ReflectiononSkills

An effective teacher is not only very knowledgeable of the subject and the
learners, but also is good at teaching. Learning how to teach is one of the biggest
challengesthateverynewteacherhastoface.Throughdifferentcourses,welearnedhow
toplanagoodlesson,howtodeliverytheknowledgeeffectivelyandhowtoassessour
studentswell.
Planningisaveryimportantcomponentofagoodlesson.ThefirsttimeIlearned
howtowritealessonplanwasinmyBuildingFoundationofLiteracyinAdolescent
Educationcourse.Thiscourseconstantlyemphasizedtheimportanceofusinglanguage
function in each lesson. I planned a lesson about the introduction of Pythagorean
Theoremwithanothermathstudentteacherandcotaughtourclassmates.Afterthat,Idid
myfirstreflectioninmyteachingjourney.Thisexperiencegavemeaclearerideawhat
elementsIhavetoconsiderwhenplanningalesson.
ThroughdifferentHuntercourses,Iwrotenumerousotherlessonplansbasedon
different professors expectation. Each lesson needed to meet a specific format and
dependontheessentialassociatedwiththecourse.ThemorelessonplansIcreated,I
became more thoughtful about planning. I learned how to use the knowledge ofmy
learnerstoplanastudentcenteredlessonthatIcanteachtheminthemosteffectiveway.
Agoodlessonplanshouldalwayshaveawelldefinedobjectivethatisspecific,
skillorientedandmeasurable.Ithelpscreatinganicetransitionthroughoutalesson.
Teachersknowwhatstudentsaregoingtodoinalesson,whatskillstheyaregoingto
teachtothestudents,whatstudentscandowiththoseskillsinordertomasterthemand

whatteacherswantthestudentsknowwhentheywalkawayfromtheclassroom.Each
detailisplannedinpurpose.
All the feedbacks from different professors have enriched my knowledge and
skillsofplanning.Developingmyplanningskillsaffectsmyteachingskillspositively.
Anorganizedlessonplanprovidesmorelearningopportunitiesinalesson.Itallowsmore
valuabletimeforstudentstodoindependentworkorgroupworksothatitreinforces
theirlearningconsistently.Havingenoughforpracticeisvitallyimportantforstudentsto
show how well they understand the lesson. Students can learn from each other and
activelylearningoccurs.
During independent work orgroup worktime, teacher circulates students and
facilitates them. Listening to the discussion allows me to gain an insight into how
studentsareassimilatingthenewconceptorskillandwhattypeofmisunderstandings
theyarehaving.Thisinformalassessmentisalwaysverypreciousbecauseitgivesmean
opportunity to understand how well my students can perform and who needs more
scaffoldings.
My ability to assess students has also developed rapidly through my student
teaching. I have created different summative assessments such as quizzes, tests and
projects.IwassoexcitedtogradeeveryworkthatmystudentscompletedbecauseIcan
haveadeeperunderstandingofthecommonmistakesandmisunderstandingthatthey
usuallymake.IcanwritefeedbackindividuallyandtakeacloserlookathowIteach.
Another essential skill that I have developed gradually through my studies in
education and Student Teaching is how to create a positive learning environment.

ThroughdifferentcoursesatHunter,Ilearnedadiverseclassroomsettingthataffects
students learning. It is important to understand the cultural differences, value and
learningabilitysothatIcanusethemasabridgethatbringsstudentsintotheclassroom.
During my Student Teaching experience, my supervisor Professor Burke always
reminded me the importance of creating a sense of a learning community in my
classroomandhowtocreateit.UnderhismentoringIwaslearningtocreateastronger
relationshipbetweenteacherandstudents,andbetweenstudentsandstudents.Iwantmy
studentsfeelcomfortable,haveasenseofrapportwithpeersandme,andbelievethey
canbesuccessfulinmath.
After my Student Teaching experience, I realized that all the skills discussed
aboveareinterrelatedandittakestimetodeveloptheseskillsandmasterthem.Iamstill
developingmyskillseverydayIteach.IamsothankfulthatIhavelearnedmuchfrom
myexperienceatHunterandIammorereadytousetheseskillstocreatemyclassroom
inthefuture.