Blog Assignment 9

"What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung:

People, if you haven't read Mr. McClung's blog post already - READ IT! In this post, Mr. McClung shares with us what he learned during his first year of teaching. It gives great insight for future educators. Here's a brief rundown of his post:

How to Read the Crowd.

Here he states that your lessons aren't about you as the teacher, they are about your students. Your lessons need to be student-centered and let your audience drive your instruction.

Be Flexible.

Here he talks about how teachers tend to plan the "perfect" lesson; they know exactly how and what they want to say and when. He states that "the lesson you teach and the one you plan are always different." This is something we need to remember! You can plan you lessons to a certain extent, but allow for flexibility. Allow yourself to go-with-the-flow.

Communicate.

Now for communication, the best medicine as Mr. McClung calls it. He states that communication is the best way to resolve issues and establish strong relationships with your students and fellow teachers. So true!

Be Reasonable.

Mr. McClung talks about how we hold our students to certain expectations and how they don't always meet those expectations - and that's ok. Don't get upset and punish them for their mistakes, no one is perfect. Our job as an educator is to pick them up, brush them off and help them try again. It is extremely important that we as teachers remember this as it is critical for our students' success.

Don't be Afraid of Technology.

Technology is a must in today's society so don't be frightened by it. Jump in, learn it and use it to its full advantage. You can't run from it for forever!

Listen to Your Students.

My favorite.. "Listen to your students because you may be the only one that does." I think teachers have a tendency to forget that your students' needs are just as important as your actual students. You don't know where they come from, what their home life is like, or what they have been through. You need to respect them and let them know that you care, and in return, you will gain their respect.  

Never Stop Learning.

Mr. McClung says that we owe it to our students to never stop learning. We practically force them to learn, so why don't we? We live in a society that is ever-changing and requires us to continually learn. Don't ever stop!