Reflection 11

Capture:

This week I would like to reflect on the power of having a vision for each student as a teacher.

Analysis:

Having a vision often means seeing the potential of what something or someone can become. Vision can be applied in any aspect of our lives. In our family lives, our business lives, and in our lives as teachers. In our families we can have a vision for what our marriages will be like, how our children will grow and develop, and what kind of lifestyle we will have. If we own a business we can visualize what kind of product we want to have, the kind of message we want our customers to receive, and the kind of profits we anticipate having. In our lives as teachers our vision is just as vital. As teachers we can have a vision for each of our students success, our curriculum, our classroom layout, and our progression in our skills as teachers. Having a vision can help us put our priorities and actions in line with our vision. As we consistently do this, our vision becomes realized. That said, there are some of our visions that just won't happen. There will always be things that don't work out the way we anticipate. Students will fail our classes no matter how hard we try to help them, we'll have off days when we teach, but that doesn't mean we have to lose the vision.      

Action:

I will have a realistic vision for my students and their performance, as well as my own abilities to help them perform.

Reflection 10

Capture:

This week I would like to reflect on creativity in the classroom.

Analysis:

Across the nation, and around the world there are rules to be followed. There are rules and regulations in society at large, their are national rules, state rules, family rules, company rules, religious rules and family rules. Rules are meant to keep us safe. Rules are meant to keep us in line. There are many rules that are there for those that just don't know better. If we were to keep track and execute all of the rules we're expected to follow, we would all be robots. We would be robots with slightly different personalities. In my opinion, some rules are meant to be broken. Too many rules can put us into boxes. There are some basic and general rules that are better to keep than to break. But if we're not careful keeping all the rules all the time can lead us to suffocate our creativity. If we accept the boxes that society gives us, we can find ourselves encased in "should do" boxes and "safe boxes" where all we ever do is think about what we should do according to the rules or what we should do to stay safe. Unless we, every once and a while, venture out of our "should and safe boxes"we'll find our selves safe and ready for our next set of rules, unable to even think of breaking out of the way we've always done things as rule keepers. To be creative we must be willing to sometimes do what society says we shouldn't and do things that might not be 100% safe. That said, our classrooms should be safe places but they should also be places where basic and fundamental rules exist but also places where creativity can be developed and sharpened within students.

Action:

I will have a classroom where creativity can grow and expand. I'll have basic fundamental rules but creativity will be the ultimate priority.