Reflecting: Did I learn?

This blog has been a difficult thing for me to do. I have never been big on writing because it does not capture my attention long enough for me to finish my thoughts. I enjoyed the idea of doing this blog but when it came down to actually writing the entries it became torture. However it was still a very informative journey.

I have always been very hard on myself. I always want to do the best which is one of the reasons I hate writing; I analyze it so much it no longer because a piece of what I feel or think and then I hate it. My need to do the vest drives to break down often which is what I did with this class and what I am afraid I’ll do when I’m a teacher. That is why I hope to find out how I could be the best starting out. What I found was that I need to loosen up a bit and be glad of my strong support group I already have.

Writing the blog was difficult for me because I’m not big on the whole conversationalist aspect of having a writer’s voice. I try to not express too many of my opinions for the fear that people will judge them. I don’t want to lose my shell that prospects me. This blog pushed me to mix research with opinion and thoughts.

This blog helped me to develop. Obviously it has made me a little less afraid of my words. I am sorry I did not get to finish the assignment but I am grateful that I had to do it.

The Relationship Makes It

I started this blog to figure out what I could do to be a good teacher to my future students. I wanted to know what qualities where in those teachers that inspire us to do a far better job then we thought could do. Some would say that the teacher’s experience or certification is what makes to them able to do that. However I felt like that was not the answer I was looking for; I want something that was harder to measure- the relationship they create with their students.

Ronald Ferguson

Harvard researcher Ronald Ferguson, says that this relationship is based on the atmosphere of the classroom. A good teacher will maintain a mixed atmosphere of high perfectionism (describing a classroom where getting the right answers is important) and high help (questions are encouraged and view as important).This atmosphere shows children encouragement while also convincing them that they can to do the level of work should be doing. Students in these classrooms are more likely to feel that they have done their best on multiple assignments.

This is especial important when it comes to minority student as they want to please their teachers more than whites. Whites felt that parents were more important. These students are not always given the caring and pushing atmosphere that white students often get through their parents. If they are in a high perfectionism/high help class it is more likely to improve their grades and achievement

So how can a teacher get this environment? Ferguson suggested adopting these five principles.

1. This is a place of mutual support
2. We are going to have order in here
3. We’re going to have very high goals
4. Sometimes this is going to be hard
5. By the end of the year, we will have come a long way

These principles establish caring and trust, create a balance of student autonomy and teacher control, communicate high expectations, set the conditions for students to try their hardest, and demonstrates faith in the student’s abilities.

A teacher cannot just expect student to muddle through the school year on their own. They also cannot just repeat the right “encouraging words” that have no meaning behind them. Teacher must be able to help and expect a correct answer. They must build a strong and supportive relationship with their students. That relationship is want makes a truly good teacher rather than just a well-qualified person.

McAdoo, M. (n.d.). Inside the mystery of good teaching. Retrieved from            http://www.educationoasis.com/instruction/bt/mysterygoodteaching.htm

More on the Roller coaster of the First Year

The first year is the hardest and most important year when it comes to teaching. It is the year that determines what of teacher a person will be. To ensure that the first year is successful I wanted to see what advice there was on how to get through the first year of teaching. That first is like a roller coaster with five distinct stages: Anticipation, Survival, Disillusionment, Rejuvenation, and Reflection. There are different ways to make the most of each phase.

The first phase of the first year is anticipation and occurs during July and August. During this stage you should create and hold on your vision of a great teacher. A teacher in this stage is excited and idealistic, to make the most of it begin making connections with other teacher in your school, keep a journal (record daily success and progress toward long term goals), and also begin a notebook with ideas for next year. This way you will get in the habit of reflecting on even the littlest bit of good while the year makes your excitement wan.

The next phase is survival. School has actually started and the work will start piling on.  Despite the feeling of not having enough time in a day, continue to keep your journal to maintain your momentum. Find out what other teacher are doing as their lessons so you have a starting point. Make at least one good teacher friend.

By October the stress and exhaustion will make it easy to fall into a “pit of despair.” The workload coupled with discipline issues makes this the stage that most teachers consider leaving the profession. Thus the “Disillusionment” phase. Don’t be too discouraged because this will be the hardest challenge as a new teacher. Reach out to friends, family. And especially your peers as your self-esteem may be at an all-time low. Ask for help and advice other have also experienced al, this. Keep finding small successes through your journal.

You will return from winter break renewed and relaxed. This is the stage of rejuvenation. Once you hit this stage you’re into the home stretch of your first year. To make the most of this new energy focus on developing your curriculum. Try something new; how did it work? Note that for next year. Examine your vision of teaching and see how it has changed into something more realistic.

Once school is just about done reflect on how you and your students have grown. Celebrate it with your students. Start planning for next year with your  "Ideas for Next Year" notebook. Do not neglect your peer relationships over the last few months and summer; this relationship will still be need helpful during your second year of teaching.

            This advice should help to get through the ups and downs of my first year teaching. It seems that a really good way to make the most of that year is through documentation and building a support group. 

Murray, B. (n.d.). How to surrive your first year of teaching. Retrieved from http://www2.scholastic./browse/article.jsp?id=3749719