The End of A Journey?
A "Projective" Essay By Courtney Foley
As an educator, it is my goal to inspire my students to become lifelong learners. There is no better way to do this than to be an example for them. The first step in setting this example was to continue my formal education by engaging in the online Masters of Education program through Michigan State University. My time in this program helped in forming the kind of educator I am, the kind of learning environment I create in my classroom, and the lessons I present to my students. It was an opportunity to learn more about the students whom I teach and the subjects that I teach them. As I approach the completion of this program, I begin to think of the next step in my journey as a lifelong learner. There are many avenues to consider, but the overall goal is the same: I want to further my understanding of both the process of teaching and learning and the best practices associated with that process in order to become a better educator for my students.
One of the focus areas of my master’s program was special education. The courses associated with this focus area helped me to better understand special education legislation and policies, as well as, the requirements for teachers, students, and parents/student advocates. In addition, I studied best practices associated with teaching students with special needs. However, there is still much more to learn in this subject. I’d like to gain an understanding of specific learning disabilities and how they affect student learning and achievement, especially those most prevalent in the general education classroom. This knowledge will help to create a learning environment, specific lessons, and appropriate assessment techniques to meet the needs of all the students of a diverse classroom. Obtaining information through online courses, in-school professional development workshops, and current educational research journals will assist me in furthering my understanding of this topic and applying it to my teaching methods.
Gaining a better understanding of the kindergarten students whom I currently teach is also an important goal for my future learning. Improving my understanding of early education will help me better serve my students in a similar way to gaining knowledge about any special needs my students may have. Since my current teaching assignment is one in which I am responsible for teaching both pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, it is essential that I have an in depth understanding of the developmental characteristics and unique learning needs of this age group. In fact, I am hoping to gain knowledge about this topic at an upcoming conference. I will be attending the National Kindergarten Teacher Conference in order to gain knowledge about developmentally appropriate teaching and learning strategies to apply in the classroom.
It is important to me to fully understand both the needs of my students and the best way to meet them. I know from my time in the MSU online Masters in Education program that one of the ways I can meet the diverse needs of my students is to integrate technology in my classroom. While my school does not always have the latest technology available, it is important to know how to use it when it is. The students enrolled in the small, private school in which I teach deserve access to all the resources, including assistive and other technologies that can be provided to them. In gaining more knowledge about using and integrating technology, I am again learning ways to better serve and meet the needs of my students.
A final area in which I plan to continue learning involves both my colleagues and my students. The online MAED program emphasized the importance of collaboration. I would like to continue this focus into my current teaching position by building and maintaining better professional relationships among my colleagues. It is important for all educators to work together to best meet the needs of all students. This is especially important in smaller schools where all teachers have close relationships with all the students. Through collaboration, we can achieve better teaching practices and a more uniform approach to classroom management and discipline. In order to achieve such collaboration, it is necessary to conduct research of different methods, discuss said methods, and agree upon a way to implement them. This would certainly be a worthwhile experience for both me and my colleagues.
Obtaining my masters degree in education is a great achievement of which I am extremely proud. It was a difficult, but worthwhile journey that took me from novice to seasoned educator. However, the journey is not complete. There is still much for me to learn about my students, the field of teaching, and how to become a better educator. The engagement in the learning process will assist me in setting and attaining new goals to achieve. In addition, I’ll be setting an example for my students so that they, too, can set a goal to become a lifelong learner.