UBD/DI Chapter 4

     This chapter had a significant impact on me because there were many ideas in this chapter that I felt were important and had felt "bad" or not as good of a teacher for thinking these ways. I think thing that struck me as most comforting was the fact that I was not the only one who thought it was not just the teachers responsibility to help the students gain the knowledge they need to be successful, but also the students responsibility. It seems to me that within the last week we have read a lot about how it is the teachers responsibility that students understand all these concepts and that students feel welcomed and safe, but it also seems as if the students were expecting the teachers to take the blame if they were unsuccessful. I learned the importance of balance and the student/teacher relationship as a dynamic that would work most efficiently if both parties worked together in providing the best academic experience possible for the student. This chapter also made it evident to me that in the beginning of the year I have to make it clear to my students why I feel it is important for them to work together and how that will make an effective learning environment for everyone.

    Many things I learned in this chapter such as getting students to understand why it is important to work together, to get students to set personal goals for themselves, and to have them take responsibility for themselves are all things I feel are necessary to incorporate into my future classroom because it will allow the students to be better off and have a better understanding of themselves.

UBD/DI Chapter 3

    This chapter really seemed to strike me as most interesting because it was based on the important questions and ideas of what is important for the students to learn and it seemed ton include the ideas of why many teachers become teachers. I thought the Backward Design process was made in the students best interest and I feel like that is why it is so remarkable about it is that it was made to help the students and that right there makes me feel it is so important. This chapter really had an impact on me because it really made me understand how caring teachers are and how they really do care about the success of their students. For instance, stage two of the backward design I thought was such a great idea because teachers really thought about how this would be impacting students and trying to plan ahead to help students obtain the best results. One thing this chapter helped me feel is important enough to help my students understand is that education should be about gathering knowledge and that school shouldn't be about the grades because when the grade becomes more important then the information suddenly learning doesn't seem to be enjoyable anymore. I want my students to remember that being challenged in their academics is a good thing and that teachers are their mentors and are always looking out for the students best interest.

MI Chapter 4

      I found it really interesting that in this chapter the teachers actually took the time to explain the MI theory to students. To me this showed how much the teachers cared about the students because they took the time to explain the theory rather then assuming the students wouldn't understand or that they didn't need to know about it. I also found it remarkable how the teachers asked questions in such a way that made the students really feel more confident in themselves and not feel "less intelligent" then other students. To me this chapter illustrated what it really meant to be a teacher and how much teachers actually care about the students and how much knowledge the students gain and the personal growth rather then worrying about test scores and assessments. I really thought it was unique and surprising how many different ways teachers could creatively incorporate the different learning styles. I also felt so impressed that teachers put in this much effort to connect with their students because in today's world teachers are conveyed as "not caring" and that they are constantly blamed for the faults in the education system. I feel like this really had an impact on how I run my classroom because I understand how important it is for students to feel comfortable with the methods and techniques they use to learn and that if they are more comfortable maybe they won't be so reluctant to learn new information. I definitely feel like some of these options that were mentioned are potential choices for my future students that can engage them in the learning process in a fun and interactive way.

MI Chapter 3

      In this chapter one of the things that struck me most interestingly was that teachers really made such a significant effort to determine what learning styles best fit them. This definitely was an eye opener because the teachers main focus wasn't on how much content they completed over the year, but rather helping students gain personal growth. I think it was really refreshing because it brought me back to the heart of teaching and took me away from the stereotypes placed on teachers these days that all they care about is assessments and scores rather than the individual students. Having the student understand what type of learner they are seems even more important then it ever had before. Before reading this I didn't necessarily completely connect a students progress or "failures" with their learning style, but rather that they were unwilling to try. However, now I see that is not always the case, that not every student who does poorly is not willing to put in the effort, but rather that the material being taught to them is not being taught in a way that they can understand it.

