I think a lot of different options resonate within me to be a responsive teacher. However, I think that the first thing that I need to point out is that I am not yet a teacher. I can have all sorts of ideals and theories on how I will run my classroom and how I will present material etc, however until I have a classroom of my own for a few years I will not be able to fully answer this question, not out of lack of ideas, rather a lack of experience in order to answer this to the best of my ability. That being said, I feel that being a responsive teacher has many positive traits. In the broadest sense of the word responsive, I feel that a teacher should reflect what their classroom is like. Perhaps in one class you have a lot of students who are very opinionated and who want to discuss the material in detail; in your other class, you have students who are very intrinsic and who like to do a lot of reading, or maybe they really enjoy doing presentations and so on. Should all of these classes be taught the same? Absolutely Not. Each class should be taught to the students, because it should be a goal of every teacher to meet the needs of the students and to foster actual learning, not just teaching.
I think that (as mentioned earlier) students need to learn the material and not just be taught. I mean that, in a perfect world at least, students should actually learn and understand the material on a comprehensive level. Too often today students are taught the material on the test and then everything else is simply forgotten, or quickly breezed through.
Honestly, I really like these journal entries. It allows me the opportunity to reflect a lot of important aspects of the education field and it helps me better formulate (or at least begin to form) my educational philosophy.
I am very anxious to see how I will preform as an actual teacher. However, I am also anxious that while I have all of these philosophical ideas about how to run a classroom and how and what a teacher should do in a classroom, but that I will lose these ideas and concepts as I am progress as a teacher and as I, for lack of a better term, get run down I will compromise or give up these ideas and values.
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Chris, you may not be an experienced teacher, but you have many insights into what it is like to be a "real teacher." You have expressed ideas here that make me know that you will one day be a great teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog, because you have honestly expressed what's going on with your development as a teacher right now. You "keep it real."
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the fact that a teacher needs to be "responsive" to the type of class he/she has. Each class has its own personality, and it is important that we adapt our lesson-planning and our methods to fit each class.
I, too, think that we have to be very careful not to just teach to the test. If we are simply preparing students to take a test and neglect preparing them to take their place as productive members of society, then we are failing them.
You've also addressed "teacher burnout," something you'll have to carefully guard against. I know teachers that are using the same lesson plans that they used in 1967! And those are the same teachers that complain about being burned out. One of the characteristics of a novice teacher is that we have to commit to being a lifelong learner, being aware of the latest methods, technologies, and being willing to adapt and change. Knowing, understanding, and actually enjoying kids will also help.
By all means, keep questioning and keep working on your philosophy. You are off to a great start!
Chris, please try to be on time with your next blog (April 5). Your reflection is great. Unfortunately, according to the guidelines set up for the blogs, I will have to deduct 2.5 points this time, just because your blog was late. Sorry!
I couldn't agree more with the statement that you cannot not answer this question in full yet. I have to keep reminding myself of the same concept a lot of days. I do like you say to teach to the students rather then the material. That is a type of concept that really helps somebody become close to their students and makes a difference with them
ReplyDeleteHey Chris,
ReplyDeleteMissed you at seminar today. I just wanted to remind you that you need to change your heading on this page so that your name appears first. I'll have to deduct points if the change is not made. Good luck with your next reflection.