Learning Outcome 7

Every morning without fail, I would finish my getting ready by 7:00 and be at school by 7:30 to start my day. My mentor teacher would always be at school even earlier, rocking the consistency and dedication in their example. Early on in that process, I would take that opportunity to consult with my mentor on areas I needed to improve or focus on more. In addition to these foundational routines, a few of the most important tasks and actions I took during my block include:

​

 - I checked in as students walked in the door first thing in the morning, one by one, asking how they were and how the day before had gone, but also how their hearts felt, whether they were ready for whatever they were to face.

​

 - I graded student assignments, and when necessary, provided immediate support and follow-up(s) to see if it was needed.

​

 - I kept track of students during our reading times, checking if students were on track.

​

 - I designed and implemented a unit focused on persuasive writing to be used in literacy but also taught a class in social science and science independently.

​

 - I was educated on the basic things I needed to to in order to be successful and created a set of assignments tailored to my research.

​

Instead of sitting at a desk wondering how to teach I learned best through engaging with the work, forward thinking, and reflection. Those experiences were what helped me to develop not only as a teacher, but as a person who understands the strengths and challenges of each student, their interests and emotional state. I began to understand how these factors affect their capacity to walk through the door, ready to engage in learning each day.

​

I used this block as a way to hone strategies and have a better understanding of students. However, I really feel like the more I have experiences like this, the better I will grow and become as an educator.