Week Nine

This week came like a flood of emotions as I concluded my time at my fifth grade placement. It’s unbelievable how fast the time flew and how much I have grown in that time. While learning and growing with my fifth graders, my philosophy was put to the test along with my classroom management and my patience.

Teaching in a Title 1 school has taught me so much more about teaching than I think I could’ve learned at any other school. Each of my students were incredibly different. Each had different interests, families, income, cultures, and abilities. Every day I had to seek out ways to connect the content to each student and make it meaningful. Although it was a lot of planning and intentional inclusion of culture, interests, and content, I loved every minute because every day I saw a light bulb go off or a spark be ignited. My students are so unique and deserved to be taught in a way that serviced each of them individually.

In the process of differentiating on many levels I learned about teaching styles. Coming into this placement I knew that group work was important, however, I didn’t see how important it really is. I knew that research supports cooperative learning, but I hadn’t seen its benefits until teaching my fifth graders. Allowing students to work in groups help them gain independence and enhances their learning because they get to take charge. I am convinced that teaching using a stations model where students rotate between several stations is a very effective way for students practice and apply skills while also learning crucial independence skills. This method of teaching also allows for small group teaching where a teacher can work with a small group of 3 or 4 students. Research shows that many students learn best in a small group setting.

Illinois Professional Teaching Standard 4 Performance Indicator K states that the competent teacher, “uses strategies to create a smoothly functioning learning community in which students assume responsibility for themselves and one another, participate in decision-making, work collaboratively and independently, use appropriate technology, and engage in purposeful learning activities.” Using station teaching allows for students to be independent and take control of their own learning and be a apart of a team. I have learned how to implement stations in a meaningful and engaging way.

I continue this wonderful journey of becoming a teacher by beginning my placement in a Special Education classroom with students ages 18-21. While I am aware that the students I will be teaching are vastly different from my fifth graders, I am ready to learn and grow in a new environment with my new students.