Module 1 Sutor

                In chapter one Learning, Teaching, and Educational Psychology I found it very interesting that they stated that “Beginning teachers everywhere share many concerns, including maintaining classroom discipline, motivating students, accommodating differences among students, evaluating students’ work, dealing with parents, and getting along with other teachers (p. 13).”  Although I have not taught in a classroom, I have been a catechist and had the same fears mentioned above.  As the children I taught began to open up, and become like family my fears went away.  I was then able to stop worrying and enjoy the class.  I have the same fears becoming an elementary teacher so I appreciated how the text stated that seasoned teachers stopped concentrated on how they were doing as a teacher, and began concentrating on how the children are doing.  This is such a simple concept but it put everything into perspective for me.  

            Another concept that I read about was active learning and Piagets strategies.  His belief that if we listen to children and pay close attention to their way of solving problems then “we will be better able to match teaching methods to children’s current knowledge and abilities (p. 63)” which align with my own thoughts.  Not every child learns at the same pace or in the same way so I believe educators should be very perceptive and be able to provide many techniques and strategies to help a child learn.  From my own experience as a student and teaching my son, I noticed that we both needed to be active learners to master a concept.  For my son he had difficulty memorizing facts but if we dig deeper into a concept and find out the why or how it relates to him personally he is able to remember the information easily.  One example was when he was younger in math class he had difficulty learning to add and subtract.  He did not understand the concept.  I knew he could count and subtract because when giving out treats he always was able to double check to make sure I did not give his brothers more than him.  He also knew when one of his brothers took his share and how much they took.  Therefore, when I explained adding and subtracting using crayons, toys, and candy, he quickly learned the concept of adding and subtracting.  This holds true for him in all subjects. 

            Many children in the United States have to face a lot of hardship such as divorce, low self-esteem, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse.  I believe that it is important to not only teach curriculum to a student but to also provide a safe place for all students.  I believe that “when students have chaotic and unpredictable home lives, they need a caring, predictable structure in school.”  (p. 92) Growing up I had experienced some of these hardships which I feel will make me a better teacher.  I know that no child wants to give a teacher a hard time but they themselves are having a hard time.  Children want to know that they are not alone so as an educator I will try to reach them by letting them know that I am there for them.  I believe that it is hard for anyone let alone a child to learn when they are under extreme emotional stress and for that reason, I will strive to provide a safe, and secure learning environment for all my students. 

            There were many great concepts in the first three chapters in the Woolfolk book, but I feel that the above will help me become a better teacher because I will put my students first, pay close attention to my students learning abilities, and their personal struggles.