Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Learning to teach, teaching to learn
The last few weeks I like many of you have been working on my application to get into the special education program. Something that I found very interesting was the autobiographical essays that we had to do. The one I found most interesting was the one about how we would respond when we don't agree with what a teacher does. As I worked on that essay I was not quite sure why this was a topic that we had to write on. As I thought more and more about it I came to the realization that maybe one reason they had us write it was to see what kind of attitude we have as teachers. I think they were trying to see if we are the kind of people that think we know it all and don't need help from anyone else or if we are the kind of people that try our best to learn and grow. I think in order to be a good teacher we have to always be a student. I am sure that throughout our careers we are going to experience differences in opinion with other teachers but I think how we react is a reflection on what kind of teacher we are. I think it is critical to avoid the attitude that we are better than everyone else or that we know more than everyone else. Many of you know that my mother is a special education teacher. Throughout the years she has had many student teachers. She has told me that many of them are good but also that many of them come right out of college thinking they know it all and they act like my mother is a horrible teacher just becuase they may have a difference in opinion. We are all in the stage now of learning how to become good teachers and someday we will have to be either a student teacher or a intern. I think that we always need to remember that even though we may have gone through the classes and gotten credit to be a teacher that does not mean that the learning stops. This article is about a young teacher that just started out on her first job. I think that this is something all of us are going to be going through and I think that her story is a good model for us to follow. After you read this article I would like to hear your opinion about the question that was asked in the autobiographical essay. As a brand new teacher that is always trying to learn from others and get better what is an appropriate way to solve a disagreement with another teacher? Do we act like know it alls and completely disregard the other teacher or do we try our best to learn from the teacher despite our differences? I think that there is always something positive to be learned from others. Life is a process and not an event and we always need to try to learn from others. Here is the link http://teachers.net/wong/MAR10/
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I struggled with this part of the autobiographical essays. I think that while an intern, or a new teacher, it is best to be as flexible and agreeable as possible. There are exceptions to this rule however. I had an experience where I had exhausted all appropriate resources within my job and for the protection of my camper had to go out on a limb and act on my own accord. While I believe that authority is to be respected, and policy is to be complied with, there are times when we will know best. I think that it is important that if we feel strongly about something, we discuss it until we feel at peace. It is vital that we ask the experienced individuals why they feel the way they do, or do things they way they do so that we completely understand their thinking and are not going through the motions. I really enjoyed this! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI agree, that essay was a difficult one. I definitely had never experienced that, and so I had to imagine myself in the situation and predict how I would react. I think the article was a good example of how people should react when confronted with the unexpected. She looked to all sources she could think of in order to learn how to handle her new class. I think that's exactly what we as teachers should do, whether we're new or have been teaching for 30 years. I do think that generally, people should follow their superiors because generally, they know what to do. We as teachers really do need to be active learners because I'm guessing most of the time, we won't find what to do in one of our college textbooks, and so we should listen and learn from those around us. In the end, of course it's up to you to judge what is best, and the time may come that you could be the one who is right, but always, we should be open to help.
ReplyDeleteI think that an appropriate way to solve a disagreement with another teacher is to be humble and try to see their point of view as well. If discussing the issue and trying to see each other’s sides does not work, then agree to disagree. All classrooms will not run the same because every teacher, and all of their students are unique. The atmosphere and dedication will vary from class to class. I think that acting like a know-it-all is never a good idea because our purpose for being here is to learn and grow and if we knew everything, that would contradict our goal. The more we know, the more we realize the actuality of how little we really do know and how much we need to learn. Therefore, I think it would be best to learn from the teacher despite our differences and respect their experience and knowledge. I think that it is also important to realize that our differences are what allow us to be individuals and the reason we have the opportunity to learn from each other and experience new ideas and techniques. I really liked the quote in the article that stated that, “The most successful teachers are the ones who steal everything they can get, and share everything that they have learned.” It is not a race to become the best teacher, but rather a process of building each other up and keeping our minds open to the ideas and motivations of others.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the best way to learn anything in life is through example. From walking, as a baby, to teaching, as an adult, looking to those who have achieved what you hope to achieve and following their lead will bring success. When teaching I believe it is very important to do as the teacher did in this article; to find someone who did a wonderful job or is doing a great job and to take advice from and mimic them in your own teaching. When disagreements arise if the way you are teaching is proven to work well by those whom you look up to and copy, then you will have firm evidence to support your style or teaching decision. I also believe it is necessary to look at the other teachers perspective in comparison to your own. Whose argument has been proven to have greater success in the classroom? As teachers we must be willing to learn and adopt ideas from others if they will be more beneficial to the children in out classroom.
