What I Learned

            The objective of this paper is to report the things that I have learned during my observation in Field II.  I cannot begin to list everything that I have learned because there are too many things.  The following is a list of a few of the important things that I believe will benefit me most as I prepare to teach.

1. Teachers do not have an easy job.  Oh yeah, I’ve said it myself,  “All teachers do all day is think of stuff to assign and then go home and do nothing.”  Man, did I ever have it wrong.  Teachers have one of the most demanding jobs in existence.  Not only do they work inside school, but they also have to take their work home with them.  They have to prepare their lessons outside of class, gather materials (with their own money), get everything organized, present the lessons to the class, then grade the homework.  As they grade, they have to reflect on the performance of the students and decide whether any further measures need to be taken to address the lesson.  Perhaps, a few students may need some more help, and the teacher has to think of ways to help them understand the concept.  Then, besides the lesson planning, there are also school meetings, workshops, grant proposals, paperwork, and many other things that schools may require their teachers to do.  It is definitely not an easy job.
2. Students are really not as bad as people want to think that they are.  Yes, there are those whom no one seems to be able to reach, but the majority of students do respond well if they are treated with respect. 
3. Education can be fun.  I had a blast presenting my lessons to the students.  These were the first times that I ever had the opportunity to teach anything to anyone under the age of 20.  It was a different world from the adult world, and one that I’m proud to say that I can relate to. I’m not criticizing myself; I’m complimenting.  In order to educate effectively, the teacher needs to be able to get to the students’ level.  This will help them understand what they need to do, and make them feel better about the assignments.
4. Discipline is not a fun job.  I observed my cooperating teacher disciplining her students a couple of times.  One time, she sent two of them to the office for smart mouthing.  Another time, she took a student with a bad attitude into the hall and had a good talk with him there. I never had to do any kind of disciplining other than quieting students. I tried too be nice about it, and it did not work too well.  When I got a little firmer, it worked somewhat better.  With students of this age (seventh grade) one has to be a little firm.  They are at a critical stage in their lives where they still seek approval, but begin to rebel a little.  The teacher has to be able to maintain control, and if that means applying tough love, then so be it.  I’m not saying that we have to be drill sergeants, but at least good coaches. I learned to avoid some discipline problems by never leaving the students with a lot of free time.  I learned that the hard way.  When students begin to talk, they seem to have a gasoline engine fueling their jaws that prohibits them from keeping quiet.  If they are busy working, they do not have the opportunity to start that engine.  It is beneficial to have something for them to do that will take up most or all of the class period.
5. Teaching is what the teachers make of it.  If people see teaching as an opportunity, or as something they get to do every day, then they will most likely be better teachers.  Making the classroom fun and interesting can be as helpful to the teachers as to the students.  The experiences can be enjoyable if the teachers want them to be.  If they see teaching as a chore, or something they have to do, then they need to find another job. 

            As I stated earlier, I did learn even more than this in my Field II experience.  These things listed are the ones that have stuck with me the most.  I know that teaching is a continued process of learning.  I know that I’ll be learning more as I get into the job.  I hope to take the things that I learn and modify them so that I can be the best teacher that I can be.