Beginning EDUC 435

     Beginning this semester in education 435 has been extremely exciting, but also extremely busy! I have absolutely loved getting to spend so much time in the classroom this semester. My clinical educator has truly opened her classroom to me, and she has made it clear to the class that I am an equal to her in her classroom. Therefore, I have truly felt like this classroom and all of the students are mine. This experience has already taught me so much more about being a teacher, and I am excited to see how much more I learn.
     I have learned a lot about behavior management as I have observed and participated in the classroom this semester. We have one child that is on a behavior plan, which has been quite the learning experience. My teacher has let me be an active part of the trial and error involved with creating a plan that works for this child, and I have learned a lot through this experience.
     One of the most impactful things I have learned about this semester so far is classroom management. This is something that has been difficult for me to learn in the past without having experience in a real classroom, so this semester has allowed me to finally begin learning about how to truly manage a classroom. I was also able to learn every aspect of my clinical educators classroom management plan through an assignment we have completed in education 435. One aspect of my clinical educators classroom management plan that I have learned a lot from is her contact with parents. Mrs. Lewis makes absolutely sure that the families of each of her students are involved in their students learning, and keeps them informed about everything that happens. This connects directly with standard 2e, which states that "Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students."
     Through my learning in my placement, outside research, and EDUC 435 class, I know that in my future classroom, my communication with parents must include as much good news about their students as bad news. According to the reading rockets website, "schools that communicate bad news about student performance more often than recognizing students' excellence will discourage parent involvement by making parents feel they cannot effectively help their children." It is important to me, as an educator, to help the families of my students feel like their student is capable and for me to communicate the ways the family can help in a positive way. 


http://www.readingrockets.org/article/building-parent-teacher-relationships