Reflection #12: Field Experience

This week was very interesting. We finished up teaching our lesson plans and got to watch our cooperating teacher teach social studies. What an eye opening experience. During our lessons i thought the kids were pretty decent having good behavior for the most part. I mean they weren't perfect angels but they weren't perfect demons either. I felt accomplished with how things turned out and then i saw how the students behaved while our teacher taught and all of that accomplishment went down the drain. The students were horrible during our teaching compared to when he taught. I know i should still feel some sort of accomplishment in itself; i do feel accomplished in a lot of different ways but not so much in classroom management anymore. The technology that i experienced while in field work was totally awesome! I never thought that there would be that much to learn about technology that i didn't already know. I saw my cooperating teacher use the smart board for many different types of things and think that if i were to try it again i feel i would do well with it. I love learning about technology! I just brightens my day! I definitely want to continue learning about the new technologies and how they have evolved. It will be very interesting to see if in my field work next semester there will be smart boards and Elmo projectors and the different types of technologies that there were in this field experience. I also wonder if there is this technology how much i will use it with the younger grades compared to the older ones. I enjoyed every minute of my field experience! i cant believe it has come to an end. I am kind of sad that i wont be seeing the students anymore. I am also sad that i wont be learning from my cooperating teacher everyday. I definitely learned something new everyday! I will be taking so much to heart from what i learned. One thing i will always remember from this field experience is "You have mastered the science of teaching, you just need to master the art of teaching." I plan to use this saying throughout my whole teaching career because you can always learn something new and put what you have learned into play! I can't wait until i have started teaching and can put this saying into action!

Reflection #11: Field Experience

This week has been a very interesting week. Our digital story went really well. The students loved it. Our cooperating teacher did also. All of the technology we have experienced in field has been so surprising. My favorite part probably has to be seeing our teacher use the smart board. We used the smart board when doing a power point presentation and it is really neat how you can just tap the board and it will go to the next slide instead of sitting at your computer having to move to the next slide. We tried to use the smart board the way its supposed to be used but it backfired on us. Im glad to know that they actually work and can be used for great things when you know how to use them. I also love that our teacher uses a microphone. Sometimes it can be a little much but overall i have loved seeing him use it. We have an awesome cooperating teacher. I have learned so much from him about teaching as well as technology. I never knew there was that much to learn. Our lessons ended up going pretty well although i would change a few things in each one were i to teach them again. I am very grateful to have had them go that well. I am grateful that i had a great partner. I hope i was as much help to her as she was to me. Without her im not sure where i would be. After every lesson we debrief with our teacher and he helps us understand what we could do better and change and how to become better teachers. His words are always "You have mastered the science of teaching, now you just need to master the art of teaching." I think these words are so wise. I have tried to take them to heart and master the art of teaching, it hasnt been that easy, but atleast i am trying. I cant wait to become a teacher!!

Reflection #10: Field Experience

Field experience has been great so far. I have mostly observed but have taught twice so far. The elementary school i am in, Vineyard Elementary, has smart boards in each room as well as Elmo projectors. I have enjoyed watching the different technology techniques that my cooperating teacher has used. He uses a microphone everyday while teaching. He uses the Elmo multiple times a day, uses the smart board as a projecting surface everyday, and he also uses the smart board when is applicable. My first day of teaching i got to use the smart board as more than a projecting surface. I actually used the program. It was interesting. I didn't like it very much but i think that is because i am not used to it nor do i really know how to use it. In a way i suppose you could say that i am scared of it. I also used the Elmo during my lesson. I really like the Elmo projector. it is a lot more accessible than a regular projector. I love using this technology! I cant wait to use these types of technologies as a teacher and have my students benefit from it! We show our digital story tomorrow and i cant wait to see what the students think! :)