Reflection #2

Part 1: I really liked the “Chapter 14” poem. I think it says a lot about what students are missing when they are given multiple choice or chapter tests. There is only so much that a textbook can teach you. In the poem, the student is studying only what “chapter 14” and the test require of them, but as that student reflects on what they’re learning, they realize that there is so much more learning and questions to be asked and answered beyond what their textbook says. They say they have learned “names, numbers, and dates,” but the reader of this poem is left knowing that that information is “only” chapter 14, and the student “wishes” to learn more. From reading this poem and from my personal experiences, I know that offering multiple choice or chapter tests does not encourage students to seek more in-depth answers than those that are given to them. For example, I know that students love multiple choice tests because they don’t require less studying as opposed to a short answer or essay type of test. It requires them to circle and answer given to them, and not to explore other possibilities. I gave my first test two weeks ago and many of the students acted as if it was the hardest test they had ever seen. They are used to word banks, multiple choice questions, and answers straight out of the book. My test consisted of questions that required analysis of the readings we had done in class as well as their ability to give me their own examples of certain vocabulary words instead of just definitions. It’s important to assess students by challenging them, not limiting their ability to think with a basic understanding of what their textbook might say. Part 2: Formative assessments that I currently use are bell ringers, journals, class discussions, observations, K-W-L charts, in-class assignments, quizzes, group work and homework. Summative assessments that I currently use are essays, book reports, multi-genre projects, presentations, unit tests, folders and debates. It is important to have a combination of both types of assessments so that students are can be constantly evaluated on their understanding of what they’re being taught. It’s important to you formative assessments because they check for understanding on an informal and less stressful level, but it is equally as important to use summative assessments because they challenge student more to think at a higher level and study the information that they have been given in class. I would like to try and implement exit-slips, portfolios, and interviews into my future classes. I plan on incorporating exit-slips by budgeting more time at the end of class. I will also have slips with questions pre-typed so that I can just hand them out at the end of class. I don’t know a lot about using portfolios, so I think that before I implement them, I will need to research a little bit more about them to understand how to properly assess students based on them. I want to do interviews as well. I plan on holding interviews every other week as part of a routine. In the interview I will be able to assess students on how well they understand the content, and I will also ask them if there is anything that they need additional help or understanding for.

Reflection #1: Introduction

Hello Everyone! My name is Shelby Hirt. I am a senior at Angelo State University and will be graduating this May with a degree in English along with my secondary certification. I am from Wall, TX. I would describe my life as one filled with color, glitter, and all things cute and fun. I love my family and friends and my cat Miko. God has absolutely blessed me beyond belief and I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful life. 4 years ago, before starting college, I would have never imagined myself where I am today. It has been a wild and crazy ride, but it has been an amazing experience to witness the way everything in my life has fallen into place perfectly. I can’t wait to see where I am several years from now. At orientation, we learned that being a teacher is a calling, and I am a firm believer in that. I 100% believe that I was called to be a teacher. I am student teaching at Veribest ISD. Because it is such a small school, there is only one English teacher for the entire High School, so I have the wonderful opportunity to work with 9th through 12th grade. Everyone at this school has been so great and supportive so far. The staff is amazing and the students are so awesome! I couldn’t have asked for a better placement. I can’t wait to start doing lessons! After graduation I’m not quite sure where I’ll be. Ultimately I would like to end up in the DFW area, but I will gladly go anywhere until then. I have had so many discussions with fellow educators about the many different roles that a teacher plays. I believe the top three roles are an educator, mentor/guide, and a motivator. Teachers must be an educator first to be able to give students the content-knowledge that they need to succeed in life. At the same time, a teacher must also act as a mentor/guide for their students. Teachers must show their students life skills outside of content, and they must be there for their students in any way possible to help them succeed. Teachers have a significant influence on a student’s life, so it is up to them to show their students how to be the best that they can be. A teacher must also act as a motivator for students. Many kids come to school with all kinds of baggage, so the teacher must make an effort to motivate their student in life and show them the important things in life.