essay

Reflective Journal
EDUC 1301
Respond to the journal entry prompt in the third column. Simply hit return as you write. The box will expand as necessary. Each response should be thoughtful, well-developed and complete.
Week
Prompt
Response
4
Parker Palmer said, “I am a teacher at heart, and there are moments in the classroom when I can hardly hold the joy. When my students and I discover uncharted territory to explore, when the pathway our of a thicket opens up before us, when our experience is illuminated by the lighting-life of the mind—then teaching is the finest work I know.” Reflect on what Palmer’s statement means in relation to your future.
This statement makes me very excited to not only teach in future years but also discover, along side my students, the world and to spread knowledge in ways not thought possible by past teachers. When he refers to “uncharted territory to explore” I am thrilled because this is a great example of what is going on in my future student’s heads. When seeing my students minds go to new places I will be excited because their graps on the world will become a little bigger. Last year, as a intern for a kindergarten class, when teaching student different math concepts, that moment where they finally “get it” brings me an incredible amount of joy.
5
Respond to this quotation from Anthony Jay, “The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions.” What difference could an understanding of this quotation make in your classroom?
The understanding we can take away is having in mind that all things printed and required to teach can be noted wrong. There sometimes can be an alternate view that we need to keep in mind when we are teaching. Things like the sciences are taught as completely true, but we have to be aware because we are mere humans we don’t know all the answers, and we need to teach this concept to our kids. The difference that knowing this concept really broadens our student’s perspective on life by teaching them not everything taught is fact.
6
Respond to this quotation from Norman Vincent Peale from the point of view of teacher evaluations. “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
I think that this is referring to most of the world’s fear of being wrong. We would rather be noticed for all of the small things we did that were good than be found wrong in something, even if it is for our benefit. In this fear we are being ruined because we don’t want people to change us based on our flaws. We want to be appreciated and glorified, which most of the time is a selfish thing.
7
Nikos Kazantzakis said, “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” What does this say about the job(s) of a teacher?
This says that the job of a teacher is to allow the student into new idea that they wouldn’t be able to reach on their own. Teachers “lead” their classroom’s minds into adventures and understandings that they wouldn’t be able to reach on their own.
8
Respond to this Horace Mann quotation in relation to planning instruction, “Aptness to teach involves the power of perceiving how far a scholar understands the subject-matter to be learned, and what in the natural order, is the next step is he to take.”

9
Reflect on the influence of a teacher in the life of a student after considering this quotation from Beatriz Campuzano,” In the sixth grade, my English teacher, Mr. Wilkes, helped me to understand that I was capable of achieving anything. I began to believe in myself. My self-esteem grew as Mr. Wilkes told me day after day that I was a ‘gift to the world.’ I loved education because it made me feel smart. Knowing that I had knowledge made me feel invincible.”

10
After reading the Teacher Code of Ethics, discuss it in relation to this quotation from William A. Foster, “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

11
Relate this quotation from Jim Fraser to planning for your students. “If teaching makes a powerful difference when done expertly and well, then the responsibility is on us—quite dramatically on us—to be the best possible teachers, well prepared and ready to do whatever is needed to help our students succeed.”

12
Respond to this quotation by Carlette Jackson Hardin, “The ultimate goal of classroom management should not be on simple obedience, but on having students behave appropriately because they know it’s the right thing to do and because they can understand how their actions affect other people”

13
Respond to this Lee Shulman quotation in relation to assessment,”Only when we have something to value, will we have something to evaluate… and we cannot value something that we cannot share, exchange, and examine.

14
Respond to this quotation from Peter F. Drucker from the viewpoint of a teacher, “The most serious mistakes are not being made as the result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong questions.”

15
Albert Einstein once said, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Respond to this quote in light of your job as a teacher.