     I learned though that routine isn't the most essential aspect of a classroom. In fact, students may even gain something from change and it may really help them develop into successful adults because they know what techniques work best for them. This will really impact my classroom in the future because it will remind me to "mix it u" a little bit. Without reading this I may have been the teacher who stuck to the same few ways of assessing students progress, but now it seems that understanding how much students benefit from knowing more about how they learn will allow me to give them choices and hopefully this will also keep them more interested in the topics.

UBD/DI Chapter 2

    One of the most significant elements of Chapter two that struck me as most important was the ability to have flexibility in your classroom and in your lessons. Students will gain more knowledge and understanding if they do not feel rushed through the material, but rather can absorb it in various ways that fit their specific learning styles. This chapter also provided me with insight that every teacher should know and that will definitely shape how I teach and that is the students are the most important elements of the classroom, not the teacher. This right here brought me back to the heart of why I have such a strong passion for teaching; it is about helping shape students and play a role in their academic experience that will hopefully impact them in positive ways. With the understanding of flexibility in mind, I feel that will help me become a better teacher in the future and make my classroom a “safe” environment where learning can be more then simple how much my students were able to accomplish. This chapter definitely encouraged me as a future teacher to make my classroom about interacting with my students as individuals and allowing them to learn more then just what’s written in the books we read, but to be able to connect with the material. That was a powerful tactic that I feel definitely will allow me to encourage students. 

UBD/DI Chapter 1

      In Chapter one I really began to understand the difference between Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction. From this chapter I gained a better view of how teachers must try and meet the needs of their students while also being obligated to meet the needs of the curriculum also. The discussion of the curriculum and teaching students in the most effective way for each student allowed me to realize the complexity of a teacher’s job. This reading allowed me to take myself out of the students’ frame of mind and allowed me to experience the role of a teacher, which clarifies the various aspects of my chosen profession. Through the process of understanding Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction more clearly it showed me the importance of using these techniques in my future classroom and how important it is to engage students of various learning styles. These techniques also enhanced my ability to see what is most important for these students to gain from their academic experience in my classroom and how as a teacher I am supposed to find the best way to teach the curriculum and meet the students’ individual needs.

MI Chapter 2

       Chapter two had a similar impact on me as did the chapter in the Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction book in terms of trying to uncover each students talents or interests. Understanding that my students know their strengths is an important element of teaching, but also helping them discover talents they didn’t know they had is also a part of my career. Providing my students with the opportunities to challenge themselves and try new ways of learning may increase their confidence and make school more interesting, along with having them learn more about themselves. So far, while reading I have gained more knowledge about how to be an effective teacher then I ever thought I would, and one important aspect that I found really helpful for my future classroom is that I need to have confidence in my own learning techniques. As a teacher I have to remember that I am setting the stage for these students, showing them how to behave and helping them discover them selves. The best way to do that is by illustrating to them that I am comfortable with my learning styles and myself, and that I am open to trying new things. Hopefully this experience will allow them to be less reluctant to trying new things in the future, and maybe they might actually find another technique and learning style they are good at.

MI Chapter 1

        In Chapter one, Howard Gardner’s idea of the “intelligence tests” being an inaccurate approach to determining a students’ intelligence is an idea that many teachers and students struggle with today. Many school systems, more specifically colleges weigh heavily on accepting a student based off of their “SAT” scores as an indication of how “smart” they are and what type of student they are. In all actuality, it may only prove what type of learner they are. Test scores should not be the major determining factor of whether a student is intelligent because that discriminates among those students who do not test well. Before reading this chapter I thought I would be a teacher who gave mostly tests, with a few projects here or there, but now after learning about the eight types of learning styles I realize the importance of meeting every students needs. Low-test scores are discouraging to those students who do not test well, and that may put those students in a position where they feel they don’t want to learn anymore. Now with this knowledge, I can make my future assignments have choices or mix things up a little bit and give tests but have alternate ways of assessing my students as well, and this may also make it less boring and less traditional and allow my students to stay interested in the subject matter.