Mr. McClung points out seven lessons that he has learned in his first year of teaching that focus on his relation with the students, other teachers, and his style of teaching. Seven lessons, that not only I, a future educator, can benefit from, but also those teachers who have been in their classrooms for years-the ones that are set in their ways. I have a feeling that I will have a problem with overcoming the disappointment that follows when my lesson doesn't go as planned. But then again, do I really want it to? No, I don't. I want to get off topic. I want my students to interrupt me and ask questions frequently. I want my classroom to be a conversational setting not a lecture. I just hope that I don't get caught up in the planning of it all, and forget what's really important. I want to develop a learning relationship with my students, and in order to do so, must understand them listen, to them. And most of all I want to be reasonable with my expectations. Many of my family members who are in the field of education say that my expectations of my experience on and with the students are too high. Well, I would rather keep them too high than too low. Which is why I will struggle with this point also. I need to keep in mind that I am not dealing with adults, and mistakes happen, because everyone is human. Once I start teaching, if I feel myself drifting and forgetting what is important, I'll look back at this post to remind myself.
Paige,
ReplyDeleteI think your response to Mr. McClung sounded great! I also want my class to be discussion based. I definitely think I can make this happen since I will be teaching English. I want my students to also ask questions and be able to respond. I, however, do not think getting off topic truly occurs though. Questions will always lead to other topics, but as long as the students are learning, they are benefiting from "getting off topic."
My family also tells me that I have high expectations, and I am not being realistic. I agree to some extent; however, I want to dream big because I believe I can be the one to make the difference. Keep up the great work and never lose sight of what you want!