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REFLECTIONS ON TEACHING

Ø When teaching, remember students may learn more than you planned.

Ø When we want our students to be the creators of the future, why do we expect them to conform to the standards of today?

Ø Sometimes, the only way to motivate students is to let them know that you care and that you believe in them.

Ø Student success can really only be measured by evaluating improvement. Those who are standing still are not learning—even if they achieve the class objectives.

Ø Real education empowers students by helping them build communication and thinking skills.

Ø Education is not simply something that happens in classrooms.

Ø Occasionally, teachers are rewarded by seeing a spark in their students. After keeping a log for a research project, one of my students said, “Now I see why you asked us to do this!” She had learned to reflect on her experiences--both good and bad—to understand both the process and the information she had acquired.

Ø Teachers don’t know everything. They often learn from and with their students.

Ø In discussing classroom management with a class of teacher candidates, we talked about the importance of respect…a topic which made me think about what respect is. 
 
Respect is...
...not messing with someone else's stuff,
...treating people fairly,
...not being a bully,
...allowing all people to get their share of attention and to get the education they deserve,
...accepting someone who looks different or wears different clothes, has different beliefs and behaviors, has limited English proficiency, or comes from a different socio-economic background,
...not talking when someone else is talking,
...not acting in ways that you know are offensive to someone,
...acting in ways that are appropriate to the place and the occasion,
...trying to be the best person you can be because you respect yourself,
 

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