Reich College of Education

Final Thoughts

 It is insane to think that my time at Appalachian State University is coming to an end. When I reflect on my past three and a half years, I can recall numerous times the classroom that I have been a part of has prepared me for my future teaching career. With multiple classroom internships as well as classes dealing with adolescent development, I feel completely prepared to begin my first year teaching.

During the end of my junior year, beginning of my senior year, I took these things called “Block” classes. These are required classes that are taken once you have a certain number of hours and experience. My block classes involved the basics on middle school philosophy, adolescent development and methods for teaching specific contents. All of these classes have prepared me to deal with young adolescents and teach them in an appropriate way.

I had one class specifically in adolescent development. Being a middle grades education major, I have learned that I will be dealing with students who are constantly changing. Adolescents are going through major changes while in school. They are discovering their identities. My classroom experience has prepared me to be developmentally responsive to my students. Each and every one of my professors has taught me at a level that is appropriate for my age. But they have also tried to individualize their instruction for each one of their students. Seeing these techniques put into play in the classroom has made me want to do the same in my future class. I, as a student, have felt attended to and cared about. This individualization and developmentally responsive teaching has increased my educational experience in a positive way.

Everything I have learned in the past year has been very relevant to me. My professors created content that was related to my life. I want this relevance to be implemented inside my classroom as well. Students learn better when they can see how the content is connected to their everyday life. They also learn better when they the teacher creates interest in the content. This can be achieved through integrating different learning styles, interests and current events into the classroom.  All three aspects can increase student interest and make the content relevant. My professors have done a great job of this in the classrooms that I have been a part of. I hope to continue that relevancy into my future classroom with my own students.

I cannot say that college has been the easiest experience. I have had some difficult classes. Some that challenged me in a major way. I had professors that made me delve deep into the content. We learned far more than just surface level information. This challenging curriculum is a necessary aspect of any classroom. In my future class, I hope to challenge my students daily. We are constantly surrounded my Common Core and essential standards. As teachers in North Carolina, we are graded off of our student’s ability to understand these standards. Students will better comprehend and apply the content when they dive deep into it. This in-depth understanding will challenge students, and in the long run, increase their knowledge of the standard. I have found in my internships that students are not challenged enough. They are far more capable than they are given credit. Challenging them creates a fun and learning-centered atmosphere in the classroom. I will be implementing this type of environment when I become a classroom teacher.

I have had multiple internships over the course of my college experience. I have been in different school cultures and environments, as well as different grade levels. But, in every school I have been a part of, there is something that resonates throughout. That thing is love. Every internship, every cooperating teacher, has been filled with love, passion and patience for students. I have come to learn that this profession is not about the content; it is about the kids. Without relationships, students will not learn. Without showing them that you care, they will not have any interest in the information.

Patience, love and passion are three key elements to teaching. I want to implement all three of these within my own classroom. My passion for students has increased over the past four years. My love for each and every one of my students is outrageous. In my student teaching, I tell my students I love them every day. And although they might not believe it all the time, they know how I feel about them. I have increased my patience throughout my internships as well. Some days are more difficult than others. But patience is important and needed within the teaching profession. I find these three things to be the most important aspects of teaching. And they will be fully implemented into my future classroom.

Overall, these past four years have been a whirlwind. I have learned so much and have created bonds with friends, teachers and schools that will last a lifetime. My future classroom will be forever shaped by what I have experienced here at Appalachian State University. Thank you, Mr. Patterson, for this opportunity to learn and grow at a university that I could not have afforded to go to without your contribution. I cannot believe that my time is almost over at this wonderful university. But I will take these experiences with me as I move into my own classroom. And I will continue to challenge, be relevant, and practice patience and love on my students in my future classroom.