Running head: WEEK NINE REFLECTION 1

Week Nine Reflection

Alexis Lajambe

0522648

Lakehead University

Airin Stephens

EDUC-4490-YI

November 2, 2016
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Since week two of this course, I have spent several hours in various classes being

instructed on how to teach and how to use the curriculum documents. During one class we had

the opportunity to teach a 20-minute lesson. This was a good chance to practice my teaching

voice and create an activity using the role playing teaching strategy. I found it hard to present in

the classroom while another group was presenting and I would have liked to have taught to the

whole class instead of to four students; however, I realize that is not practical. I enjoyed

discovering different teaching strategies and how they can relate to different learning styles. One

teaching technique that I found interesting was the Jigsaw technique where students are given a

piece of the content that they become an expert in. Next the expert groups are disseminated

and each expert shares his/her content with the other experts in the group. In class we also

learned about the four corner technique which allows students to move around the classroom and

share their thoughts.

I have had the opportunity to visit a local physical education class as well as science

classes. These opportunities have showed various techniques of classroom management and have

given me ideas for my own class. One class used an app called NearPod which allows the teacher

to pose a question to the class and each student answers it on an iPad. This allows the teachers to

assess learning and review class content. As a kinesthetic learner, I learn best by being in front of

people teaching or by being in a classroom. Sitting at a desk being presented content makes it

difficult for me to retain information.

I still believe that I have conductor classroom management style with some hints of

facilitator and dominator. Like a conductor, I continue to like efficiency and am task oriented

(Shindler, 2010). I like it when the whole class is in agreeance with the classroom rules and

routines and hope to learn these during my observation week. By doing this I will be able to
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maintain the same set of rules and consequences as my associate teacher making it consistent for

the students.

Having a wide variety of experiences in a classroom and with students from grade three

to grade 12, I am excited to be in a class where I can apply my skills. I feel confident as a

classroom manager/facilitator and feel that I am ready for my placement. I am excited to make

engaging lesson plans for the students and to pique their interest in learning. Coming from a

family of teachers and volunteering in several different schools, I am confident that I have

mentors that I can ask for advice when I need help. One thing I am nervous for is if my associate

teacher (AT) has a different view on classroom management than I do. If my AT has different

classroom management skills than I do then I may become more open to trying new strategies. I

am worried that the students may be rowdy or may need improvement on their listening skills.

One thing that I am going to have as a note to self throughout placement is to keep an open

mind to trying new things. I am able to learn from every opportunity given to me throughout

placement and it is important to keep a positive attitude.

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Reference

Shindler, J. (2010). Transformative classroom management: Positive strategies to engage all

students and promote a psychology of success. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.