Learning to Teach By Observing Teachers
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/3/1/24311532/8746453_orig.jpg)
Overview
I believe one of the best ways for me to learn to be a teacher, is by observing other teachers and learning from them. I completed 30 hours of field experience this semester that helped shape me into the teacher I want to be, the best teacher I can be. I learn when I observe classes with excellent teachers, who have their classes run very smoothly, and where the students excel, just as much as I learn from chaotic classrooms. Field experience, and reflecting on the experience, is a way that teachers can improve. Good teachers are always becoming better teachers and field experience is a way that teachers can do this.
I believe one of the best ways for me to learn to be a teacher, is by observing other teachers and learning from them. I completed 30 hours of field experience this semester that helped shape me into the teacher I want to be, the best teacher I can be. I learn when I observe classes with excellent teachers, who have their classes run very smoothly, and where the students excel, just as much as I learn from chaotic classrooms. Field experience, and reflecting on the experience, is a way that teachers can improve. Good teachers are always becoming better teachers and field experience is a way that teachers can do this.
Skills and Insights Gained
For this course I was required to complete 30 hours of field experience. Fifteen of those hours were completed in Bronx High School of Science, and fifteen of them were completed at In-Tech. These schools were very different from one another. The Bronx High School of science had students who were very smart, and well behaved. While at In-Tech, students needed explanations multiple times and there were some behavior problems. Having field experience in both of these schools were very beneficial to me and I really enjoyed it.
At the Bronx High School of science, I sat in different math courses including AP Statistics, AP Calculus, geometry, and a very interesting math elective called the Math Team. I also observed three different teachers, including Ms. Karavitis, Mr. Cheung, and Mr. ReutershanSat in classes for all teachers and all topics listed above. At In-tech Academy I did my field experience in Mr. Romero’s 6th grade math classes. He had an honors class, followed by a special ed class where two other teachers would come in and help out by working with some students who needed extra help or attention. While in this class, I did the following things:
· Listened to the lessons, and observed the teacher and students in the class.
· Looked at the worksheets they were completing, and how the classes were run.
· Talked to different teachers and discussed their classes and instruction.
· Took notes about what I saw and noticed in the classes, so that I could reflect on them.
For this course I was required to complete 30 hours of field experience. Fifteen of those hours were completed in Bronx High School of Science, and fifteen of them were completed at In-Tech. These schools were very different from one another. The Bronx High School of science had students who were very smart, and well behaved. While at In-Tech, students needed explanations multiple times and there were some behavior problems. Having field experience in both of these schools were very beneficial to me and I really enjoyed it.
At the Bronx High School of science, I sat in different math courses including AP Statistics, AP Calculus, geometry, and a very interesting math elective called the Math Team. I also observed three different teachers, including Ms. Karavitis, Mr. Cheung, and Mr. ReutershanSat in classes for all teachers and all topics listed above. At In-tech Academy I did my field experience in Mr. Romero’s 6th grade math classes. He had an honors class, followed by a special ed class where two other teachers would come in and help out by working with some students who needed extra help or attention. While in this class, I did the following things:
· Listened to the lessons, and observed the teacher and students in the class.
· Looked at the worksheets they were completing, and how the classes were run.
· Talked to different teachers and discussed their classes and instruction.
· Took notes about what I saw and noticed in the classes, so that I could reflect on them.
Lessons Learned
I believe one of the best ways to learn how to be a teacher, is by observing teachers. While observing other teachers and classes, I get to see things I like that teachers do, and things that I don't like. I get to see techniques that work, and techniques that don't work. Since the Bronx High school of Science and In-Tech were so different, I found this even more beneficial. Also, withing the Bronx High School of Science, each teacher was very different and taught in different ways. By noticing the things I like and don't like, I am shaping myself as a teacher. I learn things I want to do as a teacher, and I also learn things I want to avoid as a teacher. With diversity in my field experience, I get to learn from many different teachers and have many different experiences to use when I decide how I am going to teach my classes in the future.
For example, I really liked how one teacher had students go up to the board and write solutions to questions they were working on and explain their answers to the class, which is something I really want to do as a teacher. I also saw some specific activities that the students completed, one being a gallery walk in Mr. Romero's 6th grade math class. The students worked in groups to complete a problem, taped their diagram up on the wall, and then walked around to the other groups like at an art gallery, looking at their diagrams and writing on their diagrams different information they see from the pictures. Now after these observation hours, I am able to consider using these activities when I am a teacher since I saw them go well. There were also things I observed that I didn't like. One thing in particular, is that when even one student would not understand a problem, Mr. Romero would talk to that student until they understood it. Even though it is important to have all of your students succeed, during this time other students in the class were getting annoyed, bored, talking to their friends, or even laughing at the student who did not understand the problem. As a teacher, this is not something I would do, instead I would work with that student more privately if they needed more help than the rest of the students.
I believe one of the best ways to learn how to be a teacher, is by observing teachers. While observing other teachers and classes, I get to see things I like that teachers do, and things that I don't like. I get to see techniques that work, and techniques that don't work. Since the Bronx High school of Science and In-Tech were so different, I found this even more beneficial. Also, withing the Bronx High School of Science, each teacher was very different and taught in different ways. By noticing the things I like and don't like, I am shaping myself as a teacher. I learn things I want to do as a teacher, and I also learn things I want to avoid as a teacher. With diversity in my field experience, I get to learn from many different teachers and have many different experiences to use when I decide how I am going to teach my classes in the future.
For example, I really liked how one teacher had students go up to the board and write solutions to questions they were working on and explain their answers to the class, which is something I really want to do as a teacher. I also saw some specific activities that the students completed, one being a gallery walk in Mr. Romero's 6th grade math class. The students worked in groups to complete a problem, taped their diagram up on the wall, and then walked around to the other groups like at an art gallery, looking at their diagrams and writing on their diagrams different information they see from the pictures. Now after these observation hours, I am able to consider using these activities when I am a teacher since I saw them go well. There were also things I observed that I didn't like. One thing in particular, is that when even one student would not understand a problem, Mr. Romero would talk to that student until they understood it. Even though it is important to have all of your students succeed, during this time other students in the class were getting annoyed, bored, talking to their friends, or even laughing at the student who did not understand the problem. As a teacher, this is not something I would do, instead I would work with that student more privately if they needed more help than the rest of the students.
Importance
This experience was very important for me to have. It helped me learn many thing about the way I want to teach in the future. It is important for me to have the most experience in a classroom that I can, and to see as many different classrooms as I can. As I said before, I believe one of the best ways for me to learn how to be a teacher, is by observing other teachers. This experience will aid me in becoming the best teacher I can be.
It is important for me to have a lot of field experience, because it will help me be an extraordinary teacher. One day soon, I am going to be responsible for many children. It is my desire to be able to connect with my students, encourage my students, help them discover how wonderful mathematics is, and help them have confidence and motivation to study mathematics. This observation allows me to see how other teachers are able to do this, and hopefully fulfill this desire.
This experience was very important for me to have. It helped me learn many thing about the way I want to teach in the future. It is important for me to have the most experience in a classroom that I can, and to see as many different classrooms as I can. As I said before, I believe one of the best ways for me to learn how to be a teacher, is by observing other teachers. This experience will aid me in becoming the best teacher I can be.
It is important for me to have a lot of field experience, because it will help me be an extraordinary teacher. One day soon, I am going to be responsible for many children. It is my desire to be able to connect with my students, encourage my students, help them discover how wonderful mathematics is, and help them have confidence and motivation to study mathematics. This observation allows me to see how other teachers are able to do this, and hopefully fulfill this desire.