My thoughts on the classroom and my teaching beliefs were molded
throughout my final semester on campus here in Iowa City. None of my beliefs previous to this
semester were completely eliminated they were just reaffirmed. Beyond this, from the information
presented to us I can now add to my teaching beliefs things that I feel
strongly about as a future teacher.
Specifically, my beliefs in regards to the importance of technology in
the classroom, their relation to education, and ideas about 21st
century thinking skills, were added to my ideas about teaching. The TED talks
we watched were inspirational and kick started my thinking about what we should
really be teaching in our classroom.
My teaching belief has molded in regards to teaching students how to
think and integrating curriculum as oppose to teaching curriculum and
integrating ideas about how to think.
In our ever progressing world it is important to teach innovation and
creativity. Our world is not
assembly line black and white any longer and has not been for some time. While the basic skills and information
is important, we need to continue to move forward. New technology is being created and we need to teach our
future how to use it. As a teacher
it will be important for me to learn and grow with the students and the use of
technology. They are more engaged
when using it so it only makes sense to incorporate it into their daily
routines.
I
love the idea of kid blogging.
Especially at younger ages, if one to one technology is available, kid
blogging would be huge as a way to get kids excited about writing and
expressing themselves through the use of words. It is amazing that through blogging you are potentially
connecting with people all around the world and kids can receive feedback on their
writing through more than a smiley face sticker from their teacher. They can respond to questions and
comments left by parents, other students, other students parent’s etc. I am really excited about this whole
idea. Previous to this class I
wasn’t even quite sure what a blog was, and now here I am excited about
integrating it into my classroom as a learning tool.
I
am also going to focus on using higher order thinking skills in each of my
lessons. To change how we think
and approach things it takes practice.
To mold from the regurgitation type of teaching to instead being the inquirer
and the one who is creating is not a simple task. Easier said than done, I want to encourage my students to
question the world around them. I
want to inspire curiosity and creativity.
I want my students to paint a picture of their promise and the ability I
know they possess with my lessons and resources a tool through which to do
so. I have left this semester with
reassurance that I am where I am supposed to be and excited to reach out and be
an advocate to the future of our world.
