Five Dimensions of Learning

Confidence and Independence- Confidence is something that I have continually had to build on throughout my semesters in the education program.  It is an important tool to have because of the comfort level it allows you to build with your students.  It is important to have confidence while working with our students at Apache Elementary.  Having the opportunity to share our Chautauqua characters with Mrs. Bradshaw’s class was a great way to build bridges between the students we are working with.  It builds the confidence that I have to work with the students because they were able to see that I am asking something of them that I have done.  Every day that I work with my students I gain independence because I am using what I have learned and putting it into practice.  I am learning to work independently and enjoy working at my own pace. 

Knowledge Content- The knowledge that I have gained from this course has been incredibly useful.  I enjoy the structure of the class this semester. I feel that the field trips are valuable because it allows us to find great resources within our community. I like not being confined to our classroom and being able to experience what we are learning firsthand.  The text for this course is a great resource for effective teaching methods for working with linguistically diverse students.  I have begun to realize that language and culture are one in the same.  Every day that I am working with students I maintain the notion to be flexible in my thinking.  I keep a little journal of the days that I work with the Apache Elementary students.  However I have not added it to my webpage.  I plan to within the next few days.  I feel that those learning experiences gained through the practicum allow me to respect and address certain questions that I have. 

Skills and Strategies-   I am always learning everyday that I walk into a classroom.  I learn from my instructors and keep in mind the pedagogy that is presented.  The one that I love is that educational processes include families, social, and economic communities.  I enjoy the field trips because it allows us to explore diversity within our community.  The strategy of using resources within our community that is often overlooked.  Storytelling is a great skill because the students respond to making those connections with you.  I feel that they are ecstatic to hear about you or someone close to you.  When we brought our Chautauqua stories to life it enabled them to make a connection with each and every one of us.  I stressed taking an interest in the three students that I am working with.  The first day we got to know one another and I assured them that they would not have to answer anything they did not want to.  I let them take their shot at me first.  I let them ask me general questions they wanted to know.  It was fun to hear the types of questions they had for me. I feel that helped them gain that comfortable learning environment all students want.  I know this is true because we are able to talk about things openly.  I know the levels each of my students are on thanks to the SOLOM Oral Language Assessment.  Utilizing that strategy enabled me to make accommodations for the students that I am working with.  It makes scaffolding easier due to the assessment because I feel comfortable knowing what levels each student is on.

Use of Prior and Emerging Experiences- I tend to base what I have learned loosely while working with other students.  I know that all students are different and each experience will not be the same.  Therefore I take what prior knowledge that I have learned and tweak it just a little to see what works.  If I feel confident that this method is effective I continue to build on it.  I tend to implement various learning styles while working with students.  I feel this is important because this is definitely how I enjoy learning.  I was happy to perform my Chautauqua for the students because it gives them a model to work from.  They are able to see firsthand the various types of things they could do to enhance their character. 

Critical Awareness/Reflectiveness- I love to reflect and often practice this with journal writing from other classes.  I believe the opportunity to reflect enables me to build my teaching instruction to a new level.  I interact with different students in each of my practicums for my classes.  The diversity among the various schools is interesting because there is not much of a difference as far as the distance. 

Midterm Evaluation-

Estimated evaluation of grade- I have participated in class discussions, scheduled my field trip to the Children’s museum, had a great time presenting my Chautauqua character, successfully worked with my students at Apache and have been in attendance for all classes.  I feel that I deserve an A+!!!

Suggestions for myself

I have difficulty accessing a computer with internet to use.  I try to work out my schedule the best of my ability to include time for this but it is hard to schedule.  Therefore the best suggestion for me is to make time to keep my webpage up to date.

Other suggestions- A suggestion for this class would be to be able to have book talks in class more.  I am really enjoying the anthology stories in the books that we are reading.  I enjoy the class and all that we have to do.  However I do find that I do get overwhelmed with everything.  If there were a way to keep ourselves on track by having chats about these stories in class it would be helpful.  I find that we are constantly going and rarely slow down.  I do what I can to stay up to speed with the goings on of our class.