Portfolio Conclusion
By studying and understand the components that make up a classroom, educators are able to evaluate their own teaching philosophies, methods and strategies for working with students. There is a wide range of aspects to consider, some may work perfectly for all classroom scenarios, while others may only work on a handful of students. By reflecting and understanding my own teaching philosophies, principles and expectations I will be better equipped to address and understand student needs. Creating my own set of ethics has caused me to reflect on not only my theories and practices for teaching, but also how I hope to impact students in order to make a positive change in society.
One main takeaway is to understand that the classroom community is and always will be complex, and ever changing. Students will be constantly growing as individuals during the learning process. It is important as a teacher to understand how this effects the classroom environment and the ability to manage the classroom. Topics that might not seem important can make a huge difference in a students path to success, such as where they are seated. Creating an open and comfortable seating arrangement can help students by allowing them to sit where they are able to see, hear, or be distracted the least, but still be able to collaborate with classmates. It is also important to mix in up and rearrange the seating arrangement and charts. Another useful strategy for create a positive and manageable learning environment is to include the students in the process of creating the classroom expectations. Not only can it set everyone up for success by allowing them to take ownership of it, they can also spend the time designing and creating a poster that will be displayed. It is also very important to understand student needs and how you keep them in mind while disciplining and creating goals for the students.
As I progress through the teaching program and gain more experience I plan on implementing both my teaching philosophy and management plan whenever possible. I feel that I won't fully understand how and if it will work until I put it into practice and work with children. When given the opportunities I will reflect back and refer to this portfolio as needed to ensure that I am trying out the same ideas. I will also be updating my philosophy and management plan as needed. It didn't take long after I entered the Elementary Education major at MSU to learn that I was signing on to become a life long learner. This applies to all areas of teaching, including philosophies and management plans. I hope that as this year wraps up and another begins that I will be able to continue growing and expanding that understand and knowledge regarding teaching and creating an environment where I can help maximize student achievement.
One main takeaway is to understand that the classroom community is and always will be complex, and ever changing. Students will be constantly growing as individuals during the learning process. It is important as a teacher to understand how this effects the classroom environment and the ability to manage the classroom. Topics that might not seem important can make a huge difference in a students path to success, such as where they are seated. Creating an open and comfortable seating arrangement can help students by allowing them to sit where they are able to see, hear, or be distracted the least, but still be able to collaborate with classmates. It is also important to mix in up and rearrange the seating arrangement and charts. Another useful strategy for create a positive and manageable learning environment is to include the students in the process of creating the classroom expectations. Not only can it set everyone up for success by allowing them to take ownership of it, they can also spend the time designing and creating a poster that will be displayed. It is also very important to understand student needs and how you keep them in mind while disciplining and creating goals for the students.
As I progress through the teaching program and gain more experience I plan on implementing both my teaching philosophy and management plan whenever possible. I feel that I won't fully understand how and if it will work until I put it into practice and work with children. When given the opportunities I will reflect back and refer to this portfolio as needed to ensure that I am trying out the same ideas. I will also be updating my philosophy and management plan as needed. It didn't take long after I entered the Elementary Education major at MSU to learn that I was signing on to become a life long learner. This applies to all areas of teaching, including philosophies and management plans. I hope that as this year wraps up and another begins that I will be able to continue growing and expanding that understand and knowledge regarding teaching and creating an environment where I can help maximize student achievement.