Reflective Paper #3

Essay #1: What have you learned about the challenges of teaching and learning this semester
through your classroom observations?
Through my ten weeks of preschool classroom observations, I have grown to understand
that there are many challenges of both teaching and learningsome of which I have learned
through my studies as an education major, and others that I feel can only be understood through
hands-on classroom experience.
Through both observations and college education courses, I have learned that there is no
exact checklist of the qualities necessary to be considered an effective teacher. However, I do
believe that, of the many characteristics and skills needed, both classroom management skills,
and the ability to both obtain a positive classroom environment and a desire to hold a positive,
emotional relationship with each student are crucial.
Though there are several vague characteristics that are taught in educational psychology
classrooms, I feel that the true list of what qualities an effective teacher possesses could very
well be endless.
I came to this understanding while observing a preschool classroom of primarily 3-5 year
olds. I witnessed several instances in which the teacher obtaining these skills and characteristics,
helped her students both learn and grow as individuals.
During both educational courses that I have completed during my two years as an
education major, a reoccurring topic in my studies has been the need for a teacher to acquire
proper classroom management skills. Though each textbook has given me a formal insight into
what techniques can be helpful in developing these skills, through observing a teacher exhibiting

these abilities, I gained an understanding that I feel no book could provide. For example,
throughout the ten weeks that I observed the same teacher and students, I noticed that, though the
teacher had never raised her voice, her students understood when she was serious and when a
more relaxed tone was present. The teacher that I observed, in my opinion, had the respect of her
students and therefore did not have to resort to raising her voice to enforce classroom rules.
Though I was not present during the schools first days of this school year, through the respect
given by her students, and my understanding that to achieve a relationship such as this requires a
discussion of classroom rules among the students and teacher alike, I can assume that one such
as this had occurred. With this, when a child would act in contradictory to the classroom rules,
the teacher would promptly correct the behavior by both reflecting on the posted regulations, as
well as thoroughly explain why the behavior was either inappropriate or unsafein terms that
they could truly understand. Additionally, the preschool teacher followed a daily routine in terms
of what times the students ate, practiced writing their alphabet, and played. By doing so, the
teacher kept her students constantly involved in various activities and therefore avoiding both
boredom and poor behavior.
In terms of obtaining a positive classroom environment, as well as positive, emotional
relationships with each student, the teacher I observed attempted to do so through several
techniques throughout each school day. Of which, I found the teachers constant high-energy and
movement throughout the classroom as ways to keep a positive environment. As well, through
my studies of human development, I learned that keeping an honest, open relationship with
students is an effective way to keep a positive classroom environment. Through observing the
preschool teacher and more specifically her frequent references to her own family, I witnessed an

openness between each child and their teacherresulting in an overall more pleasant classroom
for the students and teachers alike. Furthermore, I saw this same technique evident through the
teachers many questions of each students families, and compared their stories with her own
home life experiences.
As I contemplate my own future within the teaching profession, there are many reasons
why acquiring proper classroom management skills, and obtaining both a positive classroom
environment and positive relationships with each student, have become significant to my
personal views of both teaching and learning.
In terms of classroom management, I feel that, when the time comes that I have my own
classroom of students, my first priority will be that my daily lesson plans are ones that keep my
students eager to learn, and that my students are learning safely. Needless to say, teaching young
students is my dream. For this reason, I hope to develop the necessary skills to keep my
classroom running in an organized, positive fashiontherefore leaving myself with the
necessary time and energy to teach my students important skills, while also allowing time for
play and socializing. As a future educator, I understand that rules must be followed to achieve a
properly managed classroom. With this, however, I also agree that a teacher who possesses these
skills will not need to raise their voice to obtain orderand I intend to not raise mine while
either speaking with, or correcting my students.
Obtaining both a positive classroom environment, as well as having trusting relationships
with each of my students, are also goals in which I plan to achieve through my profession as an
elementary school teacher. I feel that if a student is not comfortable in their surroundings, they

will be less likely to adjust and therefore will not receive the same experiences from school than
if they were. I am quite positive that education is the correct career path for me, for the reason
that I want to help children grow, and I want to do so through assisting each child in becoming
happy, healthy young members of society. In doing so, I, as an educator, will strive to keep a
high-energy vibe throughout each of my lessonsin hopes that my optimism for learning will
cause my students to develop these same attitudes, and follow them throughout their lives.
Additionally, I, as a future teacher, will work each day to create relationships with my students
that are no less than honest, open and trusting. By doing so, I feel that, along with a positive
environment, it will help each student view their classroom as their second homewhich at such
a young age, I feel is crucial in order to achieve a comfortable environment for children to grow.
Furthermore, I believe that a student should trust their teacher as they would a family member,
and if a student of mine is struggling with classroom material or facing issues at home, I will
assure that they feel secure in approaching me knowing that I will do my best to assist them
through each.
#2: What does your response to question #1 say about who you are now and who you are
becoming as a teacher?
Through my views described in response to what I have learned in regards to the
challenges of teaching and learning, I can see distinct elements of my future teaching style
beginning to emerge.
Through my admiration of acquiring a positive, emotional environment as well as
relationships with my students, it is evident that I favor the socio-emotional aspects of educating,
versus a more lectured approach. With this, I can predict that I will do my best each day to assure

