This Service Learning project has helped me shape my teaching identity. I have seen some great things and a few bad things. I like that I am able to go into a classroom and see what a real classroom looks like. I was able to get a few good ideas on how to put together my classroom. One thing that I never really seen before was the children's pictures and their names beside them hanging up on the wall. I think that is a great idea and helps children feel more comfortable and makes them feel like this is their room. But I would like my classroom to be a little more organized and not so cluttered. I feel like there is a lot going on in the classroom and could be a little overwhelming for a child. I would also like to label more things and have it in English but also a few other popular languages.
Also what I learned during this time was the teaching skills. I like how the teacher has the children repeat after her so they really know what is going on. I think it is a good idea for students to say it themselves so you know they are listening and they understand. But I would like to be nicer to the children and be able to teach them while allowing them to have a good time learning. I feel like this classroom is too strict and more like an army where they do as they told and that’s it. I would like my classroom to be more relaxing and a fun learning environment.
But overall I think it has been really good working with the children and learning how to deal with children. It has been great seeing how a classroom should look like and how an elementary teacher really teaches. I will definitely remember this time and it will help shape me into being a great teacher one day.
Hi Ed,
ReplyDeleteI like how you said you would like your classroom to be a relaxing and fun learning enviornment. I would also like my classroom to be like that someday. It seems like you really enjoyed your SL classroom, as well as I did.
It's always well said and done when a child can have fun while learning. Although sometimes things may not always end up that way if they are not in the mood to do things that are planned for that day, fun and teaching definitely fit well together. I think the best thing is to just let your student's minds take control. Or if the activities planned aren't what they are interested in tell them ahead of time that certain things have to be completed and you assure them that we can learn more about what they want after. Just like adults, if they don't want to learn or listen, they won't. And sometimes clutter is good, as long as its organized. The classroom I tutor in seems very busy but everything is labeled and has its own spot and the children adapted to it well. There is a fine line between teacher and friend, sometimes being too nice and having too much fun can lead to chaos. Glad you enjoyed your SL experiences!!
ReplyDeletegreat commenting guys! (Lauren, this is actually Elizabeth you are commenting on not Ed!)
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