January Update - My first week in EDUC 251!

It has been a while since I have given an update on my journey to becoming a teacher. The first week of classes has passed quickly and it is exciting to see all that I have learned already. This semester, I am taking a class on Effective Teaching and Learning. The first module was on the Effective Teaching and Learning Cycle. While going through the information in the module, two things stood out to me. The first was how much goes into planning a single lesson plan. I went through the process of planning a single lesson plan last semester in EDUC 250. Seeing the process written out, along with the steps for effective instruction and assessment was eye-opening. It took me nearly two months to perfect my lesson plan. In a few years, I will have lesson plans for every single day and the steps from the Effective Teaching and Learning Cycle will be happening every day, behind the scenes. While both of my parents are teachers, I still had no idea about how much goes into planning an effective lesson. I have a lot of respect for my former teachers who put so much into making sure that their students were learning. However, I do have some questions. When we step into the classroom in a few years, we will not have two months to perfect a single lesson plan. How can we ensure that we are following the steps in the teaching and learning cycle and planning effective lessons? How can we make sure that we are creating a positive learning environment for all of the learners that step into our classroom?

The second thing in the module that stood out to me was the information about unpacking standards. While looking through the module, I clicked on the hotlink and went through the website that explored unpacking standards. I remember unpacking my standard for EDUC 250 and I by no means thought about all that goes into effectively unpacking the standards. Unpacking the standards speaks to the essence of Standard 3a of the North Carolina Teacher Candidate Standards (NCTCS). This standard states that teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Part of this process is developing an understanding of what their students should know and be able to do as a result of the lesson plan. This is accomplished through unpacking standards. After exploring the website, I have a new appreciation for unpacking standards and how important that step is in the Effective Teaching and Learning Cycle. I am looking forward to applying what I have learned as I develop lesson plans this semester.

During the first week of class, I have also had learning experiences outside of EDUC 251. This semester, I am taking a class on Developmental Psychology which studies how humans develop and change from the womb to the tomb. Something the professor said in the first class has stayed with me. He talked about how Developmental Psychology was about understanding people and where they are in life and how their life experiences have affected their development and brought them to where they are today. He emphasized the importance of people. As a future teacher, I know that I will be teaching students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and religions. My students will have had different life experiences that affect them both inside and outside the classroom. It is important to be aware of the things students face so that we may better meet their needs. As Dr. Parker said in EDUC 250, “The average learner no longer exists.” The importance of this idea cannot be overstated. In my future classroom, I will use this idea and what I have learned in my psychology class to understand where my students are coming from and the different challenges they are faced with. A large part of Standard 4a of the NCTCS is understanding all of the influences that affect individual student learning including their development and culture. I will use my knowledge of child development in my classroom to influence my lesson planning and meet students wherever they are. I can also use this knowledge to understand their parents’ concerns and forge better parent-teacher relationships.

I have learned a lot during the first week of classes. I am beginning to see connections between my classes both inside and outside of the School of Education. Classes like Developmental Psychology have worked with my School of Education classes to continue shaping my learning and understanding of issues in Education. Standard 5b of the NCTCS says that teachers link their professional growth to their professional goals by participating in high-quality professional development. I had never considered the importance of this standard before now but it has helped shape my outlook of this new semester. With the ideas in Standard 5b in mind, I am looking at each experience this semester as an opportunity for professional development. Each class will be an opportunity to learn things that can potentially shape the way I think about Education and my classroom. I cannot wait to see how I will apply what I learn this semester and in my future classroom.