Reading Reflections: Teaching Profession
I am glad that Routman reminded me that my “profession” is noble and significant. When I am with female friends who are lawyers, I feel less intelligent or successful. When I meet new people who are lawyers or doctors, I find myself almost apologetically saying that I am just a teacher. I will try not to do that again. I will try to take her advice and behave with dignity so that I do send a message to colleagues, students and parents that I value what I do.
Janet Allen says that our journeys as teachers are often lonely. Because I am the only Family and Consumer Science teacher at BCHS, I often feel very frustrated because I have no one to share lesson plans and idea with. Allen says to find support in workshops, etc. I have really enjoyed this class and the readings assigned so far. It really helps me to talk to other teachers and to hear their opinions and ideas.
After reading the two assignments, I realized that I often take student complaints as criticism rather than an opportunity to examine my methods. I certainly never thought that, as a teacher, I should become a political activist. I have often thought that “someone” should write a letter to the editor about an issue that affects education in a negative way. I never entertained the thought that “someone” should be ME.
1 comment:
Reading: Living the Professional Life
I'm glad that Routman reminds us that we do belong to a rewarding profession,and that we must see ourselves as professionals. So many times, I forget that I worked hard to receive a degree in this field, and so I should regard myself as a professional.
Routman's reminder that teachers are also learners is a lesson that I have learned my first two years of teaching. I began as a teacher who believed that I must transmit all this knowledge to students. Now, I realize that I learn from them in many ways as how to use that knowledge to better educate them! I liked the author's emphasis that we must trust ourselves in our efforts. I have spent a lot of time being frustrated about not knowing how to teach a certain skill, that I have not focused on what I already know and what works.
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