Teachers and parents everywhere have had to challenge themselves recently. As the concept of what it means to teach, and how we do it changes amidst this pandemic, it allows for opportunities of reflection. I came late to the teaching party, but it has been in my blood all my life. I come from a family of teachers, and while I may have put my children’s education first, before embarking on my own, I think I have been teaching in my own way for decades. I am taking my Capstone class concurrently with this and so as of tonight when I submit my final project, my Master’s journey will be complete. If you asked me a month ago if my educational journey would continue to include a Doctorate, I would have laughed hysterically, but now, who knows. I know that this Master’s degree in English opens doors for me beyond that of the K-12 classroom and I look forward to exploring the possibilities.
My classroom experience is still in its infancy stage, which I think is a benefit at times like these. Sitting in one virtual meeting after another, I hear some of the veteran teachers struggling with how to adapt their curriculum ad teaching methodologies to meet the digital landscape. A strength I see in myself is my ability to be flexible and adapt as needed. I am also always open to learning from others, skills and techniques to add to my toolbox. I also think I have learned to modify my classroom management style to fit the needs each year. It is, and always will be, a work in progress, however, but it’s getting better. One thing I definitely feel is a weakness is the challenges I encounter working with the demographics in my school district. I do not have the experience to address the basics of writing and grammar, and of the English language, which is something quite a lot of my students need, as first-generation language learners. This is something I hope to improve on when life settles down. As for my personal theory of teaching, I think it suits me well, and while I don’t anticipate it changing much, I do believe that it is important to remain open to change. Not every student, class, or year is going to be the same and I need to remember that part of teaching is adapting. Having to modify my teaching to distance learning at the drop of a hat has been fun and challenging. It has also showcased the strengths and weaknesses within my own personal approach to teaching. Where I think I differentiate, I realize is sometimes not enough. Learning new techniques to ensure all students equity during this time of change is certainly modifying my personal theory and techniques. This has been a time of continuing growth for me. Not just through the Master’s program, but this class itself. It is difficult sometimes to put into words why and how we teach. For me, it just is the way it is. Having to decipher it into modalities, adaptations, and philosophies is a challenge. This class has allowed me to grow as a teacher not only in the lessons I learned from all of my peers but through the questioning of my own practices. Thank you to all my peers for providing great insight and resources to add to my toolbox. And thank you, Professor Miller, for your unending support and feedback. It has been a journey of enrichment and learning. Sherri Reply to Thread
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