Final Reflection...

...of the semester.

Skimming through past entries from this semester, I wonder about how much I have changed or grown since January (I suppose that was the main purpose of maintaining a teaching blog). Much has happened in the months between the beginning of the semester and the end. The conclusion that I have reached is that I haven't changed as much as I have grown as a teacher.

I still hold true to the teaching metaphor posted months ago. The semester has further confirmed the need for teacher creativity, patience, and perseverence. I still love the thrill that a teacher experiences when a student learns or enjoys learning. However, I feel that my thoughts from the beginning of the semester were naive compared to where I am now (perhaps, naive is not quite the right word; perhaps less experienced and knowing would suit better).

I understood the demands of being a teacher to a degree, but teaching an entire unit was a bigger bite and taste of actual teaching. Yes, I understood that creativity is an important element to teaching and creating lesson plans. However, now I understand it to a greater degree of depth from the hours of thinking of ways to reach and engage all children in a classroom. I understood patience and perseverence, but it seems that this semester has been a bigger test and wear on them. This is especially the case considering the issues with my EDIS 530B field work in a self-contained special education classroom, and the management issues with the EDIS 488 work. At the same time, I better understand the thrill and joy from witnessing the fruits of my teaching efforts. I have experienced these emotions several times this semester.

Reflecting on my current place as a growing educator, I see that I am wiser and more experienced now than several months ago. I know more, am better equipped for teaching, and eager for more of those thrills.