Succeeding in Your Teacher Education Program--and Beyond

Concerns

I have several major concerns. First of all I fell nervous about being in front of a classroom full of students that I do not know. Also, I sometimes have a fear that I will not have a sufficient mastery of the content that I will be teaching.

Clearly the most prevalent area of conern for me is the "self" concern. I was not at all concerned about the "task" part. I suppose I would fit into the "informational" and "personal" category.

Improving Teachers and Schools, and School Reform

Experiences

Clearly the biggest experience that I hope to have in order to strengthen my resume is to graduate from UMF in my current program. The practicum block, student teaching, and other courses will further my desirability in the eyes of school admnistration. Adding these two steps are probably the most important.

Once I graduate from Farmington my real education will be just beginning, continued research and development is necessary in becoming an exceptional educator. I also hope to attend graduate school.

Thinking about Teaching and Learning

Information to include in my philosophy of education paper:

-A teacher's personal philosophy of education should always be changing and evolving. (Hall, Quinn, and Gollnick, 2008, p. 262)

-I suppose that I consider myself on the same page as Jerome Bruner and his discovery method. This stresses the development of thinking skills and problem solving abilities. The learner desires to understand what is being taught to them. I can also agree with Asubel however, just because material is "presented" instead of "discovered" does not make it any less meaningful. (p. 268)

-While writing my personal philosophy of education paper I should keep in mind that my ideas may be short lived and change in an instant. (p. 281)

References:

Hall, Quinn, and Gollnick. (2008). Thinking about Teaching and Learning. Joy of Teaching