Capacity 1
Engage in critical cycles of
action-reflection
to understand and develop practice
March 2012
I have realized that although I reflect all the time, or am a "reflecting machine", as I blogged last month...the truth is I do not do enough writing while reflecting...I keep a blog, and get to it about once per month...but i really feel like I need to get back to daily journaling. I really need to be more disciplined and do this.
Why?
Because I think I have really good ideas, thoughts and realizations, but I think I sometimes forget parts, or don't get to things & maybe this is because I haven't given those ideas enough attention since I haven't journaled them so that I can reflect on them properly?
February 2012
A quote from my blog:
I have been a reflecting machine lately. I have always thought of myself as pretty self aware. I think about things, reflect on lessons, talk with coworkers and all that really good stuff, but lately I have certainly upped the ante.
I am at a point in my career where it would be easy to start taking teaching for granted and just go with the flow/do the same old thing. I refuse to let this happen. I am determined to not be that kind of teacher. To not teach a lesson/unit the way that I have because it has worked before, but rather, to actively think about what I am doing, the rationale behind it and
adapt/shift/change as needed.
This term I have taught very differently.
(Read: I have taken a lot of risks.)
It is incredible! I love teaching more than ever! I have really pushed myself, including beginning genius hour in my classroom, blogging regularly with my students, encouraging students to BYOD and letting them take the reigns regarding what their reading projects and homework should look like.
I have let go of a lot of control, and it hasn't been easy. There are times when I think to myself, "what are you doing?" but thankfully those are out numbered by the times that I hear students say:
At the last Pro D Day, I went to a lecture given by David Warlick. He reminded us that
"This time of rapid change is forcing us, for the first time in decades to rethink education and what it means to be educated."
I think that is very important. We need to change the way we teach and perhaps sometimes try teaching less, and instead show our students how to teach themselves and each other.
This is my focus right now.
November 2011
I have had a student teacher this term. She is on her 13 week practicum and I have found this to be an excellent experience! She is my 2nd student teacher thus far. Anyway, having her in my class this term has been fabulous! I have enjoyed being her mentor and helping her improve her practice, but I also think that I have learned a lot through this process. At the end of every school day we sit together and she asks me questions...about why I did or said something...or how I designed my unit/lesson. Because she is so inquisitive I have really had to reflect on my practice so that she could understand why I was doing things...and through this I have begun to understand my practice even better as well. I have really enjoyed explaining why I teach things the way that I do...it has really made me more confident in my teaching (since I am confirming with myself that I do indeed do things for really good reasons).
October 2011
I am updating my website everyday & in a way this is a forced reflection time for me. As I type about me learning experiences I am able to think more deeply and critically about what it is I do in my practice.
I have realized that although I reflect all the time, or am a "reflecting machine", as I blogged last month...the truth is I do not do enough writing while reflecting...I keep a blog, and get to it about once per month...but i really feel like I need to get back to daily journaling. I really need to be more disciplined and do this.
Why?
Because I think I have really good ideas, thoughts and realizations, but I think I sometimes forget parts, or don't get to things & maybe this is because I haven't given those ideas enough attention since I haven't journaled them so that I can reflect on them properly?
February 2012
A quote from my blog:
I have been a reflecting machine lately. I have always thought of myself as pretty self aware. I think about things, reflect on lessons, talk with coworkers and all that really good stuff, but lately I have certainly upped the ante.
I am at a point in my career where it would be easy to start taking teaching for granted and just go with the flow/do the same old thing. I refuse to let this happen. I am determined to not be that kind of teacher. To not teach a lesson/unit the way that I have because it has worked before, but rather, to actively think about what I am doing, the rationale behind it and
adapt/shift/change as needed.
This term I have taught very differently.
(Read: I have taken a lot of risks.)
It is incredible! I love teaching more than ever! I have really pushed myself, including beginning genius hour in my classroom, blogging regularly with my students, encouraging students to BYOD and letting them take the reigns regarding what their reading projects and homework should look like.
I have let go of a lot of control, and it hasn't been easy. There are times when I think to myself, "what are you doing?" but thankfully those are out numbered by the times that I hear students say:
- "I know how to do that. Let me help you" to their classmate.
- Or, "can we comment on each other's blogs for homework?"
- And even, "let's look it up", as they pull out their own smart device.
At the last Pro D Day, I went to a lecture given by David Warlick. He reminded us that
"This time of rapid change is forcing us, for the first time in decades to rethink education and what it means to be educated."
I think that is very important. We need to change the way we teach and perhaps sometimes try teaching less, and instead show our students how to teach themselves and each other.
This is my focus right now.
November 2011
I have had a student teacher this term. She is on her 13 week practicum and I have found this to be an excellent experience! She is my 2nd student teacher thus far. Anyway, having her in my class this term has been fabulous! I have enjoyed being her mentor and helping her improve her practice, but I also think that I have learned a lot through this process. At the end of every school day we sit together and she asks me questions...about why I did or said something...or how I designed my unit/lesson. Because she is so inquisitive I have really had to reflect on my practice so that she could understand why I was doing things...and through this I have begun to understand my practice even better as well. I have really enjoyed explaining why I teach things the way that I do...it has really made me more confident in my teaching (since I am confirming with myself that I do indeed do things for really good reasons).
October 2011
I am updating my website everyday & in a way this is a forced reflection time for me. As I type about me learning experiences I am able to think more deeply and critically about what it is I do in my practice.
