Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

Title: Reflective Summary Report

John Mitchell
Ivy Tech Community College

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

Abstract

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

Introduction

My experience as a Service Learning teacher at North Elementary in Danville has

been a very eye opening experience. I assisted in a kindergarten class with around
thirteen students. I enjoyed working with the students and learning how to interact with
each one of them differently. This particular classroom was geared to children who had
learning difficulties or come from a troubled home. I liked this challenge it made me feel
like I could make an even bigger impact. I also liked being helpful for the classroom
teacher who had many challenges to overcome when dealing with these students.

Experience in the Classroom

Each student learns differently as a teacher it is my job to find which way allows
the student to learn more efficiently. Learning styles refers to the particular way a student
takes in a new idea, event, or concept. (Koch, J.) There are a few different learning styles
such as auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. The teacher had a system of stations
that each dealt with a different way of learning. One of the stations had iPad's with
headphones included and they got to play games while learning math, which is a visual
and auditory learning style. A second station had objects to cut out and glue together and
that station was mainly a kinesthetic learning style. I believe the teacher ran the
classroom very well and the students respected her. Having the students work together in
stations is a great way to challenge the student to interact with other peers to finish the
assignment and build their social skills to a higher level. This type of classroom is also

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

known as a responsive classroom which is an approach to teaching and learning,

developed to bring together social and academic learning. (Koch, J.)

Personal Reflection
From a teachers standpoint I truly am appreciative of this experience. It has given me a
different outlook that I otherwise would not have had until being a teacher in the
workforce. The kindergarten teacher would give me a task to work on with each child one
on one this is when I could really get to know the student and see how to best approach
the situation. Some students were very outgoing and talkative to me instantly while other
students were more timid and shy. One thing I worked on with the students was writing
their names. For a few students it was not an easy task because they either didnt know
how to draw the letters or they did not know how to hold the pencil correctly. Showing
them how to do it correctly was encouraging to myself but watching them do it by
themselves was the joy of knowing that I can help a child succeed in life.

During Halloween my teacher decided that I make a game that has to do with all
the subjects in class. In the Halloween setting, of course, I brought candy for the students
with the understanding that if they paid attention and participated they would receive a
piece. Designing the game was a challenge because I had to be creative and organized to
make this game work and still be a useful learning tool.

Future Teacher
This experience is going to help me tremendously before I enter the career of teaching.
Understanding how children act and react to certain situations that you put in front of

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

them. Obviously, each student is going to learn differently and this experience has given
me knowledge to develop ideas to be able to teach each and every student. The awareness
that students look up to a teacher for help and feeds them the knowledge that is required
to accomplish their goals. Knowing that my job is a big responsibility for the future of
childrens lives is what I read between the lines during this Service Learning Program. As
a future teacher, I am ready to take that responsibility.

Summary and Recommendations

The Service Learning Program is a great inspirational program that I am happy to

be involved in and I agree for it being a big portion for our grade in class. This program
can decide the seriousness of wanting to be a teacher. Most degrees do not give a person
the chance to experience what a job will be like so, if students believe they want to be a
teacher and taking this course opened their eyes to understand that it is not for them then
this program has been very beneficial. A recommendation I have is to test the skills of the
students at the end of the course. With that said, have the student at their eighth week
teach the class all day by themselves. This could really help develop skills under pressure
and give you the true real experience it takes to be a teacher.

INTASC Standard, Description, and Rationale

Standard #1: Learner Development

The Teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing the patterns of

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic,
social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally
appropriate and challenging learning experiences.

Name of Artifact: Reflective Summary Report

Date: November 30, 2014
Course: EDUC 101

Brief Description: For this assignment, I developed a report on my experience in the Service
Learning Program. Sharing information on the program, the teacher, students, and the classroom.
My objective was giving examples that correlated with the material that I learned during the
course and writing about my personal reflections regarding the program.

Rationale: To document my understanding of Standard # 1, Learner Development, I selected to

include my paper that I have written about my personal experiences of wanting to become a
teacher because while I am teaching in class, I can use this method to find out how students are
influenced and also their style of learning. Every student learns differently so knowing their own
way learning can give me an open mind on teacher abilities.

Running head: REFLECTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

Reference Page
Koch, J. (2014). Teach 2. 107171