Reflective Composition

EDUC 508 was an excellent learning opportunity for me as a student and as a teacher.  When I made the decision to pursue a career as a teacher, content was never what intimidated me, learning HOW to teach became my goal.  The skill I learned in this class will prove extremely valuable when I host a classroom of my own. 

I consider my self a strong reader.  As a student I always managed to plug through text and read enough to get by.  I learned from this class how to use the text as a tool rather than a hurdle that is hiding information.  I feel that if a student can be efficient as a reader, not only will that student be more likely to actually read an assignment when it seems less daunting, but will get more out of the time spent reading.  Efficiency as a reader is something I hope to improve upon and instill in my students.  Before this class, reading technique meant very little to me.  I now have access to hundreds of techniques that can be used by me as a student or teacher, to make reading a more productive experience.  I see the importance of constantly teaching reading technique.  All learning requires reading, and I intend to use as many techniques as possible to make my students have a positive experience in my classroom.   I have been most frustrated as a student when I am confused or intimidated by material, I hope I can be the teacher that can make learning a more natural activity for my students and avoid frustration in the classroom.  Being able to anticipate struggles my students will have with the material, and provided a method that will help is my ultimate goal as a teacher.

I am an improved learner as a result of this class.  Improving further is important to me as well as learning newer and improved techniques that I can use alone or with my students has become a permanat goal on the road to becoming a professional educator.