that my students are learning happily, and growing into social beings through developing skills
that will hopefully follow each child through their lifes entirety.
The teachers I have observed during this semester have substantially contributed to my
future teaching selfboth in ways that I will strive to mimic, as well as by exhibiting behavior
that I do not wish to, in my future elementary classroom.
The Head Teacher of the class I observed possessed qualities that I, as a future educator,
hope to one day develop and therefore, too, possess. Through watching this particular teacher
succeed in both holding her students attentions through her high-energy level, as well as opening
their young minds to new ideas through various planned activities, in my future classroom I will
attempt to do the same. It was evident through the Head Teachers frequent communication with
each of her students that she genuinely cared about each of their well-beings, and I, too, will aim
to show the same compassion that she had displayed in her classroom.
In contrast, the teaching assistant who was present for precisely half of the days I had
observed, did not teach using these same techniques. Though she succeeded in receiving the
attentions of her students, she did so through frequently raising her voice and a lack of one-onone communication with each child. While observing the students attitudes while each teacher
was present, I noticed that, overall, each student appeared less eager to learn and overall not as
happy to be in the classroom while the assistant was present, versus when the head teacher was.
It is for this reason that, though I am confident in the assistants abilities as an educator, I will
aim to teach less in the fashion that she had, and more in common with the head teachers
strategies for teaching.

Based upon my observations in this particular preschool classroom, I am able to reflect

on both my strengths as both an individual and aspiring teacher, along with my weaknesses.
Of my strengths, I feel that my sincerity and compassion for others are characteristics that
will assist me through educating young children, especially. I believe that I, as an individual,
obtain positive social skills, which will make both explaining material to my students, as well as
communicating with both parents and my staff members alike, quite simple to accomplish.
Although I would like to believe that I possess the necessary tools to become a successful
educator, I understand that I still have weaknesses that require major improvement. Of these, I
believe that the biggest challenge I will face in my future classroom, will be my ability to
discipline my students. I feel that my main weakness in terms of educating will come not from
my actual abilities to teach materialinstead, will rise from my lack of ability to be a successful
disciplinarian to my students, when necessary. I understand that need to correct poor behavior
immediately, and therefore is crucial to be taken seriously in an elementary setting. Therefore, I
will do everything in my power to learn techniques to stop these behaviors without the need to
raise my voice, understanding that I simply am not that type of person and refuse to become that
type of teacher in my own future classroom.
#3: Education as a Career: To what extent do you think you are well suited for a career in
education?
Though I am on a career path to becoming certified to teach PreK-4th grades, after
observing a preschool classroom setting for ten weeks, my views in regards to my career choice
have altered, yet not substantially.

Prior to taking this course, if asked the grade level I would prefer to teach, I most likely
would have responded with either grades second or third. Those two grades would have been my
grades of choice, for the reason that I did not want to babysit, but rather teach material and
follow a structured curriculum. Today, however, after observing a Pre-K classroom, my dream
job has become teaching in either a preschool, kindergarten, or first grade classroom.
Originally, while choosing education as my career, I had a thirst for educating and I
planned to quench this thirst through the use of more lectured, project-based approaches. Ideally,
I wanted to teach students that though were young, were mature enough to complete tasks more
independently, as a fourth or even third grader would. However, after observing a preschool
class, I found teaching slightly younger students much more attractivefeeling as though I
would be truly making a difference in the lives of each student, rather than a select ten, perhaps,
while teaching a higher grade level.
Although teaching the age group I observed this semester has become more attractive to
me personally, due to my weakness in terms of disciplining students and the need to correct poor
behavior among young students immediately after the event occurs, I would definitely need to
improve my behavior management skills to be considered fitting for the job.
Though my new ideal job is one involving the educating of 3-7 year olds, my
certification upon my graduation will include grades PreK-4th, and therefore I very well may be
offered a career opportunity teaching students slightly older than I would prefer. For this reason,
I feel that, overall, my ideas of being an elementary school teacher and ways in which the

preschool teacher I observed had taught were similar in nature, yet still differed in some aspects
of the classroom environment as a whole.
My ideas of being an elementary school teacher include a need for constant activity and
socializing, while still teaching the necessary materials specified by the states guidelines in
terms of curriculum. Through my observations in a preschool setting, each of these ideas were
clearly evident and included in each of the teachers daily lessons.
Although these similarities are present, I also found differences among what I expect
teaching in an elementary school is like and how the preschool classroom was organized. For
instance, there was a much larger sense of family involvement than I had believed to be present,
as well as a much more lenient lesson plan than I would assume one of an elementary school
teacher would be required to follow. Even though these differences occur, I feel they are
necessary in order for each child to learn, and properly transition into attending a school-like
setting.
In all, my views of education have not altered substantially due to this course. Rather, my
understandings of the necessary characteristics that I, as a future teacher, should have, as well as
proper ways to run my future classroom, have both increased and improved tremendously. I
learned techniques that I can use to keep my students interested in my lessons, and proper ways
to correct inappropriate behavior. With this, I feel that I am on the right track to becoming a
successful teacher, and with experience I feel I can only improve these already acquired skills
and understandings.

Along with my personal belief that I am well suited for a career in education, I will spend
my careers entirety assuring that my skills improve, rather than grow outdated and uninteresting.
I will do so by continuing my own education while I teach children, as well as attend each
teacher workshop and meeting within my availability. I plan to do so for the simple reason that I
truly believe education is my lifes calling, and I intend to educate successfully for as long as I
am qualified to do so.