University of Puerto Rico – Humacao English Department
Luis R. Torres Cotto Prof. Nilsa Lugo EDPE 4018 – 001 Weekly Reflection #8 6-10 of October, 2014 This week was a pretty intense one. This week I loved in ways because I got an in depth experience of what being a teacher consist of. This week on Monday I started off better with my classes, I felt. Regardless room for improvement is needed. Thanks to this day, I have devised a formula that I can guide myself for later classes. The key is too keep them busy in activities that helped them learn but also refine their motor skills. I was trying a drilling method but it left spaces for distractions so I diminished it and integrated it into activities. On Tuesday I had an incident with a student, the same student from the previous week, this time she was out of control even before my class. She was screaming and hitting others. Regardless I played around and managed to get my students to everything we were supposed too, this class was better since I have been reflecting and modifying from previous mistakes. On Wednesday things got very difficult. First in my class, although I had two nice activities and the students participated well, I left unhappy because the same student with behavioral problems was out of control. The teacher from Kinder did not knew what to do and had the office called her parents when I got into class. She broke and did stuff that made the kinder teacher sad, I tried to continue my class and the girl tried to hit me multiple times, that is when my cooperating teacher intervied and the school office and the mother came and met with the kinder teacher. This class the students played and did an activity with me and a homework. On Thursday the class went well but I found myself speaking too loud over their voices, and teacher intevened and scolded them. Afterwards
University of Puerto Rico – Humacao English Department the class was better. This day I also covered for both my other cooperating peers since they were sick and give classes to both their groups. This experience was overwhelming but I believed I manage well. On Friday I didn't had y Kinder class, regardless I gave class to both 3rd grades again and help my cooperating teacher around the classroom. This is the reason this week felt heavy for me, I as a teacher gave a lot f classes and experimented with lots of situations that everyday teachers faces. At one point I said, is this what I want for me. The struggle was real, I enjoyed it but at times it felt painful trying to recover the students attention when they slipped out of the mood. On part I give thanks to it because I genuinely feel my practice has given me so much insight on the teachers role. I manage as things were given to me, always helping and encouraging the students with positive feedback and making them think. Lastly I had a situation with two boys of teh third grade that were out of control. When time to leave came, I sat down with them and the teacher and talked about how there is a time and place for everything, in class we learn and pay attention and outside we play. The teacher was proud of me and told me so, that made me feel good inside and to believe in me. This week gave me so much knowledge about everything in the school. I learned bits of how a teacher feels, the work load they get and the stress. None the less how regarding it can be when you see progress. I have acquire a lot of things and how to work around it. I may be losing encouragement since I feel alone in this experience but I will see where it gets me. The experience is a welcomed thing to have and I will do my best to improve every single time.