The following rationales and artifacts represent my growth, learning, and development as a teacher candidate and my understanding of how external factors can affect the learning of the students within my classroom. By engaging in active reflection regarding my teaching, I become more aware of how to tailor my skills, knowledge, and strategies to best meet the needs of students.
FE Reflection #1
The artifact I have selected which illustrates my ability to reflect and learn from classroom observation and student response and determine how to develop appropriate instructional responses is my Context for Learning Commentary, which I completed during and after my first Field Experience participation in ED 302. In this assignment, I gathered information about the surrounding environment, administered a learning styles survey, and explained various instructional methods I could use to develop lessons that would appeal to the students whose survey data is recorded and analyzed in various charts. The Commentary reflects the notes made during my observations, teacher explanations, inventory results, and appropriate responses, which are also reinforced with scholarly references and research. In reflecting on my observations, I am able to see how one must understand the learning environment and external factors that may affect learning in one's classroom.
The artifact that I have chosen that reflects my ability to reflect and evaluate my planning, teaching methodology, and assessment is my reflection following the first lesson I taught during my Practicum field experience. In this reflection, I discuss the results of my assessment, elements of my lesson plan that worked well, and how I would change it prior to re-teaching it. In reflecting on this experience, I am now more aware of areas that I can work to improve on and plan for during lesson construction to help my students learn to the best of their abilities without confusion.
The artifact I have chosen that shows my ability to recognize strengths and weaknesses in my lesson plans and teaching is my reflection following my five-day lesson sequence during my second Practicum field experience. As I filmed my teaching to analyze my methodology and interactions with students, my reflection discusses how I promoted a positive learning environment, built rapport with students, and identified revisions to the lesson sequence for future classes. By reflecting on these elements and having the opportunity to watch myself teach, I am able to grow as an educator and pay attention to various components the next time I teach.