Candidate Reflection Form Progress Update #1

You are asked to reflect on your learning up to this point and share this selfreflection with your instructor.
****************************************

Name: Christina Mak

Date: October 15, 2015

1. What are some of your personal learning goals in taking this course?
Throughout the length of this course, I hope to gain a better understanding of the
junior learner and how to best accommodate for their unique needs in the classroom.
Specifically, I hope to learn how to promote their positive social development through
classroom organization and interaction. I also aim to learn more about instructional
strategies concerning literacy and numeracy and how to best help students
reach/exceed expectations in these areas.
2. What steps are you taking to reach these goals?
To reach my goals, Ive been reading through the documents provided in this course
as well as all the posts in the discussion forums. As I have a junior class on
Wednesdays and Thursdays, I am applying what I learn in this course in my
teaching. In terms of literacy and numeracy, I look to Pinterest for ideas. Ive also
gone to seminars on teaching literacy (How to Teach Reading Strategies).

Candidate Reflection Form Progress Update #2

You are asked to reflect on your learning up to this point and share
this self-reflection with your instructor.
****************************************
Date: November 2, 2015
Name: Christina Mak

1. How has the content of this course, and the input from the other
candidates, helped you to change or refine your thinking about teaching and
learning?
From the past 2 modules, Ive really come to understand that junior classes are very
much focussed on literacy and numeracy. All other curricular expectations are taught
with these two big concepts in mind. While this seems quite biased towards language
and math at first, it makes sense after reflection. After all, literacy and numeracy are
the basis of society and economy our lives in relation to others if you think about
it!
Through the readings and posts, Ive come to realize that I have much to learn about
how to effectively teach students how to read and write. There are so many little
things that teachers can plan for, and so many strategies to take into account, that I
can definitely understand how practice and reflection are extremely important
components of this teaching process!
2. If applicable, please share any questions or concerns you may have at
this point in the course.
Im not sure why posting required (and more) amounts of postings/comments that
were, might I say, carefully thought through results in Communicated infrequently
and was rarely engaged. Then what would not posting be equivalent to?

Candidate Reflection Form Progress Update #3

You are asked to reflect on your learning up to this point and share this selfreflection with your instructor.
****************************************

Name: Christina Mak

Date: December 1, 2015

1. Identify any connections you have made in this course between theory
and classroom practice.

Development theories holistic education

Culturally responsive teaching inclusive classrooms, differentiated instruction
Growing success co-create success criteria
Growing success modern (differentiated) assessment practices

2. Consider the personal learning goals you identified in your Progress

Update #1 and reflect on your progress to date.
This course has provided a lot of information in terms of how to accommodate for all
junior learners with a holistic approach to teaching! Ive realized that there are so
many things that teachers must purposefully plan for, from organizing the classroom
to best suit student needs to providing students with opportunities to think crosscurricularly and apply what they learn to the world. Ive also read so much on
literacy and numeracy its given me a solid foundation to build off of and practice
on.