Jaclyn Scott - Web Portfolio

Jaclyn Scott

 

 

Reflection. 

 

It’s a word I’ve heard an infinite amount of times throughout the MAED program at Michigan State.  We reflected after reading.  We reflected after teaching.  We reflected after a discussion.  I’ve even written reflections about my reflections.  I am so entirely sick of reflections.

 

It seems, though, that as a teacher and especially as a learner it will always be necessary for me to reflect upon where I have been in order to decide where I would like to go (although perhaps in my future these reflections will no longer have a page requirement).  I’ve spent a good amount of time looking back and learning from my experiences so it’s refreshing to use this information to see where I’m headed as a teacher and as a learner.

 

The most obvious thing is to look at where this program has directed me as a teacher.  I have spent so much time researching, evaluating, and implementing educational technology that it has become clear to me that this is where my interests and strengths lie.  My current classroom has 3 and ½ working computers (our fourth one works but you run the risk of spontaneous shutdowns at any time) and I’ve come to realize that this is completely unsatisfactory.  It’s not just for the simple fact that it is 2013 and there is no way I should be using outdated software on broken computers… even though that is a point of contention for me.  It’s more that I know how technology can enrich and improve learning.  I’ve seen it in my own classroom through the projects I completed in this program.  Educational technology is no longer something I think is fun to use for a special project.  I now require it for the type of classroom I’m trying to build.  My goal as a classroom teacher is for my students to be literate in all 21st century skills (in addition to the regular curriculum – obviously).  This includes utilizing technology but also in building communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.  Luckily all of these skills go hand in hand with technology.  My ideal classroom is one where the students communicate face to face in the classroom as well as communicate digitally using multiple forms of expression.

 

My goal as a teacher is a lofty one, but also an expensive one.  That’s where my second goal comes in.  Up until this point in my career I’ve considered myself quite involved in the school.  I sit on nearly every committee that doesn’t come with a stipend and I really believe that I bring a little something to the table at each one.   However, if I want the opportunities to have a technology rich classroom in a school with massive budget constraints just being mildly involved isn’t going to cut it.  I’m going to need to really step it up in terms of what I bring into the school.  I know that there are grants, donors, and companies looking to bring resources into schools.  My goal as an educator is to reach out beyond the confines of my school and bring resources into the building.  I need to become a leader in the school and the community to continue to grow and to meet my goals. 

 

That brings me to my final goal.  I will continue to grow and learn by recognizing that it takes serious effort to be a lifelong learner.  I think it would be really easy to consider myself a “lifelong learner” while only continuing my education when required.   There are so many constant changes and updates in education that there are enough required trainings to make someone feel that they are putting plenty of effort into their personal education.  I strive to go beyond learning just what I need to and to delve into learning the things that interest me.  I know it sounds super cheesy but I do love my job and there are many things that I would love to learn more about in order to be a more effective teacher.  I want to learn Spanish to better communicate with my families (I can just hear eleventh grade me scoffing that that idea).  I really want to learn more ways to involve students kinesthetically and to access different intelligences in lessons.  I want to better understand how my students’ low income backgrounds can affect their learning and ways I can help.  If I want to learn all of these things I’m going to have to put in some serious effort.  I think that (at least for now) I’m done with formal education and degrees, but that certainly does not mean that my education is complete. 

 

I’m reminded of the Lucy Calkins writing program and the oft-repeated mantra that comes with it, “When I’m done, I’ve just begun.”  Just as I’d expect my students to go back and edit and improve their writing, I suppose I’m going to have to go back and do the same for myself.