The above image is a lesson that I taught following a skill builder that simulated planning a camping trip. I brought in props and we created a campfire to read around in the classroom. Although this lesson was informal, the students really enjoyed learning more about the outdoors and made many observations like a science, which tied to our science unit perfectly.

           The first lesson that I taught was the resource mapping with my fifth grade students in my inquiry block placement. This lesson was meticulously planned, down to the groups used and the placement of those groups in the room. The second lesson that I taught was the TGMI of fractions with my third graders in my literacy block placement. This lesson was more of a ‘think on your feet’ lesson.

            Although both lessons showcase what I am good at, I believe that the second lesson shows how I have grown as a teacher. From my placement in EDEL 56, to inquiry to literacy, I have become so much more relaxed in front of the students and the teaching has become more natural to me. In the first lesson, everything was scripted and when I took center stage, I was extremely nervous. I felt like the students, my mentor teacher, and my supervisor, were judging me. The other lesson that I taught, I was much more relaxed in the classroom, and I felt like my teaching was seamless within the day.

            In the second lesson, the words were just flowing and the teaching came to me without much thought. I believe that this comes with time, and in learning how to approach the students. In the first lesson, I was still figuring out how I could talk to the students and I had to plan out everything I would say ahead of time. By the time I taught the second lesson, I had more experience under my belt and I was more comfortable in the general setting of the classroom.

            I believe that this has had a big impact on the student learning. Because I am more comfortable and the words come more naturally, I feel like I am doing a better job of explaining things and making sure that the students understand the concept. During the first lesson, I was more worried about pulling off the lesson and being watched than I was about the learning that was taking place in the classroom. By the time I taught the second lesson, I was truly concerned about what the students were going to take away from the lesson and if I had done a thorough job explaining the concepts to them.

            As I have gained experience, I have gained the understanding of student learning and continuously try to enhance the student learning with each lesson that I teach. I believe that with each lesson I teach, they teach me a lesson of how I could do it better the next time. I have become more reflective in my teaching and truly wonder how I could make it better the next time.

            Since I have become more comfortable, I feel like the students are learning more because they are receiving information that flows more naturally. I am also planning lessons that suits their needs better then my previous lessons. I am thoughtful about the way I plan my lessons so that the students are benefitting the greatest amount.

            I believe that my greatest strength in providing opportunities for all students lies within the fact that I plan meaningful lessons for all of the students. These lessons take into account what they already know and where I want them to go next. Each of the lessons that I teach aim to bring the students to the next level; which helps the students to meet or exceed the standards because I am building off what they already know and giving them new information in a fun and interesting way.

            As I have stated, my biggest challenge will be to know where to draw the line in differentiation and creativity. I tend to get carried away while planning lessons and differentiating for different learners. I will find it challenging to differentiate to a point that is suitable, but not to a point where I am teaching twenty different lessons in my classroom. I also want to keep my creativity in check. I am willing to take risks, but it will be a challenge to see where that line needs to be drawn so I am not creating so much work for myself that I will get burnt out.