Beginning the Journey to Becoming an Excellent Teacher

After reading about Grant and Gillette’s 10 actions, “to put yourself on the path to becoming an excellent teacher”, I took time to reflect on my own teaching experience and how I have (or haven’t) incorporated these things into my teaching, and how I plan to incorporate them in the future. 

1.  Get experience with all types of learners and their families. 

I defiantly agree that this is an important aspect to becoming an excellent teacher.  This is an area in which I will continue to gain experience as I encounter more students.  I have learned to know a variety of students from different cultures and backgrounds but can continue to strive for relationships with all my students and their families.

2.  Become critically active.

I have had a number of valuable experiences during my college experience that have helped my professional growth.  My membership to ACDA, and my participation in an IMEA board meeting have helped me to feel active in the world of music education.  This will be something to remember as I enter into my professional teaching career.

3.  Take your education seriously.

I believe that I took my education seriously.  I could have pushed harder in a few areas, but I worked hard and learned a lot about music education.  I feel that I was prepared for student teaching and am ready to begin a program of my own.

4.  Become aware that you are a role model and act accordingly/ become active in your community.

I realize that I am a role model, and I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to impact the students that I work with.  In the future I will work to find ways to engage in my community.  I may help in sports at my school, volunteer with some organization, or join a church and help with activities there.

5.  Volunteer in or join an organization or get involved in a group comprised of people who are significantly different than you. 

In my college experience, I enjoyed spending time with the international students on campus.  I helped a friend from Rwanda with a traditional dance and found conversations with international friends to be very interesting and rewarding.  I have also enjoyed attending a Spanish speaking church in my area.  Cross-cultural relationships have become important to me, and I intend to continue in finding space for these relationships in my life. 

6.  Develop ways to “recharge your battery”.

There are a number of things that I can do to refocus my mind when I become stressed.  I know that when I go for a walk, talk to God, spend time with friends/family, read my bible, or play guitar, I will come away feeling refreshed. 

7.  Practice Democratic principles.

This is something that I have been aware of in my classroom, and will continue to implement.  I have found that children often make hurtful comments without realizing what they have said.  With this in mind, I strive to educate students on more than just material, but how to be sensitive and aware of differences that surround them. 

8.  Learning to identify allies.

Especially as a teacher of the arts, it will important for me to find people who support what I am doing.  In the future I can seek out teachers in my school to help with music activities.  I will also continue to participate in supportive organizations such as ACDA and IMEA that will enable me to make outside connections.

9.  Study effective teachers.

During my college experience, I have had the opportunity to observe many effective teachers. This is something that I have done a lot of thus far, but I realize that observation will become more difficult as I begin teaching full time.  With this is mind, I will need to be intentional about taking time for observation every now and then when I have a free period or day off.  Observation will continue to give me inspiration for my classes and also provide support.   

Service by Tutoring

This past semester, Fall 2011, I had the opportunity to tutor a kindergarten boy named Anthony.  During this semester Anthony and I focused mainly on math skills.  We worked on elements such as counting and identification of numeric symbols.  I quickly found that Anthony needed particular help in becoming familiar with the “teen” numbers. 

With each tutoring session I learned new characteristics about Anthony, and how to help him learn his numbers.  I was forced to become creative in finding ways to engage Anthony in learning his numbers.  I experimented with many activities from counting our “hops” to the end of the hallway, to simply having him count by wrote.  With Anthony though, I found that the most effective strategy in learning his numbers was through playing board games.  Board games seemed to be a way of forcing Anthony not only to identify a number, but also to count the number immediately after the identification.  Certain games such as “Chutes and Ladders”, and “Sorry” worked especially well for this.  These games excited Anthony, in fact, he may not have even recognized that these games were helping him to learn. 

Although the games worked well for Anthony, I found that there were times when it was necessary for Anthony and I to “buckle-down” by going over numbers repeatedly.  Many times I would do this by showing Anthony a number and having him Identify the name.  If he could not identify the number correctly, we would put the number in the ‘wrong’ pile, only to come back to it later.  After drilling the numbers, Anthony would then be more successful in applying his knowledge to a board game such as chutes and ladders. 

Over the time that I spent tutoring Anthony I learned that this boy is strong willed, and very determined to learn.  Anthony worked hard in our lessons and showed excitement when he learned something new.  I saw much improvement in Anthony in that he became much more confident in identifying and counting the teen numbers.  Although Anthony still struggles the numbers thirteen and fifteen, I know that this boy will be successful because he is determined.  Anthony shows a desire to learn and to be smart.

            The most prominent lesson that I learned in working with Anthony is that each child is different and is motivated by different activities.  Even Anthony seemed to be motivated by varying activities depending on the day.  As a teacher then, I was forced to think quickly in finding new and creative ways to help Anthony with his Math Skills.  I am thankful for this tutoring experience and the things that I learned, but I am also thankful that I was able to give Anthony the help that he needed to kick-start his math skills.  

Anti-Racism. Anna Deavere Smith

On September 13, 2011, Anna Deavere Smith, an actress, playwright, and teacher, graced Goshen College with her presence in sharing a powerful program.  Smith’s program, known as, Glimpses of America in Change, is made up of a series of stories from citizens across America.  These stories include those of a diverse number of people. Smith shares stories of Asian Americans, African Americans, European Americans, Latin Americans, and many others.  Anna begins this process with an interview where she intently listens to the story of a selected person.  She records the interview and continues to listen as she becomes acquainted with that person’s story. This process allows Anna to accurately portray a person’s story for people across America and across the world.  Smith’s program then, consists of an array of stories that create a new picture of America.  The stories that Smith shared at Goshen College reflected an America of brokenness. The stories from people of multiple races showed evidence of inequality and pain.  Smith shares though, that our willingness in listening to these stories and to those of people around us, is one of the first steps in healing some of America’s brokenness.  Smith challenges us as Americans to intently listen, hear, and appreciate the stories of people that surround us daily. 

            As an audience member, listening to the stories that Smith shared was eye opening.  Some of the stories seemed as if they could not have occurred in America, but in some other country.  As I listened, the pain that these stories revealed was repeatedly stunning. We as Americans tend to base our judgments upon first impression or off of a single experience when we should be listening to the stories of those that surround us. While these stories were difficult for me to hear, I was also inspired by the work of Anna Deavere Smith.  I highly respect Smith’s passion in sharing these stories and in helping others to learn the importance of listening before judgment.  Smith’s program challenged me to improve my listening skills and to love those around me for who they truly are.

            This lesson can be used in my life every single day.  I am frequently given opportunities to hear stories of the people that surround me, and often, I deny this opportunity.  The change starts in making an effort to stay present in a given conversation.  I have found that it is easy to become distracted while someone else is speaking.  Often, my mind is elsewhere and therefore; I forget to listen.  These opportunities should be taken advantage of.  If a person is speaking, I might as well hear their words, because whether I listen to them or not, time will pass.  If I am spending time with some one, why not listen? Why not hear what they have to say?

            This experience has helped me to become more aware of active listening in everyday conversations, and in deeper conversations.  I have found that when I take time to thoroughly listen to someone’s story, even if they seem different from me, each person is truly a beautiful human being.  This realization is incredibly important to remember as a teacher.  I desire to show each student in my classroom that they are worthy of being heard, worthy of sharing their gifts, and worthy of love.  Children need to know that someone cares to listen and that someone truly believes that they can succeed, no matter who the student is and where they come from.