Reflections for Spring

Deciding where I have improved the most over the past semester is difficult. I feel that improvement has occurred in many areas of my teaching practice. Many of the lessons we have studied from classroom management, to learning about preferred modalities, teaching styles and methods as well as delivery systems are all interdependent. Better delivery that applies to all helps with classroom management and vice a versa.

I believe that my classroom management has improved the most. I am able to handle surprises from the students better as well as make adjustments in my teaching methodology and material when un-expected influences occur, whether it be student induced or a schedule change that may result from the home schools or other sources. There is still a lot of room for growth in this area.

I have noticed as the students grow and mature during the year that their attitudes change as well as their motivational needs change. Across the entire this change can be observed as well as how they interact. Sometimes it may seem like a mood change but there seems to be a greater change. They are growing and maturing and sometimes not in the directions we would like as their lives are influenced from many directions. Just as fish change their feeding habits when the weather changes and we must change our fishing techniques so do the students change as they mature and grow.

Overall I would like to review all of the material that we have covered so that I do not forget or lose any of the many tools and knowledge that we have learned. I have been able to use so much of what I have learned, often implementing in my next class after NTI. New Teacher Institute has provided me with many tools to become a better teacher.

Thanks,
RS in Alpharetta