ReplyDeleteI think that we can learn so much from our differences with others, whether we agree with them or not. We can learn knew knowledge or teaching techniques or we can learn how to work with someone that we may not get along with. I have not had much trouble getting along with others but there have been a few times when I did not agree with someone else and there has been controversy. It has always been hard for me because I hate controversy and over the years I have had to teach myself how to approach and to confront someone else (I used to just ignore whatever it was and leave it at that). It is not healthy to not talk an argument out with another person. I have learned to approach these moments with an open mind and kind heart. I need to listen to the other person and then share my feelings with them as well. This has proven very successful in creating an understanding and healthier relationships and well when it doesn't work "we agree to disagree".
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is always good to have an open mind. If there is a disagreement with another teacher it is important to consider their opinion and see if it would be possible to try what they suggest. Even if all of what the teacher says is not applicable or not reasonable, there still may be parts of their idea that can be useful. If you need, you can get other teachers opinions. It is always important to consider other options. I don't think that we should automatically disregard what they say if at first we do not agree. We can always learn from others.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I took most from this post was the importance of being willing to re-evaluate yourself and change when necessary. We often get frustrated with others and their differing opinions, and fail to take a step back and look at the situation from another's perspective. When we do this though, we are able to become submissive to new, sometimes better methods and can often times benefit from another's opinion. I am not meaning to say that you shouldn't stand firm in your own opinions and beliefs, I am saying that it is important to respect and appreciate the opinions of other people.. I think as new teacher's especially, it's important to approach situations with a learning attitude. Becoming a good teacher is a process, and I think that those experienced teachers we will work with in the future will understand this more than anyone else. So there is no reason we should feel the need to "prove" ourselves by acting like we know everything. We don't. And that is perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteThe thing i liked most about this article was when it talked about Erin Grewell and what she did with her students. I completely agree that when we become teachers, we also need to be students as well. Being new teachers, we still will have so much to learn from the experiences of others and our own. Grewell did what she thought would bring the most success in her class and became a student too. Teachers need to have postive attitudes and an open mind when facing difficulties. Acting like know it alls, will get you no where. The best thing we as new teachers can do go into situations with an open mind and a willingness to learn from others.
ReplyDeleteThis essay question you're asking about was the hardest one for me to answer as well because, honestly, I wasn't sure what the "correct" answer should be. However, I just took an example from my experience and wrote about it. There was a time I didn't agree with the plan of action, but after talking with my supervisor and realizing the reasoning behind the plan I understood better. I think it's important to have communication among teachers. I was able to explain my reasoning and then listen to my supervisors'. As a new teacher, I think it's best to listen to more experienced teachers around you. It's a great opportunity to learn from those around you who have gone through the situations you are now facing.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting because my brother is currently student teaching right now and I have had other family members go into education and have also student taught. Much of what I hear from them is that they often have to bite their tongue about the way that the teacher they observe does things. I believe there is a lot to be learned from others and that we should always work together for the good of the student. Teachers who have taught for some time have either become burnt out sometimes or have really developed good strategies for teaching or have just gotten into a rut of doing things and don't always see a need for change. We all go through this, but in different parts of our lives. We should be helping the teacher learn some things that they probably didn't when they went to school, but at the same time learn from the teacher who has been in the classroom longer than we have.
ReplyDeleteI liked this question. It really made me think about how to work with people and get through differences. I think it is best to not to argue. If a there is a disagreement opinions should always be respected. I would ask why there idea is better so that I can understand their thinking and hopefully help me understand why it is better. If I implemented the task or whatever the disagreement is about and found that it is not working or else still do not agree then I would do my research. I would look up and decide on better options. Then I would present my reasoning and if there was still an issue then I would do the task and wait for the day I get my own class and do not have to do this task. I really enjoyed the article and the new teacher’s strategies for improving the classroom as well as teaching. I agree that we have to be students. Learn from everyone, especially the students, to figure out the best techniques. I still learn things from students and teachers I have been working with for three years.
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