As a teacher, at the end of each six weeks, I take time to reflect on my teaching: How I taught. What I taught. Do I feel I was effective? Did my students learn anything? About school? About life? And finally, I try to find my areas of opportunity. I search for answers to these questions vigorously because I've learned that through mistakes we learn to gather wisdom about how to improve.
One thing I had to learn not to do is blame. I cannot blame my students for issues I know I have. I cannot blame illness or unexpected events to hinder my progress. And I cannot blame life for not finding resources or information I need to "be great." To prevent even going down that path, I have to humble myself enough to know that I, too, err. And so do they.
A few things I learned this last six weeks is that no matter what, I'm the teacher and they are the students. Period. But to that end, personalities abound! Even when you think they know you, or you think you know them, you realize, neither of you really do. (There are a few exceptions: In the past, I have been highly successful at forging relationships with my students. Many have taken me to college with them, in spirit, as their mentor or confidant.)
On the other hand, what I have also learned is that, people have become so desensitized that sometimes good intention is erroneously decoded as attack. I blame it on technology and social media. While it is absolutely a beneficial and useful tool, it is computerizing our brains and causing us not to think holistically. Instead, we react defensively, even when our gut tells us otherwise. We have to be told what to think, how to think, when to think, and how to react because, on our own, we've forgotten how. Humanitarianism is becoming extinct it seems.
How do you grow? Do you look within and constantly reflect upon your behavior, your actions, and your thoughts? Do you blame everyone else, life and/or your circumstances? Are you always a victim? Do you look in the mirror, admonish your mistakes, then devise a plan to improve? Or do you look in the mirror, look away like the woman in the mirror above, then walk away the same you?
Nevertheless, I hope you do take some time to reflect, re-evaluate and reboot who you are: how you behave, how you function in conjunction with others, and how you intend to act or react in your near future. It's the only way we can grow.
Read the commentary above, then BRIEFLY explain your reflections and areas of opportunity for the next six weeks.
1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.
2. Respond in no more than SEVEN sentences and no less than FIVE.
3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.
Be sure to--
CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, the district, or your parents with tasteless, meaningless comments.
DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing. One post. Two responses.
Due: Fri., October 28, 2018 11:59 p.m. CST
One thing I had to learn not to do is blame. I cannot blame my students for issues I know I have. I cannot blame illness or unexpected events to hinder my progress. And I cannot blame life for not finding resources or information I need to "be great." To prevent even going down that path, I have to humble myself enough to know that I, too, err. And so do they.
A few things I learned this last six weeks is that no matter what, I'm the teacher and they are the students. Period. But to that end, personalities abound! Even when you think they know you, or you think you know them, you realize, neither of you really do. (There are a few exceptions: In the past, I have been highly successful at forging relationships with my students. Many have taken me to college with them, in spirit, as their mentor or confidant.)
On the other hand, what I have also learned is that, people have become so desensitized that sometimes good intention is erroneously decoded as attack. I blame it on technology and social media. While it is absolutely a beneficial and useful tool, it is computerizing our brains and causing us not to think holistically. Instead, we react defensively, even when our gut tells us otherwise. We have to be told what to think, how to think, when to think, and how to react because, on our own, we've forgotten how. Humanitarianism is becoming extinct it seems.
How do you grow? Do you look within and constantly reflect upon your behavior, your actions, and your thoughts? Do you blame everyone else, life and/or your circumstances? Are you always a victim? Do you look in the mirror, admonish your mistakes, then devise a plan to improve? Or do you look in the mirror, look away like the woman in the mirror above, then walk away the same you?
Nevertheless, I hope you do take some time to reflect, re-evaluate and reboot who you are: how you behave, how you function in conjunction with others, and how you intend to act or react in your near future. It's the only way we can grow.
Read the commentary above, then BRIEFLY explain your reflections and areas of opportunity for the next six weeks.
1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.
2. Respond in no more than SEVEN sentences and no less than FIVE.
3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.
Be sure to--
- Be clear about your position
- Provide specific support for your argument
- Use rhetorical devices and other grammar elements
- Write EPIC Content: Engaging, Powerful, Informative, Creative
CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, the district, or your parents with tasteless, meaningless comments.
DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing. One post. Two responses.
Due: Fri., October 28, 2018 11:59 p.m. CST
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