Week 8

What is the most important thing you have learned during fieldwork observation?  Why?

Before volunteering in the classroom, I thought the most important quality for a teacher to have was to make learning fun. I assumed that children understood concepts better and wanted to learn if the teacher was funny, silly, and was friends with his/her students. However, I have found that when I try to be goofy and act silly with the kids, they walk all over me. Nothing is taken seriously in the classroom if you aren't serious yourself.
 The most important thing I've learned is that you cannot be an effective teacher unless you are prepared. There is more to teaching than what is seen during the seven hours of the day when the children are in the classroom. Great teachers put so much effort into their lessons. They go above and beyond what is required of them. I noticed that the teachers who go the extra mile have more smart, participative, successful students than the teachers who wing the lessons and are a bit unorganized.
I'm glad that I took this class! It was a great opportunity to be involved in the classroom and get a feel for what teaching is like. I'm eager to continue my education in the El.Ed program so I can become a school teacher.