Reflection 11

Now that the end of the semester has arrived, I would like to reflect on my experience in this class as a whole.

1.  I had never really taught a lesson (except in church, or class presentations) before this class.  When I started teaching for the first time I was really nervous.  By the end I wasn't as nervous.

2.  I'm so glad that when I taught I was video recorded so I could watch it afterward and critique myself.  This was one of my favorite parts of the class.  I really enjoyed seeing the mistakes I made as well as the things I did well.

3.  As funny as it sounds, one of the lessons that really sticks out in my mind was the lesson on writing tests.  I found that fascinating.  I always wanted to know what made a good exam, and what made a good exam question.

4.  After Jeff LeBaron came and talked to us, it made me really thankful for my college professors, especially my TEE major professors, because Jeff taught me that teaching in middle school or high school can be really really rewarding.  It made me realize what my professors are giving up to teach us, so that we can teach in the schools and have those rewarding experience.

5.  I enjoyed watching all of my peers teach.  I liked learning from them.

6.  I loved teaching 6th grade.  It was so fun to teach real students and to see real reactions from students.

Overall it was a really enjoyable class, and I really did learn a lot.

Reflection 10

This week Jeff LeBaron came and spoke to our class. He is such an enthusiastic person who I can tell is very passionate about teaching. He told us about the different units he has been able to teach and about some of his students. He gave us advice and encouragement.

It was motivating. It was motivating to me because I hope I can be a good teacher like him. I hope I can be a positive influence in the lives of everyone around me.

I think the reason why he is a good teacher is because he is passionate. He has had a few careers previously to teaching so he knows that this is fun for him. He knows that the pay isn't as much as in other fields but that is a sacrifice he is willing to make.

Reflection 9

Jared taught a great lesson this week.  It was well planned out, the material was presented through a brief powerpoint, there was a great activity demonstrating the subject and we had a worksheet to fill out that checked for understanding.  In relation to this specific lesson, one thing I have learned is that it is so hard, almost impossible, to give a good lesson on a very broad subject (hard, almost impossible for me).  It is much easier to give a great lesson on a specific principle or topic, so you can really delve into it.  This is something I should apply to my teaching that I think will help me be a better teacher.  Jared's lesson was about manufacturing technology but he taught specifically about the 5s's of Lean Manufacturing - very specific.

Today in class we talked about Marzano.  Marzano says that there are a few things that influence student learning, they are: socioeconomic factors, aptitude, home-life, school, but most importantly the teacher. Of course this is the most important factor, the teacher is the one in charge of the learning!  If the teacher isn't teaching, I can almost guarantee that the student isn't learning.  This is why being a teacher is such a noble calling in life.  Teachers have the ability to help the students overcome socioeconomic factors, DNA, and their home-life situation!  This is powerful.  This helps me to see that teachers can help students achieve their full potential.  Achieving potential has to do more with the spirit of the person than their situation in life.

I have such high hopes for my future students, almost as high as my hopes for my future children.  How will I motivate, love, and teach them?

Refection 8

On Tuesday I went back to Maple Mountain High School, but this time to observe Tyler Lewis.  He was teaching a Photography class and they were preparing for a test.  He showed them a simple powerpoint presentation to review the information they had been learning this semester.  It seemed like most of the students were able to recall the information.  He also went over some new information.

I don't know Tyler very well but it doesn't seem like he is an overly outgoing person.  He seems a little reserved but he was still able to control the classroom, I think the students respected him and therefore gave him their attention.  After the presentation he handed out the review sheet and they had some time to work on it.  He walked around the room answering questions.

In a basic photo class like his, and with his budget, not many of the students were able to use DSLRs.  He taught mostly about composition with Point-and-Shoot cameras.

Today in class we taught again.  During one of the lessons I started thinking about stage presence.  I know I mentioned this in a previous reflection but there are certain people who get up and teach and from the second they start, I am rooting for them.  I want them to do their best.  I like their style and I can't get enough of their lesson.  What makes me like a lesson from the beginning or hate a lesson from the beginning?  I think it has to do with presence and how I think they feel about me.  I can tell they want me to understand what they're teaching, they have high expectations for me as their student.  How can I apply this to my teaching?  This ties back to the moral dimensions of learning.  It particularly has to do with this one: Practicing a nurturing pedagogy (the art and science of teaching); Develop educators who nurture the learning and well-being of every student.  Whenever I read this I just think that it ultimately has to do with love, be a loving caring teacher.  Be an educator who nurtures.  Be invested in their learning.  Be invested in their education.  It is your responsibility that they learn and become good people.

