http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-learned-this-year.html
"What I've Learned This Year" by Dr. McClung
I immensely like this post because of how real and honest it is. I really feel like this gives us, as students, an insight to what our first year of teaching will most likely be like.
Dr. McClung says to be flexible, be communicative, be reasonable, don't be afraid of technology, and listen to your students. Obviously all of these are extremely important to a teacher and to a student. Being flexible is important with children because kids will be kids! We shouldn't gripe at children and make them feel uncomfortable all because we cannot be flexible. Dr. McClung says that communication is important in the workplace, and that it is the best way to resolve problems with co-workers.
I feel like being reasonable is something that takes time and practice to learn. Being a reasonable teacher will make the education of students easier to accomplish. Dr. McClung also talks about how adults are so afraid of technology. After being in EDM 310 for a few months, I have come to agree with his statement. I myself have been some what afraid of technology in general. That isn't going to be possible in my generation any longer.
Listen to your students is probably what hit me the hardest in Dr. McClung's post. I liked how he inserted into the post where the child answers that he or she knows the teacher cares about him or her because "he listens to me". Wow! As a preschool teacher, I wonder how many of my children would say that about me! This has given me something to think about, and it's made me realize what I need to work on.
The last thing he said was to "never stop learning". I love this statement! I have always assumed that once I get my degree, that I will know everything. Oh but how quickly I have realized that is NOT the case. We will always learn something new everyday, especially in the world of educating young minds.
"Our job as teachers is to simply pick them up after they fail, dust them off, and encourage them to try again." This is my all time favorite quote from the blog post. In closing, this has been one of the more enjoyable posts I have read. I feel like I can relate to it and can make myself better from it.
Krysten, I am so glad I got assigned to read your blog this week! But I'm even more excited to comment on this blog post. I completely agree with your assessment of Mr. McClung's post. I believe that the things he said give us a real inside look to what it means to be a first year teacher. This quote, "Our job as teachers is to simply pick them up after they fail, dust them off, and encourage them to try again" was also my favorite quote from the post. I feel like it truly describes our job as future educators. Keep up the good work on your blog! I hope to hear from you soon.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted that you realize that you will never know everything. Some people think they already know everything!
ReplyDeleteListening is also vital. Even with 2 year olds! I'm glad that caught your attention.
Mr. McClung's most important contribution, I think, is in what he did. He engaged in (and is still doing) honest, public, self reflection. That is what we want you to do!