1/21/2014

Reflection Paper
Written By: Julie Roberts

ProfStud 461: Urban Seminar
Professor Kali Fedor
Dr. Craig Young

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Is it really over? I found myself pondering this question as we pulled into the tri level on
day 10 of this amazing experience. When I first signed up for the South Dakota practicum it was
merely for the reason of convenience. It took place during winter break, so it would not interfere
with my summer job or vacation plans. I could have never imagined the things I would learn
about myself through this experience. I learned so much from every moment on this trip: from
my time spent in the classroom, to my time participating in the GLORY program, to my free
time spent bonding with new friends, and all the moments in-between. This was one of my first
times truly standing in-front of a group of students teaching with full control. I learned how
important it is to teach with confidence, to honor the personalities and learning styles of each
students, and to learn each one of their personal stories and struggles. I was paired with a teacher
who was a true master teacher and she taught me how critical it is to know each of your students
in order to help them reach their fullest potential. I learned more about myself as a person and a
future teacher more during this 10-day experience than any other time in my life.
Why teach? It seems this question is posed at the beginning of the semester in almost
every education class I have been enrolled in. It is generally followed with the generic answers
such as to help children, to motivate youth, ext. However, when I really sit down and reflect on
this question, none of these generic answers seems to do the question justice. Overall, I feel that
a career in teaching is one of the noblest professions in our culture. Teachers have the ability to
collectively not only change the future of society, but improve it. I want to become a teacher to
not only improve the way students learn but to also improve their overall self-esteem. I want my
students to also feel safe and comfortable in the learning environment I set up so they are able to
strive and accomplish any and all goals they set for themselves. I also want a chance to give back
some of the privileges that I enjoyed as a student. I was blessed with a great education, and
Commented [JNR1]: INTASC Standards: 9: Reflective
Practice: Professional Development: The teacher is a
reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects
of his or her choices and actions on others and who actively
seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
Commented [JNR2R1]: This paper was written about the
time I spent on with the Lakota Sioux tribe in Mission SD. I
reflected on what I learned during the experiences and how
it would affect my future educational strategies.
Commented [JNR3]: INTASC Standards: 9: Reflective
Practice: Professional Development: The teacher is a
reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects
of his or her choices and actions on others and who actively
seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
2

inspirational teachers. I want to teach because I want to provide my students with the motivation
and encouragement that I received throughout my schooling. I often find myself wondering what
better job could there be, and my answer is always none because through teaching I am able to
make an important contribution to each individual student, as well as society as a whole, and I
am excited and eager about the opportunity to do so. Everyone has progressed to where they are
in life because they had a teacher. An engineer cannot read a blueprint if they arent taught how
to read, an accountant cannot understand numbers without first learning to add or subtract, all
careers start by being taught the basic skills, and that is why I want to be a teacher.
There are many things about myself that I think will allow me to be an effective teacher.
Overall I think that I recognize some of the most important characteristics, in my own opinion,
which a teacher should hold. A successful teacher is not just someone who explains, but
demonstrates and inspires. I practiced this when I was teaching the students how to question the
text. Before I began to read, I told the students how important it is to question reading because it
helps them make predictions and better understand the reading. I didnt stop by just explaining to
them why questioning the text is important, I also demonstrated how to question the text and also
showed them how it helped me to make predictions and better understand the story. I think by
watching me question the text, the children were inspired to question the text as well. After silent
reading, they were all eager to come show me the questions and predictions they came up with
while they read. I also will not let a student walk away until every question is answered and the
concept is fully understood, and if a concept is not understood I am willing to go home and
brainstorm how I could better explain the concept so the students understand it better. As a
successful teacher I understand that if a student does not understand a concept the fault lies with
me, not the child. I was able to demonstrate this during my experience in the classroom when a
Commented [JNR4]: INTASC Standard: 1: Content
Pedagogy: The teacher understand the central concepts,
tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline he or she
teaches and can create learning experiences that make
these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.
Commented [JNR5R4]: Here I was able to recognize
what makes a successful teacher, and relate it to the
qualities I think I have that will make me an effective
teacher.
3

