EDU 6918 Introduction to Teaching: Course Reflection

1.       Growing and Developing Professionally Teacher welcomes feedback from colleagues when made by supervisors or when opportunities arise through professional collaboration.

Many people I’ll be working with will have a different cultural background than myself. I’ll work with people of different faiths, race, and ethnicity. I’ll welcome feedback from colleagues and supervisors who are culturally different from myself and use our differences to my advantage to learn more about students/families that have a different culture or background from my own. By welcoming this feedback we’ll be able to collaborate as a team in helping to understand the background and culture of our students.

2.        

3.       I learned to not be “color blind” and how that kind of thinking can actually be detrimental because we should be celebrating our differences and not trying to hide them. We are all different, no two people are the same and we need to learn from each other instead of trying to push our own culture onto those who are different. This will help reduce misunderstandings based on incorrect information as well as help us embrace one another.

4.       There were very little differences of cultural where I grew up in Montana, which made it quite a shock when I moved to Memphis for undergrad as I don’t believe I was very culturally competent. I quickly saw the difference in culture between me and so many of the people I came in contact with, people with different values and beliefs, race, and religion. I was no longer a majority but actually a minority in more ways than one. I was hesitant to talk about other people’s cultures or backgrounds for fear I’d offend or insult them. This fear is something I’ve learned to let go of. Asking is one of the best ways to learn and help celebrate our differences instead of staying quiet and assuming or making my own judgements. This is something I’ll do with my own students and their parents/families. I’ll ask them about their culture, celebrate our differences, and embrace what makes us unique and different. I’ll show empathy for those that have a different upbringing or background than my own and although I may not be able to relate to certain situations or experiences they’re going though, I’ll be able to relate to the emotion their experiencing.

I have found, the best way for me to help reduce misunderstanding and break stereotypes about my own culture and background, is to be myself and live by example. This sounds simple enough but as I treat others how I want to be treated and love others around me it’s easier to talk about cultural differences. Once someone finds out about my faith they are often filled with questions and I’m always willing to answer, as long as they aren’t confrontational or accusatory.  

5.       I’ll continue to lead by example and ask my students about their cultures with an open mind and a desire for understanding. Other students will see this and, hopefully, will also have a desire to learn more about their peers and together we’ll celebrate our differences. Students will learn from one another and while in the classroom, realize, though we may be different, we still have the same goals and desires.

6.       Remain open minded and let go of what stereotypes I may have or what I may expect or think about a certain culture. Continue to live by example and treat others how I want to be treated. Reach out to families that differ culturally from my own to continue to learn. Read books from authors culturally different from my own as well as attend events that explore and celebrate different cultures.

Professional

About Whitney

My husband and I moved to Seattle almost 8 years ago when he was accepted into grad school at Seattle University. Soon after he graduated, we found out we were pregnant with our first and moved to Redmond, where we still live today. We first met at school in southern Utah, transferred to University of Memphis, where we graduated and then he started applying for grad school. I've moved around my whole life as a daughter to a parent in the Air Force but claim to be from Montana, where I graduated high school and most of my family still lives. I have three kids, two girls and a little boy, who we welcomed to the family just a couple short weeks ago.



Interest and Experience in Education

Teaching has always been something in the back of my mind, something I've always thought I could do well and really enjoy. It wasn't until after I had my first daughter that I really started thinking about what I wanted to do when my kids were more independent and in school full time. My degree was in communication and graphic design and I wasn't sure I wanted to make a career out of either. I also wasn't sure if completely changing my career path and going back to school was an option. After doing some research and having the support of my husband behind me, I started applying for teaching programs and grad school. Later, as a youth leader for teenage girls, I was once again reassured about my decision to go pursue a career in teaching. I love working with high school students so I hope to teach at the secondary level with an endorsement in English Language Arts. As I mentioned earlier, I had the opportunity to work with girls ranging in ages 12-18 for about a year and a half. We had weekly activities I had to plan as well as Sunday lessons and sometimes weekend retreats. There were also several weekly meetings I had to attend with other youth leaders and clergy from my church. I loved working with these girls, even on the bad days. I was grateful for the chance to get to know them and be someone they could come to and confide in. I hope to be able to make similar connections with the students I teach.

Characteristics of an Effective Educator

When I think about the qualities of an effective educator, I think back to the teachers and professors I've had the privilege of learning from as well as the few things I've learned in just the last couple weeks in the MAT program. First, an effective leader should be very knowledgeable in the field they are teaching, which is pretty obvious. They should have the proper education and certification to not only teach but connect and make the material relevant to the students they are teaching. I also believe there's more to an effective educator than being knowledgeable in the subject they're teaching. I think back to some of the teachers I had that I really enjoyed and still remember specific lessons and assignments. I also think of other teachers where it was quite the opposite and I struggled in their class as we read from textbooks and lectured the whole time. The successful teacher/professors were personable, approachable, gave the class questions to help us think and come up with our own answers not just what may have been written in the text. As an individual, they had me thinking for myself, even if my thoughts or answers differed from theirs or others in the class. Lastly, they had a passion that, without even knowing it, rubbed off on me and gave me the desire to learn and go to class. I didn't just show up and become another number on their roll, I was present and participated. I feel like that makes for an effective educator, someone that can get their students excited for class, someone who can get their students to participate and really think for themselves all while teaching them and giving them the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Program Standards and Elements of a Model Entry

Program Standards

Expected outcomes are expressed as program standards, which are aligned with State-designated teacher preparation approval criteria shown in WAC 181-78A-270. Program standards include criteria (e.g. 1.), elements (e.g. 1.1), and examples. Any level of the program standard is appropriate for reflection, feedback, or evaluation.