I just hope (after my nerves calm down) that I can be a nurturing teacher, care for the student's well being.  

Reflection 7

The past few classes we have spend time teaching.  We have been teaching about different STLs. I enjoy watching these mini lessons and seeing everyone's different teaching styles.  I am only taking TEE classes this semester so I only have 3 teachers, for 6 classes, so I don't have very many chances to observe different teaching styles this semester.

Some "teachers" in my class are superb.  They have this teaching thing down.  They are good at planning their lessons, they are good at delivering the material, they are confident, etc.  But others have much room for improvement.  Teaching is hard because there are so many different methods, and so many right answers.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed, even teaching these mini (20 minute) lessons.  How am I going to teach all day long?  Many different classes, many different students, many different topics....YIKES! 

This is when I need to remember that I am still learning, I'm not supposed to be a great teacher yet.  This is why I am taking the classes I am taking, so I can get better.  I need to be more confident.  

I hope I can be a motivating and uplifting teacher.

"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength of the nation." -- John F. Kennedy

Photos for TEE 125

Blown-out
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/320 sec
Aperture: 4.0


Blown-out
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: 5.6


Blown-out
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: 4.0


Close-up
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/160 sec
Aperture: 2.8



Close-up/Blown-out
ISO: 160
Exposure: 1/125 sec
Aperture: 2.5


Close-up
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/160 sec
Aperture: 3.5


Close-up
ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 2.8


Landscape
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/160 sec
Aperture: 4.0


Landscape
ISO: 640
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 5.0


Landscape
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 2.8


Motion
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 8.0


Motion/
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 2.8

Portrait
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 4.5

Reflection 6

I just taught about STL 6.

I like hearing all of the feedback that is given, not just to me, but to everyone.  There's so much room for improvement.

I have been thinking that I need to start a teaching notebook, of suggestions and helpful hints, that I can pull out occasionally during my first years to make sure that I am being a good teacher.

Today we had a quiz about the Moral Dimensions of learning.  I want to reflect on those a little bit.

Here they are:


1.  Enculturating the young in a social and political democracy
Foster in the nation’s young the skills, dispositions, and knowledge necessary for effective participation in a social and political democracy

2.  Providing access to knowledge for all children and youth
Ensure that the young have access to those understandings and skills required for satisfying and responsible lives

3.  Practicing a nurturing pedagogy (the art and science of teaching)
Develop educators who nurture the learning and well-being of every student

4.  Ensuring responsible stewardship of schools
Ensure educators’ competence in and commitment to serving as stewards of schools

And now a bit of reflection on numbers 1 and 4:
1.  I think that this could possibly be my favorite moral dimension.  I love it because it encourages people to be contributing members of society.  Not only is it important for us to make sure that we are informed about laws and different things happening in our community but it is our responsibility to be law abiding citizens.  It reminds me of something we talked about in Relief Society the other day.  It was about the commandment to multiply and replenish the Earth.  The commandment isn't just to multiply, but it is to multiply AND REPLENISH the Earth.  We talked about how it is our responsibility to make sure that we are bringing children into this world who are of substance, who are of value.  People who can contribute to society.  I heard Sister Beck say once that she wanted to make sure that she was raising children who could talk, she wanted to be able to have children who she enjoyed talking to and having conversations with.

4.  This is also an important thing to remember.  My husband had a professor here at BYU who said that we need to make sure that we are getting the most out of our BYU experience because part of our tuition is paid by tithing from members of our church.  He said make this experience worth while for that widow in Chili who has 6 kids who is scrimping and barely making it, but who is 100% faithful in paying her tithing.  Learn all you can!  If not for you, for her!

This is how we should feel when we are teaching.  It is our responsibility to keep out schools clean, to keep our students clean, and to teach them as much as we can.