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This course gave me an excellent overview of education and really highlighted the challenges and rewards of teaching. The field-based experiences and classroom observations gave me the opportunity to see real life educational environments. The legal and practical aspects of the educational system, such as common core standards and certification were really helpful. I now understand the importance of diversity, cooperation, the nature of the teacher-pupil relationship, and the structure and organization of the schools. The group work was excellent and informative; I learned a lot from my peers and enjoyed sharing some of my ideas. I’ve learned that flexibility and cooperation are important for teachers, and plan to cooperate with colleagues and adapt to meet new challenges. This course has taught me a number of teaching tools and strategies – such as scaffolding and cooperative learning - that will help me when I start teaching.
I would like to learn more about active learning and how to create an inclusive classroom environment. I would also like to learn more about differentiated learning, so I can effectively teach students who are reading at different levels. Personally, classroom management is a big concern of mine. I have seen some classrooms that seem out of control, and want to make sure mine is fun but has the right boundaries and rules to make it an effective and educational learning environment. I would also appreciate some practical advice on how to deal with students that dislike me, and how to gain their trust. I don’t like public speaking and would appreciate any tips on being more comfortable in front of students, staff and parents. I need to conquer my fear of being the center of attention. Finally, I would like additional information on how to prevent bullying, to make sure my classroom is a safe place for all students.
I’ve taken a lot away from this course. The field of education is constantly evolving and there are increasingly rigorous demands to create a twenty-first century classroom. I feel confident that I can use what I learned to motivate and facilitate student learning and make a positive contribution to the educational system. Hopefully, with hard work and experience, I can become as effective of a teacher as you are.
