Reflect & Connect 1: The Rookie Teacher

Being a teacher is about helping students in their journey to become literate members of society while also, being the best versions of themselves. A teacher has their hand in a child’s life that will grow up to change the world in some way. Teachers also have a big role in the social development of their students. Students that are socially acclimated to their surrounding will succeed more than a student who struggles to communicate with their peers. Growing up, I wasn’t the most social child. I struggled to communicate with other students at first, but my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Butte helped bring me out of my shell. After spending the school year with her, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. Without this Mrs. Butte giving me the attention that I needed during this early year of my life, my success in the classroom would not be anywhere close to where it is today. Last year during my field experience at Dover Elementary School made me realize that I wanted to teach in the low-income areas. These students do not have a lot but their attitude and determination about learning is infectious. I want to be the person that helps sets these students up to thrive. They should not be put in a box because of where they come from. These students need to know that, with a little hard work, they can accomplish anything that they set their mind too.

My CT has been a tremendous help with getting me acclimated to teaching in her classroom. There are so many wonderful things I have learned from her classroom management style that I will be taking to my own class. One thing that I realized while watching my CT during my first full day in the classroom is that being a confidant for your students is important to their success. You never know what a student has going on at home. An example is one of the students lashes out every day about minor things but learning more about this child, one of his parents isn’t in the picture and the other hasn’t created the strongest home environment for him. As a teacher, you might be the only stable and encouraging individual in a child’s life. When you are able to connect with your children, you will see a difference in how they perform for you in the classroom.

Current experiences that have stood out as important to my understanding of being a teacher isn’t much of the academic side, but more of the social side of helping the kids get adapted to the classroom. Working with kindergartners, my CT pointed out to me that this is a time to help the students get acclimated to meeting new friends and help them verbalize how they feel to each other. She encouraged these students to use their words with each other instead of coming to her first. I have found this extremely important because without this social interaction between the students, they would have a hard time growing academically as well.

Looking through the Florida Educators Accomplished Practice list, I can see how every one of these is important to a positive and successful learning environment for each student. Teachers do not get enough credit for all that they do. The media is known to paint teachers in such a negative light due to the few teachers that do not care to uphold the moral and ethical code that they are to be held by. I enjoy seeing when teachers get the praise that they deserve because I now understand all the hard work that goes into this profession. I am excited to be a part of this rewarding career and motivate students to be the best versions of themselves every day.

TEACHER...

Tough

Energetic

Accepting

Confident

Helpful

Engaging

Responsible

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