Final Course Reflection

Final Reflection

I have learned many wonderful things about myself this semester. Being my first semester as a student teacher I learned things about children, about myself as a person and myself as a teacher, that I wouldn't have learned from a book.

About children, I have learned that you do not promise things to children if you aren't 1000% sure that you can come through with that promise. I also learned that children are curious and they ask many questions and for some reason, they ALWAYS remember what you say, except for when it is something that is school-related. I learned that it is more important that kids get to the lunch room on time, than getting them there in a perfectly straight and quiet, single file line. I also learned that students act crazy on certain days and you just learn to deal with it because they are children, not soldiers and not robots.

About myself, I learned that I am more comfortable in front of children than I am infront of people my age. I also learned that I can be a bit of a pushover, so I have learned to watch myself. I have also come to understand that teaching was the profession I was born to follow. Sure, it sounds cliche but it's true. In my fifth grade class, I feel comfortable and safe. I know each and everyone of my students on a personal level and they know they can come to me whenever they have any sort of problem. Teaching is what I envision myself doing and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Class Reflection

It has been a wonderful experience being in this classroom with Frances and with all of less than 10 students. It was great getting to work with such a small number of peers because we got to really listen to eachother and we got to learn more about one another. I loved listening to everyones poems and ethinc roots presentations. It was so wonderful learning about the future community of teachers and educators because the things we disussed in this class, we wouldn't usually discuss. In this class, I was able to learn that there are many ways to be culturally sensitive and there are also many ways in which we can give students an opportunity to express themselves and who they are. This class made me more aware of the cultural diversity that can exist in a classroom and that language is culture and we should never make our students feel like they are going to be behind because they speak a different language or come from a different culture. Everyday, we progress towards generations of students who are more and more aware of their own culture and background and cultural sensitivity is not only recommended but nearly required. It is important that we implicate what we learned in our classrooms because we want classrooms that are all inclusive, we want everyone to succeed.

A Message for My Peers

“The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day.” T.Whitaker

We have chosen this profession, and I know that when many of you say it to your friends and family, they look at you like you’re crazy. So, it comforts me knowing that those of us who are in this profession, are here because we want to be here, because we care about education and children altogether. The children really are the future of the world, and in student teaching, I have learned many things about my students, hurtful, heartbreaking and disheartening things and I realize that teaching is not just about teaching, it is able cultivating the heart and the mind altogether. It is important that we always make our students realize how important they are to us and to the world, without them there is no future.

I want to wish you the best of luck in your careers. From the bottom of my heart, I know you will all become fabulous and caring teachers, your students will love every one of you. Be brave, and do not let anything stand in the way of you and your dreams and aspirations of becoming teachers.

Sincerely,

Ariana Mata

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