Week Fifteen

This week concluded my time full time teaching. I enjoyed teaching full time so much that I don’t want to stop. I wish I could continue to teach my transitioning adults.

During my time as full time teaching I learned so much about teach special education. The biggest lesson I learned was to be flexible. Something that I pride myself in is my careful planning. While teaching my transitioning adults I learned that what I plan is not always what will happen. There were many lesson when I had to think on my toes and adjust my lessons according to the answers the students gave. For example, I taught a lesson about word problems with time. The lesson was all about adding time. For example:

If Jonny started his homework at 7:00 and spent 1:00 on his homework, what time did he finish his work?

My morning class caught on right away and was able to answer the questions without a problem. My afternoon class struggled with adding without a manipulative or something tangible. So, I had to think on my feet. I used the practice clock in the classroom to teach the students that when the big hand makes an entire rotation around the clock that one hour has passed. From there, I had to practice with the students to make sure they understood that rotating the big hand around the clock will help them answer the questions. I had to step away from my planning to help my students understand how to find an hour first.

Illinois Professional Teaching Standard 5 states, “The competent teacher differentiates instruction by using a variety of strategies that support critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and continuous growth and learning. This teacher understands that the classroom is a dynamic environment requiring ongoing modification of instruction to enhance learning for each student.” Performance Indicator 5J states that the competent teacher, “monitors and adjusts strategies in response to feedback from the student.” I have learned that my job is not plan excellent lessons, but to teach excellent lessons. The only way I can actually teach an excellent lesson is when my students are growing and learning meaningful content in a relevant and engaging way. My lessons may be planned perfectly, but if I am not flexible enough to adjust my lessons according to my student’s understanding then I am not teaching well at all.

I look forward to my last week of student teaching. I will spend a lot of time this week getting to observe other classroom with students that are lower functioning then my students. I also get to bring my students to my campus on a field trip this Tuesday. My students will be practicing their social and vocational skills by serving the students at my college cookies and hot chocolate.