1. Expectations – The teacher communicates high expectations for student learning.

1.1 Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy

E.g. Teacher recognizes the value of understanding students’ interests and cultural heritage and displays this knowledge for groups of students.

1.2 Communicating with Students

Teacher’s explanation of content is appropriate and connects with students’ knowledge and experience.

1.3 Engaging Students in Learning

The lesson has a clearly defined structure around which the activities are organized. Pacing of the lesson is generally appropriate.

2. Instruction – The teacher uses research-based instructional practices to meet the needs of all students.

2.1 Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques

Most of the teacher’s questions are of high quality. Adequate time is provided for students to respond.

2.2 Engaging Students in Learning

Most activities and assignments are appropriate to students, and almost all students are cognitively engaged in exploring content.

2.3 Reflecting on Teaching

Teacher makes an accurate assessment of a lesson’s effectiveness and the extent to which it achieved its instructional outcomes and can cite general references to support the judgment.

3. Differentiation – The teacher acquires and uses specific knowledge about students’ cultural, individual intellectual and social development and uses that knowledge to adjust their practice by employing strategies that advance student learning.

3.1 Demonstrating Knowledge of Students

Teacher recognizes the value of understanding students’ skills, knowledge, and language proficiency and displays this knowledge for groups of – students.

3.2 Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness in Lesson Adjustments

Teacher makes a minor adjustment to a lesson, and the adjustment occurs smoothly.

3.3 Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness in Persisting to Support Students

Teacher persists in seeking approaches for students who have difficulty learning, drawing on a broad repertoire of strategies.

4. Content Knowledge – The teacher uses content area knowledge, learning standards, appropriate pedagogy and resources to design and deliver curricula and instruction to impact student learning.

4.1 Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy

Teacher’s plans and practice reflect familiarity with a wide range of effective pedagogical approaches in the discipline.

4.2 Setting Instructional Outcomes

All the instructional outcomes are clear, written in the form of student learning. Most suggest viable methods of assessment.

4.3 Designing Coherent Instruction in the area of Learning Activities

All of the learning activities are suitable to students or to the instructional outcomes, and most represent significant cognitive challenge, with some differentiation for different groups of students.

4.4 Designing Coherent Instruction in the area of Lesson and Unit Structure

The lesson or unit has a clearly defined structure around which activities are organized. Progression of activities is even, with reasonable time allocations.

5. Learning Environment – The teacher fosters and manages a safe and inclusive learning environment that takes into account: physical, emotional and intellectual well-being.

5.1 Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

Teacher-student interactions are friendly and demonstrate general caring and respect. Such interactions are appropriate to the age and cultures of the students. Students exhibit respect for the teacher.

5.2 Managing Classroom Procedures through Transitions

Transitions occur smoothly, with little loss of instructional time.

5.3 Managing Classroom Procedures through Performance of Noninstructional Duties

Efficient systems for performing noninstructional duties are in place, resulting in minimal loss of instructional time.

5.4 Managing Student Behavior by Establishing Expectations

Standards of conduct are clear to all students.

5.5 Managing Student Behavior by Monitoring

Teacher is alert to student behavior at all times.

6. Assessment – The teacher uses multiple data elements (both formative and summative) to plan, inform and adjust instruction and evaluate student learning.

6.1 Designing Student Assessments around Criteria and Standards

Assessment criteria and standards are clear.

6.2 Designing Student Assessments with an Emphasis on Formative Assessment

Teacher has a well-developed strategy to using formative assessment and has designed particular approaches to be used.

6.3 Designing Student Assessments to Inform Planning

Teacher plans to use assessment results to plan for future instruction for groups of students.

6.4 Using Assessment to Provide Feedback to Students

Teacher’s feedback to students is timely and of consistently high quality.

7. Families and Community – The teacher communicates and collaborates with students, families and all educational stakeholders in an ethical and professional manner to promote student learning.

7.1 Communicating with Families

Teacher communicates with families about students’ progress on a regular basis, respecting cultural norms, and is available as needed to respond to family concerns.

8. Professional Practice – The teacher participates collaboratively in the educational community to improve instruction, advance the knowledge and practice of teaching as a profession, and ultimately impact student learning.

8.1 Participating in a Professional Community

Relationships with colleagues are characterized by mutual support and cooperation.

8.2 Growing and Developing Professionally

Teacher welcomes feedback from colleagues when made by supervisors or when opportunities arise through professional collaboration.

Elements of a Model Entry

There are different formats for writing portfolio entries. However, responding to writing prompts 1-6 helps to address desired performance on professional knowledge and skills, along with identifying steps for having a greater impact on K-12 student learning.

1. Citation of the program standard (either criteria, element, or example) along with an interpretation of what the standard means.

2. Presentation of evidence with description. The description includes context and related research or theory associated with the creation of the evidence.

3. Justification of how the evidence demonstrates competence, or emerging competence, on the program standard.

4. Summary of what was learned as a result of creating the evidence or having the experience.

5. Comment on the implications for student learning.

6. Propose specific changes or next steps to increase effectiveness in the area under examination.