I am pretty new to the education world. I have only been teaching for four years. In those four years I have grown so much as a teacher. I take a look back to when I just started out and I can't believe how far I have come in those four short years. Schmoker stated that teachers need to collaborate and I completely agree with him on that point. I am blessed to have a great partner to work with. When I just started out I needed to work with her to learn the ropes, but now I work with her and collaborate with her because I want to and really enjoy it. I look forward to coming to work and talking about what the day is about to bring. I also enjoy sharing lessons, ideas, and even having someone to complain to about different issues. Working with others can really make a huge difference in a teachers life. You can learn so much from one another.
I do have to say that if I read this article four years ago I would have been very discouraged. I am a hard working teacher and so are many of my colleagues. This article I feel doesn't give teachers the credit we deserve. I feel that this article doesn't talk about the majority of schools or teachers out there. Teachers are a special kind of person. We have our children's best interest at heart and we want to see our children succeed. Teachers don't wake up in the morning and think about how boring can I make my students day. There is so much work that needs to be accomplished that not every lesson is bells and whistles, but I tend to feel that the majority of teachers' lessons especially where I work make a lasting impression on our students. I do have to say it would be interesting to see how a teacher's lesson or day would change if we narrowed the curriculum.
In conclusion, I feel that in my school and like many other schools teachers for the most part do collaborate with one another and do benefit from it. I also feel that administrators do need to work closely with the teachers to make sure that valuable instruction is going on and that our collaboration isn't being wasted. Helpful feedback is welcomed.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This blog was created for a graduate class on curriculum and teaching. The purpose of this blog is to post my thoughts about different topics throughout the semester.
Blog Archive
About Me
- Kristin E. Robinson
- New Jersey, United States
- I am a 4th grade teacher.
3 comments:
Kristin, I agree with your points. His writing is research based and it has to happening somewhere. Also, when administrators I know read the book, they said they saw much of what he writes about going on in their schools. Perhaps the lens of a teacher sees only themselves and their class, while the administrative lens sees the bigger picture?
Position determines perspective...what do you think?
I wonder if we were to ask our administrators if they see much of what Schmoker writes about, if they would say that they do? I would like to think that all the teachers in my district work hard and are motivated, but maybe position does determine perspective...
Post a Comment