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Putting Myself in their Shoes: Future Goals
As I move forward, one of the most important parts of my reflection is to determine the future goals I have for myself as a teacher. My master’s has inspired me to continue learning to better my teaching of mathematics to secondary students. When I consider how I will set goals for myself in my teaching, I like to put myself in my students' shoes. Through empathizing with students, I’ve found there are three specific goals I have for improving my teaching. Students each learn differently and are all at varying levels; thus, my first goal is to differentiate my instruction. Students need to know how math is relevant to their lives and how it’s applied; so my second goal is to incorporate project-based learning into my teaching. Finally, students need their classrooms to be spaces where they can safely grow as individuals; therefore, my third goal is to create a positive classroom culture.
Differentiated Learning
I believe we do a disservice to our students when we expect them all to learn in the same way and at the same pace. It simply isn’t possible. One of my biggest frustrations is when I realize I’m not tailoring my teaching to my students' needs. Considering students’ varying paces, levels, and environmental preferences, it doesn’t make sense not to differentiate instruction. Differentiation is an area I want to focus on tremendously. A way I have considered achieving this goal is through flipping my classroom. Flipped learning opens up many opportunities for differentiation. Students watch lesson videos at home and learn it at their own pace, while class time is utilized for practicing concepts and applications, where students receive support and one-on-one help needed from me. This Educational Leadership article, Flip Your Students' Learning, has practical and easy to follow methods for flipping a classroom; it also discusses the windows of opportunity for differentiation with flipped learning. This would be a great starting point to flip my classes in a practical way as we transition from traditional learning. With regards to specific differentiation methods, The Inclusive Classroom: Strategies for Effective Differentiated Instruction is a fantastic book where I can learn about specific student circumstances - academic and otherwise - and how to meet their needs.
Project Based Learning
It’s no mystery that one of the most common questions asked by students in secondary mathematics is "When will we ever use this?" Students have the right to know how they can apply what they learn. It’s important for them to feel that what they’re learning is not a waste of time. Math is never just done by itself in real life; it’s always in context. The classroom should be no different. Project based learning (PBL) is how I aim to help my students experience math's applicability and importance. PBL is a huge booster of motivation, engagement, and positive attitudes towards mathematics learning. There are many resources and ideas on PBL, but since this is a new learning curve for me, it’s important that I learn the basics first. Edutopia has a great article, Getting Started with Project-Based Learning, that lays out how to begin implementing PBL. It’s a useful guide that also includes external resources such as organizational tools and project searches. Additionally, I would be interested in getting the PBL Starter Kit book for secondary teachers to help me transition into this with a solid understanding of PBL.
Positive Classroom Culture
Creating a positive classroom culture is one of my top priorities as a teacher. By remembering myself as a student, a positive classroom environment verses a more negative classroom environment made a world of difference in my academics and personal growth alike. I’ve noticed how challenging students become more respectful and willing to make better choices when I make an effort to be positive, patient, and respectful to them. I’ve also noticed how students' confidence spikes in this environment. There is much to gain from making my classroom a positive space for students to learn and grow in. From preventing bullying to developing strong social-emotional skills, fostering a positive classroom culture has countless benefits. A great book I own on this matter that has a wealth of information is Barbara Larrivee's Authentic Classroom Management. I will definitely make a point to reference this book in my teaching.
In the end
I do not think that there will be a day where I can fully check these goals off of my list. While I am sure I will be able to actively apply them and attain them in my teaching, it will be important for me to continue growing in these areas and learning how I can always improve my practice.
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