Final Reflection

I found that communication has been important this semester; communicating with Frances with questions about class or any other matter. Also communicating with my students that I got to work with and explaining what their tasks was. Communication with other teachers, principal and staff is always important. I learned from one of my teachers to be nice to the librarian and to the custodian. They will be the ones to help with the classroom. I think this is good advice.

Researching vocabulary has boosted my understandings of being linguistic. Reading about the vocabulary words has helped me understand those that struggle with English as their second language. Watching my students at Apache Elementary work on their characters was research on their part and when they didn't researched, they suffered and they were wasting my time. I had to research my character also and it was fun because I knew only a small portion, but now I have greater respect for my character, my mother.

Being able to have my own web page has been exciting because it wasn't difficult to update my web page after each class. Also technology is communication through e-mails with class, registration and even communicating with our classmates. I received some help through the e-mail with my blog.

Being able to work with my classmates has help me to understand the course better. It was wonderful being able to listen to others of their experience especially working with our students. I listened to issues and answers to them. Being able to have a small class enriched my understanding and felt close to my classmates because I felt comfortable in asking for help. I hope my future students will be comfortable with me when they need help. We need to work together to be a good team.

I watched those students that just finished their student teaching walked in with confidence and independence the other day. I could almost "feel" their new gained knowledge. It was like they were saying, "I walked on the hot coals and now I am ready to teach." Now they can fly and some of them have jobs! This is what I am preparing for and to become independent and have more confidence. I also learned this semester to talk more, ask questions and not be afraid.

Looking up the vocabulary words has deepened my knowledge about being more diversed. I have heard some of those words, but didn't fully grasped the meaning until I looked them up and read on it.

Having and gaining knowledge is very important especially when one of the students would ask a question about something they don't understand. Knowledge is power and have to keep on learning; there is no end to learning.

I hope to be able to implement the skills and strategies that I have learned this semester into my student teaching. I see right now having skills and strategies for the classroom is important. Sometimes a student will not understand a concept that I taught; so I have to look for another strategy to help the student understand. This is part of being prepared for the unexpected becaue students are all different and having their own learning style.

Being able to become a permanent substitute teacher is preparing me for student teaching. Right now the lesson plans are written, but I have to write my own and using the teacher's lesson plans is helping me to know what to expect-a lot of hard work! Being in this classroom will be my prior knowledge when I student teach and I will be emerging with new experience after I finish my student teaching.