- What developmental differences do you see in the children in the classroom?
I've spent time in all different grades, and the thing I notice most is how kids learn differently. I remember a time specifically where a 4th grade teacher was having her students write a few paragraphs about their favorite birthday present, convincing someone else that they should get one, too. Some kids were quiet, thoughtful, and wrote their papers without speaking. Other kids had to describe the toy out loud to their neighbor or to the teacher before writing it down. One kid drew a picture of the toy before starting his paragraphs. Everybody learns differently and at a different pace. It's cool seeing that in a classroom setting.
- What does a teacher do all day?
From what I've seen, the teacher is constantly busy. Whether it's teaching, taking kids to different places in the school, grading papers, giving one-on-one time to students, they are always doing something! I was talking to a teacher who told me "it's a lot of hard work inside and outside of the classroom". I think this is preparing me, being able to see just how much time and effort teachers put forth for their students to be in a good learning environment.
- How does knowledge of the way people learn relate to the experience of being a teacher?
Knowing that there is more than one way to teach something to kids opens up a hundred learning doors. I think the more we have studied how the brain works and that there are different ways to process things, the more patient and understanding we are with kids. We know that they're not just stupid, and that there is a reason that they maybe aren't getting it quite as fast as the other kids. It's the teachers job to recognize different learning styles and be able to give variety in teaching so that everyone learns in the way that they need to. It has everything to do with the experience of being a teacher.