student was not fully grasping how to put together manipulatives to make a four-sided polygon.
He would bring me his shape and ask me if it was correct, but instead I redirected that question
to him and then had him explain to me why it was correct or incorrect. By having the student talk
through his answers he was better able to grasp a concept he was struggling with earlier. Another
thing that I think makes me an effective teacher is my ability to make children feel confident. As
of now, I have not been able to pinpoint exactly what about my personality I can attribute to this,
but it was evident during two experiences I had during this practicum. A little girl was moved to
my classroom on Tuesday because she was being bullied in her old classroom. By day 2 of this
experience the little girl was my sidekick. She told me her secrets, her interests, and things about
her family. She told me she was comfortable with me and that I made her feel a confidence in
herself she hadnt felt before. That was a life changing moment for me, I had never felt such
pride of confidence in myself as a future educator before. Also, during the GLORY program, a
little boy whispered to me during farkle that he wanted me to come back next week. He told me
that he liked the way I explained the rules and made losing all of his points fun. When we got in
a circle for final prayer he came over to my side of the circle and flashed me a quick smile.
While there are many things that I think will allow me to be an effective teacher, there are also
things that I feel impede my teaching ability.
One thing about myself that people may find surprising is that I am generally a cautious
person. I do not like to put myself or my ideas out there, especially in a classroom setting, in fear
of looking foolish. During the practicum, Mrs. Knox gave me a list of question to choose from
for me to use when creating my questioning web. I didnt particularly care for any of the
questions on the list, but I used one of them anyway. I feel as though if I created my own, more
open ended question the students would have learned the concept of questioning the text better. I
Commented [JNR6]: INSTAC Standard: 10: School and
Community Involvement: The teacher fosters relations with
school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger
community to support students learning and well-being.
Commented [JNR7R6]: During my time in Mission, SD I
was able to work together with my co-op, classmates, and
professors in order to better myself as an educator. I was
also able to work with the members of the Lakota Sioux
community to volunteer and help benefit their children.
4

also have a problem opening up to people, including students. I expect my students to tell me
their stories and to allow me to get to know them, but I often am wary of crossing the line
between teacher and student. I never know what information is too personal to share. It is
important that my students recognize me as both a teacher, and a human being, but if I am
cautious about sharing information with them that may be impossible. I also have the tendency to
ask a question or state my opinion, but when I receive an answer I dont always take the time to
listen and digest the response. I tend to be somewhat aggressive and try to come back with a
response before I really thought about what the person had to say. While this character flaw may
not directly impact the quality of my students learning, it could affect my relationship with other
teachers and professionals. It is important for me to think before I speak, and to give others the
same opportunity I would expect to share their thoughts or opinions. This came out when I was
expressing some of my concerns with the way Reverend Lauren treated us during the GLORY
program. Instead of giving my professor the chance to respond to my concerns, and really
thinking about what he had to say, I constantly wanted to jump in with another statement. When
I really sat back and heard him out, the points he made were valid and painted Reverend Lauren
in another light that I did not consider. By really listening to his response, I was able to see
things in a different way. One final thing that I think may impede my teaching ability is my
constant strive for perfection. I think I may sometimes provide students with too much assistance
so things are done perfectly instead of letting them learn on their own. For example, my
classroom was making snowflakes and the students were having trouble figuring out how to fold
the construction paper. I found myself taking the paper into my own hands and folding it for
them instead of letting them struggle on their own. I corrected my behavior by telling them that
they now had to create a snowflake they folded on their own, but sometimes I often try to take
5

over too much. Students learn from mistakes and struggles, so it is important that I relinquish
some control to my students and recognize when it is important for me to provide assistance. I
think that I have a mixture of successful teacher traits, as well as traits that may hinder my
teaching abilities, but as I grow and learn I know I will become a successful educator.
Without a doubt, this practicum was a successful experience for me. It was not until I was
back at home that I realized the impact this experience truly had on me. I have changed as both a
person and a future teacher. This experience has opened my eyes to lifestyles and hardships that I
have never been aware of before. If at all possible, I would love to return to Mission, South
Dakota this summer to assist with the GLORY program. I have learned life lessons that I will
take with me for the rest of my life. The racism and hardships that these people live through is
inspiration, but what is truly amazing is how open and accepting of us they were. The leader of
the powwow made it a point to ask us to figure out a way for both cultures to work together to
lift each other up, and this is something I will definitely work on as I continue my education on
how to become the most successful teacher I can be. I learned my ability to open up to others, as
well as the comfort I provide for others to open up to me. I have made friendships that I will
continue to build on for a long time. This experience started as merely a requirement for
graduation, but it turned into a life changing experience that I will never forget. I learned that to
inspire another child, of any culture, is not just an opportunity, but a challenge. Learning is not
always top priority to students, but it is a teachers job to teach, not just content but things.
Things such as morals, character, things that may prove to be more valuable than knowledge
itself. During my education, I was beginning to lose faith and passion in becoming a successful
teacher, but this experience restored my passion and I cannot wait to use the lessons I learned in
my classroom.
Commented [JNR8]: INTASC Standards: 9: Reflective
Practice: Professional Development: The teacher is a
reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects
of his or her choices and actions on others and who actively
seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.