My Reflection On Germantown Students

This semester has been a real eye opener for me. I have been exposed to many opportunities to grow. I have had the opportunity to observe in three different schools. I began teaching English to ninth and tenth graders two weeks ago. It has been my pleasure to meet and work with several well-respected seasoned teachers through out the semester. They have provided me with much needed advice, help, love and redirection. I have had several eye opening moments related to “myself” as a teacher and my ideas of students. As a teacher in training I have observed some great classrooms this semester. In some of the past classes that I observed the teacher seemed tired or burnt out. This semester it was a priority of mine to visit diverse classrooms …show more content…
The students are held to a certain academic level and have no problem being challenged or reaching that level. It was refreshing to see a classroom where students were engaged in grade and age appropriate task. In the past I have wrote papers about students at another school that seems to have a high level of students who are not performing on grade level. At Germantown Friends the lesson that I learned was on the importance of requiring academic excellence from all students. I will probably not teach at a school as esteemed as this school. However, the students that I will teach will need to be just as prepared for the next phase as these students. One way that I can help ensure that they are prepared is by always challenging them. If a set the bar high hopefully students will aspire to reach it. In my opinion it is Burke that said it best, “effective instruction teaches students the essential skills and knowledge they need to answer the questions and solve the problems we all encounter in personal and professional lives”. P. …show more content…
In one of the classes that I observed students sit in four groups of about 5 or 6 students at all times. Each group performs different task while rotating around the four tables. The teacher sits at one table and when they rotate to her she engages the students in the skill checking for mastery or students who need help understanding. At each table students was required to practice the same concept in different ways.
At Pickett Mastery, I observed a personal friend of mine who teachers AP English to eleventh and twelfth grade students. It was interesting to see someone who I have watched evolve as a teacher. I have known her for many years even before she became a teacher. I understand the personal experiences and struggles that have paved the way for her to get to this point in her teaching career. The lesson that I learned from her was to make sure that each lesson includes a transferable skill. Each lesson should include a skill or a strategy that students can transfer to other areas or