Reflective Teachers (week 16)

*Chapter Summary*

This week we covered our last chapter in our Educational Psychology book. The chapter was full of information about becoming a better teacher through reflection. The book encourages the use of student evaluations and suggestions. Another technique or way of evaluation is the use of self-evaluation or peer e valuations. This can be done through the use of classroom observations, audiotaped lessons, videotaped lessons, reflective lesson plans, and the use of guided reflective protocol.

Another suggestion for becoming a reflective teacher is to develop a reflective journal. This, according to the text, can serve two purposes. One, to serve as a bank of lesson plans and ideas that you have developed or learned from another source, and two, it can provide you a format to record your observations and reflections on teaching.

The text goes on to discuss how to use a portfolio with your journal, and even lists examples of what to include within your own portfolio. As the chapter comes to an end, as usual, technology is incorporated into the lesson. In this case, we are encouraged to use discussion forums and chat rooms. Personally, I think using a blog to record my thoughts will be the way I go. However, I definitely see the benefit of talking with others interested in the same field as I.



*Changes*

One of the main changes in me that this class has attributed to is my willingness to take a stand on issues I feel passionately about. I have always been willing to listen to another's opinions, but when it came time to defend my own, I was shy. I think throughout this course, when any of my thoughts or feeling have been challenged in the discussion boards, or what have you, I have defended them.

Another of the changes made in me as a perspective teacher is the expansion of my ideas and creativity for lesson plans. In this course we have had to develop lesson plans which required certain material - whether it be specific themes, being accessible to all students, etc., I feel like I have done a good job in doing so.



*Statement of the Week*

This week is exhausting. I have seven finals to study for on top of actual class work. I am ready for this semester to come to an end, but hope that I can continue working with some of the people I have met throughout this whole semester. I look forward to my educational courses and to the grand finale … my own classroom!