Week 6 Reflection

Answer questions 1 and 2.

1. Choose 4 bullets from the list on pages 88 & 89 of chapter 7 (repeat them in your posting), and explain why you believe these 4 traits, or beliefs, or mantras are true for you?
a) Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students- I know there is a lot to learn about how to differentiate but I also believe that if the students know they are safe and if the environment is one of caring (as built through morning meetings) I will grow and learn about students naturally and will know them well enough to know how to meet their needs.
b) Effective teachers spend a great deal of time working and interacting directly with students- I know my desk will be the place that gets piled stuff on top of it and where I spend after school time but while the kids are in my class, I will be crouched by their desks. I've seen teachers very involved in what they have to get done during the day that they take little time to circulate. My goal is to be organized enough and always keep in mind the importance of the students that I am really in the moment and mindfully there with my students.
c)Effective teachers have a solid belief in their own efficacy and in holding high standards for students. This is common among relfective teachers- This applies to me because it doesn't. I know that I could get wishy-washy about my students performance and feel like, "Well of course they're not doing well... I'm not very good at what I do." No! That can't be the way it is. There must be dual ownership as we (students and I) work together to figure out how they learn best.
d) Effective teachers carefully establish classroom routines that enable them and their students to work flexibly and efficiently- This is what I was talking about in b. If we are organized in our routines then the learning will just flow! If I have a lot of things in place then I feel safe working within the organization (we all need that feeling and I'm no different from how kids need to know there are boundaries... only I'm the one creating the boundaries but then feeling safe operating within them).

2. Comment on one of the metaphors in this chapter. Explain why it makes sense to you, or why you don’t agree with it.
The main metaphors were of spaghetti and bread but I like the little one at the end, comparing this journey of becoming a teacher who differentiates as learning to ride a bicycle. I understand the theory of it but I haven't even sat on the seat yet and I am so excited to try. I am strong enough, and resilient enough to the bumps and bruises that will come. I am ready to ride!