After reading Joe McClung’s posts, I feel that I have learned a lot. I am very grateful that he decided to share his experiences since he has begun teaching. He has learned a lot by his own experiences that they don’t teach you in school.
Joe McClung gave a list of thing that he learned from his first year of teaching in his What I’ve Learned This Year 2008-2009 post. As he has mentioned, teachers sometimes forget to check and see how their students comprehend the material. They become too focused on how the material is being delivered. We need to remember to make sure the students understand. Also, he says that lessons don’t always go the way you have them planned. He says that this is going to happen and it’s okay. Another point he made, and I think it is a valid one, is to not be afraid to use technology in your classroom. Even if we aren’t the best with computers, we need to try. Students in these days grow up surrounded by technology. It could make material more relatable to them if we incorporate it into the classroom. Joe McClung mentioned at the end of this post that we should never stop learning. This makes a lot of sense. We obviously don’t know everything. We should try and learn as much as we can.
In his What I’ve Learned This Year 2010-2011 post Joe McClung says that we need to make certain that our decisions are centered around the student and not centered around pleasing other adults. He says that he is an outsider because he spends less time with the other teachers and faculty and more time with his students. He says that he is happy with the teacher that he has become. Another point he makes is to not get too comfortable. Many times when teachers have been teaching for a few years, they fall into a routine. Educators need to try and help make changes in the schools.
Joe McClung has learned a lot during his three years of teaching. I am glad that I have read his reflections of his teaching. By reading these posts I have learned even more. It is really neat that by him reflecting on his own learning, he has been able to help teach others and let them know a little more what to expect when they get into teaching in their own classrooms.
Hello Emily,
ReplyDeleteIt is really great that Mr. McClung shared his experiences with us. We can take classes and practice teaching all we can, but nothing makes up for real world experience. Good work.