Final+Reflection

**Final Reflection**  I started this class with little expectations and lots of hope. I didn’t know what to expect! I wasn’t sure what my teaching experience would bring, although I was excited to learn. I was hopeful that this class would help coach me through my teaching experience, so that I could learn new ways to become a better teacher. I expected that this class would involve lots of sharing during class time so that everyone in the class could reflect on their personal teaching experiences. During class I also expected that we would share some of our prepared lessons, as well as create several lesson plans for Dr.Pyatt. A lot of my expectations proved true, however, I learned more in the class than I anticipated.  As I look back on my experience in this class, I appreciate the things that we learned using technology. Wikispace, as well as our learning modules, learning cases, and handouts from helpful websites in class, will all hopefully help me in the future. I think one of the most helpful assignments in this class was the Learning Model assignment. I loved learning about the Montessori Method. The Montessori Method is one that I’ve always been interested in, and this class forced me to do my own research on it. I learned that I agree with a lot of principles involved in the Montessori Method, and would love to incorporate them into my own teaching. Both the Montessori and Discovery Method made me think more about how to intrinsically motivate my students by creating a self-discovery learning environment. I’ve already found these models helpful in my junior high “Intro to Music” class.  The other assignment that I found very helpful was the Inquiry-Based Lesson assignment. Dr. Pyatt’s models in class helped me to think of more creative ideas on how to present new information through inquiry learning. I think that this type of learning is particularly important in music, because building on your own personal musical experiences is an essential aspect of learning music. I plan on using my inquiry-based lesson in my 4th-grade recorder classes.  In the end, I do think that this class helped coach me through my teaching experiences. However, I think that it would have been more beneficial to have time designated each class for everyone to go around and bring up an issue, or perhaps read a paragraph reflection to the class, in order to spark conversation amongst our peers. It seemed that usually only 2 students were discussing their issues in class, and I think it would have been helpful for everyone to share, because talking through our experiences helps us to reflect on them. Although our reflections on Wikispace were helpful, I think group discussions, followed by written reflections, would have been more beneficial. As I begin my full-time teaching in January, I will using my lesson planning skills, which I developed in this class, to be the most organized teacher that I can be. Through my teaching experiences this quarter, I’ve learned that I feel the most confident and stress-free when I come into teaching prepared and organized.