Reflection 3

As a student teacher, I feel that it is important to try and practice inclusion and address the needs of all students. While it does seem like a difficult goal to reach, and puts some extra weight on the shoulders of teachers, it also encourages teachers to try and focus on each individual student, even those with special needs, and help them see their own potential.  I believe each student has something to offer a classroom and that each student can learn from each other and experience the diversity. In the real world, people are mixed in society and not separated by capability. While I disagree that standardized tests are not something teachers should "teach to," I do believe they serve as a checkpoint for student progress. Teachers should teach to each individual need to the best of their ability and the skills necessary to pass the STAAR should be gained at the same time. In the remainder of my semester as a student teacher, I hope to avoid any student bias by really focusing on the differences in students. I hope I can create lessons that reach many different specific student needs and learning styles. While I won't teach to the standardized test, I will need to cover the basic test taking skills necessary beforehand. This will better prepare the students and help avoid "blanking out".  In the article I read, " Closing the Gap of No Child  Left Behind: The Assessment Debate for Essential Schools" Lisa Hirsch supports my claim that standardized tests do not perfectly represent student ability in her statement that research has shown that "no single decision should be made using test scores alone." While this is true, it is also true that a standardized test should be the bare minimum, what is considered just standard to pass. As teachers, we should help our students find themselves and do that using an appropriate assessment method in class. In my experiences so far, I have learned that if you follow the TEks when creating classroom lesson plans and questions, the skills needed for the test will come naturally. This way it is up to the teacher how it will be taught (hopefully with various learning styles taken into consideration).  It is stressful at times to think that one test can make or break so many children. But without standards, everyone would be on different pages and not at teachers would continue teaching as effectively as possible.

Hirsch,  Lisa. Closing the Gap of No Child  Left Behind: The Assessment Debate for Essential Schools.  Horace Winter 2007, Vol. 23 No.1

Success Journal

This past week was filled with lots of small successes. Every day presents its own set of challenges. It feels good to reflect on some of the positive things I encountered throughout the week. I have taken on more and more each day. I feel myself developing as an educator and finding my footing. By Friday, I felt proud. I was proud of myself for reaching certain students, for improvising when necessary, for creating lessons that had much higher-level thinking questions that aligned with specific TEKS, and for making another week of progress.

 I would like to focus on improving my classroom management skills especially in the classes that have to most off-task behavior and reluctant readers. I also want to improve my sense of enthusiasm in front of the classes about the material. My cooperating teacher is helping me learn how being loud and enthusiastic about my lessons and about the book will influence the students to feel the same. I would also like to improve my ability to create innovative lessons that engage students to their fullest potential. I want to be able to get them to see the relevance the material is to their future. Classroom management and motivation are key at this point.

My tweets this past week:

“This morning, I engaged some usually reluctant students in reading To Kill a Mockingbird”

“yesterday, plans changed and I was able to think quick and improvise”

“Improved my ability to create higher-level thinking questions with the help of my co-operating teacher”

“Witnessed an a-ha moment in a student today”

“Took over two more class periods and made a six-weeks calendar”