The research brief assignment is one of the assignments that I really didn't think would take a while but actually took a lot of thought. It wasn't so much the research question but the data analysis and how to put forward my research. Not to mention the encoding portion was confusing and I battled the textbook many times trying to make sense of it. However, as an end result, I really like my research question and I think it is going to go over well in my classroom. I think it is also manageable as I am student teaching and I could definitely benefit from its results. My research question is essentially to have the students help create a behavioral management plan in hopes that they will be better behaved and follow the rules since they helped make them. I think the students will enjoy this procedure because it will allow them to take a large role in what goes on in the classroom as well as be accountable for their actions. I am really looking forward to the rules that they want to implement. I wonder if they will create a long list or a short list or if they will try and create real bizarre rules. Naturally, I have to have some control in this situation and that it what worries me the most. What if this doesn't go according to plan? What if they don't want to create rules? I think I really need to find a way to ensure that this goes as smooth as possible, even if it is a list of rules for them to sort of rank so that they are forced to choose some. As a whole, I am pretty confident in my research question and I think it is going to end up working out pretty well in the classroom.
As for my reflection, I have to admit that I have learned a lot of valuable lessons during my time in methods. For starters I learned that I cannot afford to be lazy! Teaching is a job that requires effort all of the time and that there is no room for slacking. Getting my first "R" was a big slap in the face, well in a good way maybe? My first conceptual unit was sloppy and one of the worst assignments I ever turned in. I am glad that I got the "R" because it proved to me that I needed to improve because this class was going to be rigorous and expect a lot. If I had not received that "R" then who knows how long I would have continued slacking? I have also learned that there are a lot of resources a teacher can use, and I have learned a lot of them from my peers! All of the mini teachers really provided me with good ideas and I can clearly see myself using a lot of them in my classroom. My favorite assignment was reading the Image Grammar by Noden. I think the brushstrokes are an awesome idea and I really want to use them in my classroom. It definitely helps create better writers, particuarly with creative writing. Methods also allowed me to be satisfied with the grades and the work that I eventually turned in. Being able to correct the assignments as many times as I wanted allowed me to work on things over and over until I feel I got it right. Although it was frustrating during the time being, I realize now that it was only to make me better and to show what I am capable of creating. For example, I look at my LFS map and I take great pride in it. I think it is something I would really consider using in my class and I think it shows that I can be a good teacher. I am eager to put it in my portfolio and that is a great feeling to have. That is the one thing about methods, during the course you may feel weak and awful about your assignments. You may even question whether or not you want to teach; however, at the end, you feel really good about yourself and admire the work that you put forth in the class.
It terms of bad things, I learned that I really need to get more comfortable with my peers. I am so much better at teaching to students then I am to my peers. It makes me feel like I am talking down to them or that I am making things too simple. Although it seems to be too late to fix this, I am glad that I realize it now so that I can work on it if I ever need to again. I also learned that I hate mornings...which is a terrible thing when going in to the teaching field. I know I am going to need to get up every day early so I need to start getting in to that habit. I know this sounds cliche, but I don't feel that I learned too many bad things about myself. I only feel as though the bad things worked out in the end to make me end up feeling really good about things.
Therefore, there were some good and some bad things I learned about myself through methods. However, one of the most things I will cherish are the friendships that I have made. There are a few people in this class that I feel I have a great bond with that I hope stays strong for a while. We were able to cope with the stress of classes together, encourage each other when others put us down, and have good times together that helped get our minds off of the stress! Although that is not teaching related, it really helped me get through methods because they were my rock. I also really learned to value my education that I have been given. I know a lot of times I complain about things that shouldn't matter or I get on my soap box, but I truly appreciate what I have gotten out of my educatio
In the long run, methods was a very worthwhile class in my opinion. I learned my weaknesses, my strengths, how I have improved, and what I still need to improve on. This class allows me to feel comfortable going in to student teaching and has reassured me that teaching is the career that I want to be in. I really hope that everyone has a good student teaching experience and wish you all good luck after graduation.
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