University of Puerto Rico – Humacao English Department
Luis R. Torres Cotto Prof. Nilsa Lugo EDPE 4018 – 001 Weekly Reflection #9 13-17 of October, 2014 On this week, I had my first experience with a storm warning on a teacher's perspective. I woke up on Monday, a holiday, to notice that we had a the storm named Gonzalo right on our tail. When it was clear that it was going to hit on Tuesday and that in y school region we didn't have class I needed to re-schedule my plans for teaching. I, although it was unfortunate, found this very thrilling since it gave a perspective of the situations teacher must deal with in this types of situations. On Wednesday, when we return to school, I witnessed how teacher with events needed to postponed them causing stress I witnessed. I gave my class that day and did terribly on time management. My handling of the students seems to be improving bit by bit but I still have a long way. The activity was a good creative activity that involved thinking and motors skills but it took too long. I thought it was a simple task but probably it wasn't. My students were to put together a nine pieces jigsaw puzzle of school personnel, some had custodians others librarian, students or bus driver. I knew it might have been hard but I didn't find another template with a smaller number of pieces. In the end, things work out. On Thursday I went over with the students on school personnel picture file again, to finally give them and activity of matching for them to work with. This time around the time was well managed and the students were kept busy which let to a smaller window of chaos. Misbehaving still happened but I didn't needed hat much help. This day I took my students notebook to correct a homework I gave
University of Puerto Rico – Humacao English Department them. Most of them did the homework, to those who hasn't I put on it to finish so parents know. This week I learned about various things like working under pressure, how to control more the class but what got to me the most is that you should speak to your mentors anytime you need help. Asking for help should not be stigmatized as I'm not that good it should be meant for learning how to be better. My cooperating teacher handed me my review, I know I have a lot to work on and watching carefully I see where my strong points are and when I just fall flat. Sometimes I feel powerless to change myself but if I want to succeed, I must. This time around for a next time I have proposed myself to get out of my shell, it needs to be done. My future is at stake and although I don't feel comfortable or confident those feelings will drag me down. I need to stand ground for myself because nobody will. My practice has been a bit hectic, yes, but it has been fully loaded with vast experience and knowledge that help realize how much I have grown as a professional, still growing and will continue progressing in the future. This is about treasuring the good times and turning the not so happy times into learning experiences.