Reflections on Teaching: A Field Experience, Study notes of Spanish Philology

Download Reflections on Teaching: A Field Experience and more Study notes Spanish Philology in PDF only on Docsity! Hofer 1 My Field Experience Reflection: Stephanie Hofer Introduction to Teaching 111 Professor Eastman Hofer 2 My Field Experience Reflection After concluding my field experience at Shawnee Middle School, I feel more enthusiastic about my decision to become an educator. While observing students in the classroom setting, I was able to learn more about the teaching profession as a whole. I also learned more about myself as a developing teacher. I was able to use my experiences to form goals that will help me to become the best teacher that I can be. When I was in the classroom, I noticed new aspects of the teaching profession. I did not realize that teachers have so many responsibilities. Previous to my field experience, I viewed the teacher as the classroom monitor. However, I soon realized that there is so much more to this profession. A teacher is responsible for making sure that all students learn the required material for the subject area that corresponds with the state standard guidelines. A great amount of planning goes into each lesson in order for all requirements to be achieved. The teacher must decide what the goals are for each individual lesson and incorporate appropriate activities to aid in student learning. The teacher must also devise a way to assess student understanding, another important aspect of responsible teachers. Teachers are not only the ring leaders for the lesson structure, but they are also the mentors for many students. Especially at the middle school age, students can feel very alone and stressed. They are going through many changes, whether it is physically, emotionally or socially. Every student has a different background that makes him or her act a certain way. Some students will be more open than others to certain ideas and the teacher is the one that has to motivate the student to get involved with classroom activities. Many students simply need a positive role Hofer 5 special modifications need a lesson slowed down for them, I certainly cannot begin to speed up my lesson. I believe that speed and excitement are good components of a lesson, but when they are used excessively, no learning can take place. I view my enthusiasm of my lessons as a gift, but in some cases it can be used against me. I need to remember that even though I may be excited about my lesson, some students may not be. Therefore, I lose my main goal of student involvement. I believe that my enthusiasm is my passion and my limitation all at once. However, it is certainly not a setback. It is a skill that I plan to develop and strengthen over time as I grow closer to becoming an excellent teacher. Because I am approaching my goal to become a teacher, I have been setting smaller goals along the way. I know that I have some more progress to make when it comes to the teaching- learning process. I understand more of how the students teach the educator just as much as the educator teaches the students. My fervent love for learning was how I engaged myself in the teaching profession in the first place. Therefore, I plan on continuing my knowledge of this process both from the student aspect and from the teacher aspect. My goal is to continue to build onto my strengths as an educator and gain more experience and knowledge in the profession. My field experience at Shawnee Middle School has helped me confirm that when I combine my current experience in the profession and my goals about the career, I am headed down the right path. I have gained more knowledge of the roles and responsibilities that I will take on as a teacher. I now have a better understanding of how it actually feels to be the teacher instead of just thinking about what a teacher should be doing. I know that because of my first- hand encounter with the classroom setting, I am more prepared to meet my future goal. My Hofer 6 ultimate goal as a Manchester College secondary education major is to gain as much experience, knowledge, and preparation as I can in order to be a successful Spanish teacher.