End of the Semester Reflection

This class has been an incredible learning experience for me. Although I still have no clue as to whether or not I'm actually going to teach at a middle school or not, I have learned so much and developed more as a person. This class allowed me to put everything I've learned so far into place and then apply new learnings along the way. It has been a crazy ride.
I have learned that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. Math is important to integrate into interdisciplinary units, and just because you don't have the skills or you aren't as confident with your abilities does not mean that you should not attempt to work math into your classroom. But, on the flip side of that, it is also important to include art, music, technology, as well as PE. My experience at Dirigo Middle School was incredible. It was amazing to see this team of sixth graders, as well as the art, technology, music, and PE teachers working together to bring a unit alive in all subject areas. Spending time with these teachers was very powerful for me. I had to step back and realize that I need to think about how to integrate these other content areas into my lessons as well. Sometimes math gets forgotten, but so does music, art, and PE as well. I think that creating an integrated unit is incredible. The process is a lot of work, but learning to work together with your peers/colleagues in a way that benefits the students is important. It fosters a healthy environment where students can learn to work together with their peers as well.
I have also continued to learn more information about technology. When I created my student sample, I took a risk and decided to create a podcast. This was new to me. I thought that I would try something new so that I could use this tool in my classroom. It was quite the interesting experience. I had fun in the process, and I learned a lot about what my student's would be going through their first time as well. I am still a firm believer in the use of technology in the classroom. I think there are so many ways in which you can use a type II technology, and this is important as we hope to meet the needs of the tech savvy kids we are going to be teaching. I have also learned a lot about various new programs I can make use of as well. There was the online time line generator, Publisher, the podcaster program, smartdraw, inspiration, freemind, cutePDF... etc. I have also increased my knowledge on how to build a strong wiki as well. I think I am leaving this class with more technology resources, and I am very excited.
Adolescents are a touch group of individuals. They have so many needs. They are constantly developing and changing during this time period, and it is extremely important to have a good background of development during this time. You have to understand where they are coming from to be able to teach them. You have to understand their needs and desires and their strenghts and weaknesses and what great things they are capable on in order to inspire them to reach out and achieve success and then some. This is extremely important.
I suppose one of my questions that I have a hard time with is still whether or not I want to teach at a middle school. This is going to plague me for a long time, because my heart is torn. I know that I absolutely love the middle school environment. I did my practicum there, I got along well with the students, I fit in because I am just as crazy as they are, and I had an awesome experience. I also know that if I did teach at a middle school I could work on early intervention with students. I would have the ability to influence their lives early on so that they might make good choices later in their lives. This is important. A huge aspect of why I chose to become a teacher has to do with being able to help students make good and healthy choices in their lives. I know that I could infect change early on. But, at the same time, it is so much more intense being in the middle of real problems in the lives of high school students. I have been volunteering at the high school for this school year, and it has been an incredible experience. The students there are making bad choices, and you can see the pain in their lives on a daily basis when they walk through that door. Sometimes it's a front. It's easier to shut people out than to let them in. But this is exactly why I want to be a teacher. I want to be a part of their lives. I want to be that person that they let in and who they allow to influence their lives in a positive manner. I want to change student's lives for the better. I also think that sometimes it is harder to influence the life of a high school student, and I think a lot of people give up trying. They need good role models and a good support system, and their problems are often slapping you in the face. It's real and it's painful. I just don't know whether or not I want to be on the pre-intervention end, or the post-intervention end. I do know that I live for all of it though.
This semester, and school year, have been important on my overall development as an individual as well. While it is important to have structure and organization, I have also learned to let go of some of that. Sometimes learning isn't structured and organized. Sometimes it is more hands on, moving around and experiencing the lesson rather than being told about the lesson. I have become more of an advocate of the moving around and the hands on bodily/kinesthetic learning this year. I believe it is an extremely powerful tool to use and incorporate, and it gets students motivated and engaged. I have also become a firm believer in thought and expression. I believe that education should not be laid out in a specific format, and that students should not be told how to think and what to think. I have benefited from having the experience where I am given a project and then told to develop it on my own. It is then that true learning happens. It happens at awkward moments, when you least expect it, and it is about topics that you think you would never be interested in. This is important to me. As I stated, this is when the true learning takes place. I think this is important for middle school students. We need to develop people who can be more independent thinkers and learners. It is important to have structure with some creative licensing to go where it takes them. I know this is hard to do with math, but I have been inspired by a couple of great professors at this University. (And, mind you, not professors in the math department.) But I hope that I can bring this into my classroom and encourage my math students to do the same. I think that would be another one of my questions. How can I effectively teach the math concepts so students will meet the standards, but still find a way in which I can teach them to think on their own, in a different way? How can I encourage deep thought?
I am excited for what is to come. I am more knowledgeable about this age group. I have many resources that I can take with me forever to come. I have gained some much insight and information that I feel as though I am ready to take on the world. (Well, I mean, I always was ready for that anyways.)