After this semester I will have taken every education class that is needed to get my degree in Elementary Education. This semester I am taking ESOL 3, Level 2 Internship, Teaching Writing and Classroom Management. I think the class that has most impacted me was my Linking Literature class that I took last semester, Spring 2010. I feel like that class has taught me to be able to teach a student one-on-one and make major improvements. During this class we tutored a student with their reading and this was the first time that I was able to help a student and see major improvements from the student by the end of the semester. This class reinforced the fact that I will be a good teacher and that I can help students achieve what they to achieve.
2. What teaching and other educational support experiences have you had with children (include the approximate age/grade levels). This can include teaching, tutoring, babysitting, mentoring, etc... Which one most impacted you and why?
I have observed in an elementary school in two of my classes. I have already completed my level one internship that was at Forest Hills Elementary School in a first grade class. I have also tutored at a middle school with 6th graders. I have also worked with a 4th grade student in my linking literature class and I worked with a group of 4th graders at the community center in my childhood education class. The one that most impacted me was the 4th grade student that I had in my linking literature class because I made a big impact in the student’s life by helping him improve in his reading level.
3. As you look ahead to your internship, what are your expectations? Hopes? Fears? Worst nightmares?
My expectations are that since I am in an ELL class I expect this internship to be challenging and that I will learn new ways to teach students learning English. I hope to be able to really get to know these students and to be able to have a big impact on their lives. I fear that I am not going to be able to help all of the students and that my lessons are not going to engage the students as well as I should be engaging them to the lesson.
4. Think back on all of the teachers you’ve had in your life. What teachers and what experiences stand out? List the behaviors and qualities of the best teachers you have known and explain why you think they were exceptional. Explain what they did that made them so memorable in how they taught.
Some qualities that I think are very important for a future teacher to have are to be kind, exciting, organized, and able to enforce the rules. I think these qualities show a good teacher because then the students will be able to engage the students and get the students to enjoy learning. One teacher that stands out to me was my fourth grade teacher because she always had something new and exciting each day for us to do. She also made learning also engaging, but she also made sure that the rules are enforced.
