making knowledge obtainable for all students and demonstrates equity across the classroom. One of the biggest changes in my perception is how I view inclusive classrooms. My teacher had a very unique and diverse group of students and I had the privilege to see first-hand the various accommodations she implemented in the classroom environment to make it more conducive for effective learning to take place among her special needs …show more content…
Due to the high number of special friends in my cooperating teacher’s classroom, she was constantly collaborating with other teachers and aides throughout the day. She exemplified a professional conduct by discussing these students privately and not in front of other classmates or teachers who did not have a vested interest in the student. This can be a weakness for some to find time throughout the day to ensure this is privately communicated because the high paced activities of kindergarten, do not allow the teacher much “extra”
While differentiating instruction and being able to design lessons geared towards the needs of diverse learners are currently highly prized skills for teachers, this has not always been the case. The history of education in the United States is a history of segregation. Even today, schools and curriculum are designed to meet the needs of a core group of students, which does not include students with disabilities (Hitchcock, Meyer, Rose, & Jackson, 2002). In the past, learners who were different, out of the mainstream, or did not fit into the mold to which teachers taught (were not part of the core) learned how or lost out on learning. This is not to say that teachers of the past did not care about their students, about being effective teachers, or about student learning. However, as schools are mirrors reflecting mainstream societal norms (Chartock, 2010; Delpit, 2006)—and, given that our society has not always valued diversity in people, be it due to disability, class, culture, or race—teachers in the past have largely focused their efforts where they could earn the largest return on their investment: the average student .
To be in the education profession one is signing up to be a trustworthy, knowledgeable, devoted, and understanding individual. They must guarantee equal opportunities for everyone. Their primary concern is their students' learning and potential. One has to “sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct” (1). The first list of obligations in the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida contains 9 rules that are involved with the educator and their students....
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.
On Thursday, September 15, 2016 there was a board meeting in the Education center in Philadelphia. There were seven board members on the school board meeting position; five woman, two men; two African Americans and five Caucasians. Multiple genders and ethnic groups attended the meeting and the audience were sitting in a theater setting, where as the board members were sitting facing the audience up front. It started at 4:30 p.m. and a African American man did attendance to people that were going to speak and talked about the agenda of what 's going on that evening. Also there was two people taking turns presenting sign language for anyone that was death.
“Educational practice is necessarily based on the assumption that students are willing to engage in educational activities that they will lend their cooperation and support to the process in their education. Students who do not offer such cooperation, who are unmotivated, present significant challenges” (Williams and Ivey, 2001, 75). High school school-children show the most trouble with cooperation and motivation; they only have a few more years of schooling and for some pupils that is the end of their education. That was one of the main reasons why I wanted to observe a high school classroom; the other main reason is because I have actually considered teaching high school grades. I observed Ms. Edith Stone and her Algebra II mathematics classroom.
I would use the ideas that she presented in the talk during my teaching assistant (T.A.) sessions by doing something as simple as standing up straight especially during the periods where I’ll be teaching a lesson since standing up straight is a type of high-power pose. Since high-power poses will lead to an increase in testosterone and a decrease in cortisol, I will be able to feel more dominating and less stressed during those sessions. I honestly think that due to the decrease of stress that resulted from doing high-power poses, I will be able to feel more confident in teaching a lesson and thus allowing myself to teach a lesson effectively.
Chapter 5 in the class text gives imperative information about professionalism. Teachers always have to present themselves as professionals in a crucial field. In addition, there are guidelines set by the NAEYC in which teachers should follow. These guidelines include seven standards which are promote child development and learning, build family and community relationships, observe, document, and assess to support young children and families, use developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, becoming a professional, practicum or field experience (Gordon & Williams-Browne, 2015). These guidelines help a teacher know what to expect when becoming a teacher and as
Preston, B. (1993). Teacher Professionalism – implications for teachers, teacher educators, and democratic schooling. Independent Education, 23, 4-12.
As a new teacher preparing to embark upon what I hope will be a long-lasting, rewarding career in education, I want to create an inclusive, stimulating and collegial climate in my classroom. I plan to make sure that all my students feel valued, and contribute actively to the knowledge, interactions, learning and interests shared by the class. However, I appreciate that as a new, inexperienced teacher I could encounter or unintentionally create barriers that undermine my vision of an inclusive classroom. Although systems will operate in any school setting that can help or hinder inclusive practices, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure that every student in my care has high aspirations, and experiences success at school regardless of the school context.
Additional expected qualities that create the essentials of professionalism in relation to teaching are a high level of cognitive skills and social capabilities together with experienced personal qualities as stated by Marsh (2008) which include sensitivity, compassion, reflective and innovative thinking and commitment and dedication to the job. This support to facilitate such desired moral qualities as respect, caring, integrity, diligence and open communication as outlined by Groundwater-Smith (2009), the relationship of which is reinforced by Whitton (2009 p.47) in defining professionalism in teaching as being “…dependant of correct standards with the right conduct or practice”.
To be truly inclusive teachers, we need to first know the student and identify the real reasons for any individual to be classified as having a learning disability.
Professional development is critical to success in a teacher’s career. Teachers need to be open to continuing their education and consistently reflecting on lessons and interactions with students. At the expert stage of teaching, “the teacher’s practice is characterized by fluency, automaticity, and efficiency” (Garmston, 1998). In order to achieve this level of teaching practice, the educator must continue to learn new teaching strategies, understand the curriculum, recognize students and their differences, and conduct self-reflections. A teacher who is dedicated to professional development and wanting to improve their teaching, will make a stronger impact on students.
I have decided to become a teacher because I love children. I enjoy watching them grow, and I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. As a teacher, I will do everything that I can to ensure that each becomes a productive, successful citizen in life. In order for me to obtain this goal, I will create a loving, positive, respectful, and safe learning environment where each student will be treated equally and be encouraged to do his or her best. Keeping this in mind, there are four elements that I must remember which includes (1) how young children develop, (2) what they should know and be able to do, (3) instructional strategies that I have learned, and (4) my feelings regarding parent involvement.
The research has repeatedly shown that inclusion models are most beneficial to students with disabilities, including students with severe disabilities. The districts in which the students in the teacher education students have been placed in have a problem with incorporating inclusive education for their students. Students are isolated within self-contained classrooms, and consequently, they are missing out on vital academic, social, and functional skills.
First, I realized that, teachers carry a lot of weight on their shoulders and have great responsibilities. They have to balance the curriculum, students, parents, lesson plans, common core, and upper management and still maintain a professional demeanor. Second, educators must follow a strong code of ethics. They must be professional at all times with students and colleagues, keep confidentiality, not have or show any prejudice or bias, maintain safe and positive learning environments, help students with problems, and hand out disciplines accordingly. Lastly, I found that when you’re a teacher, your education never stops. Teachers are always trying to improve their own education and professional growth, both for the benefit of their students and for the benefit of themselves.