Prof. Growth Reflection

Professional Growth

1. At the beginning of the clinical field experience, candidates learned that “educators should become knowledgeable about and sensitive to issues surrounding human and cultural diversity.” What does this mean and why is it important?

Growing up I was raised by both of my parents to be respectful towards any type of race, ethnicity, gender and religion. At the beginning of the clinical field experience I learned new rights as a soon to be teacher that I need to keep clear of my surroundings. I remember our discussion about the freedom of speech and how it is completely true how each teacher needs to be careful what is said around students. I do not allow foul language around my child so why would I let anyone else. I think also that sensitive issues come with a certain maturity level later in life. In my situation I am believe in Jesus Christ and it is hard for me to not talk about faith in a classroom to students because a lot of families are either Christians, Atheist or Agnostic. I think that once a student becomes a teacher then multiple roles of that person come into place- counselor, mentor, friend, trustworthy and respectful.

2. At the beginning of the clinical field experience, candidates learned that a goal of the experience was to assure that all candidates become reflective, moral, caring, and ethical classroom practitioners cognizant of their responsibility to assist all students to fully meet their learning potential. Now that you have completed the clinical field experience, why is this important for teachers “to assist ALL students to fully meet their learning potential?”

This semester has helped me extremely by focusing on accommodating students learning styles. In my educational psychology class, I learned how to prepare my classroom for time management and focusing on outside factors that a student may go through in life. Currently I am focusing on the elementary level, which is a time when a student’s mind is running wild, and putting new information into their schemas. One of the classes that I observed was a kindergarten class and I remember a Hispanic student whom had trouble and the teacher fully assisted him in the computer lab by using an online site and making him print out the results after the testing. The teacher encouraged the student to do well on each test and he ended up getting ecstatic and raising his hand afterwards. I enjoyed classrooms where each teacher was involved in some type of form that the student felt “supportive” by someone else other than a parent. I put myself in that position because I want Paisly to feel like she is worth more than our approval in life and education especially.

3. What perceptions of yours (of teachers, students, or schools) were changed due to the clinical field experience?
The clinical field experience reminded me a lot of my mother and the memories we shared throughout the years. My perceptions of teachers remain the same but I know that each teacher has a different teaching style and some just do not have the best patience after a long day. I observed a third grade classroom and the teacher would just yell at each student coming into the door to sit down and focus on her which brought me back to Mr. Wong. In order to be successful and enjoy the students it is best not to just throw worksheets at them and think it is ok because of course two wrongs do not make a right. Correct. My perceptions of students remain the same because each one wants to gain attention either by acting out or the right actions. I think I have more experience than others do because I babysit Megan after school and in the summer, I run a daycare in my home up to four children including Paisly. Although, it is not a classroom with twenty kids or more but I organize multiple activities, lunches, nap and give love to each one. Schools on the other hand I think are a little outrageous on their money funding because they remind me of the Springfield prison. Honestly, if a student has a parent in jail then it would just remind them of it. I think the technology is a great learning enhancement but the white walls and less windows is a little to the extreme. It just teaches the students that each person can have whatever he or she wants and not be appreciative or respective. I could possibly be thinking into detail more than I should. Unfortunately, I learned without those items and I think I turned out OK. J

4. What is the role of the teacher in the classroom?

I think that once a student becomes a teacher then multiple roles of that person come into place- counselor, mentor, friend, trustworthy and respectful. I am focusing on elementary and in the different stages each student will face obstacles were they would want to find trust in someone other than a parent, which plays into role of the teacher. I think students will reach out in other ways such as art and expressing their emotions, behaviors and home life and it will take a strong person to understand and help. I work at the Flip Shop as well as a tumble bear preschool coach, the “gymnasts” are three years old, it shocks me how much trust, and respect plays into role. The “gymnasts” will not do somersaults, cartwheels, walk the beam or flip on the bars unless I have a strong bond with each one. I have had to learn new names and focus on a trait that makes them unique in order to be accepted as their friend but instructor as well. It is the same in a classroom with twenty kids.


5. What are the teacher’s responsibilities to the learner?

The teacher’s responsibilities are to focus on trainings, lesson plans and curriculum through the school. One of the teachers at Irving Elementary explained to me (fifteen-minute conversation) what she has to do in order to teach her class. She first taught at Webb City Elementary and the Principal required that all lesson plans must be turned in before the school year and I agree because procrastination and certain events in life can slow anyone down. Then she explained that in the Joplin School District the teacher’s need to stay organized and it is not a requirement to turn in the lesson plans. I think this is a little ridiculous because in order to teach the students a teacher needs to be well prepared to propose the new information and conclude background information if it is not learned well enough. I am a very organized person, I do not plan to get behind on activities, and I will follow up on my responsibilities.

6. Why is the teacher referred to as a decision maker?

The reason a teacher is known as a decision maker is the option each one has to face in the classroom. A teacher must identify a student who might need further assistance in learning disability that might lead to contacting the parent. A teacher may encounter an explicit piece of artwork that concluded questions that would lead into talking to the counselor about a problem concerning the student’s safety. The teacher makes decisions throughout her classroom all day whether it is small to a huge flabbergasted ordeal.

7. What do you think are the characteristics of a “Master Teacher?”

A Master Teacher would be someone that is highly intelligent in his or her academics and can solve problems. This so-called teacher will maintain a high level of withitness in his or her classroom therefore, leading into a low standard of problems. Each teacher has different qualities, which makes his or her unique in their teaching. I think a teacher that understands problems, patience and teachers each student well is a master in disguise and a leader.

8. Is teaching what you want to do as a vocation?

Yes. Even before I had Paisly, I enjoyed children especially working at daycares. I have always provided parents with options for teaching children by swim lessons, gymnastics and care giving. I have definitely learned new things throughout the years that prepared me for motherhood. I volunteer in the children’s ministries on Saturday night and Sunday mornings at Forest Park Baptist Church and teaching them about Jesus is the most amazing thing in my life. I know that I make a difference in their lives just as much by being there and if things do not work out at MSSU, I know that my focus would be the children’s ministries. God comes first in my life so I plan to follow in his direction because he has provided me with a supportive family. The clinical field helped me to understand a classroom setting with only one teacher as the focus.

9. How did the clinical field experience help crystallize your decision?

My decision has been pretty set and clear for a few years I just took time out to care for my mother while she was sick. I now have more free time during the days in which I planned my observation hours according to my schools hours and Paisly time. The clinical field was a great experience to enhance new learning skills, attention getters, and understand what it takes to become a splendid teacher. I am sure I will have my moments the next couple of semesters…

10. Based on your own strengths and weaknesses, what skills do you still need to develop to fulfill the role of a teacher?

My focus is on completing and understanding the designing of lesson plans and not handing out random assignments to people, I barely know as a reference. I know I need to focus more on classroom management, withitness, structure, reinforcement, and punishments when needed. I eventually will learn more of this as the semester passes by in other classes. I have listed most of my strengths throughout this reflection. I would like to make a point about Head Start though because a few students made it out that it was a bad program. I understand it is based on lower income but if a person took time to do a survey of how many of those parents work or go to school full time the issue would be different. I just think that if a person wants to become a teacher they must be open to EVERYONE instead of judging each person depending on income, looks, background, parents and any other circumstance. EVERY child wants to learn.