Latricia Blades

Practicum I Reflection 3

December 5, 2013

There are several factors that are influential when deliberating over how much a student learns in the classroom such as social status, wealth and family background. Nevertheless, teachers play an essential role in each of their students’ education. It is vital that students seek a continuous pursuit for knowledge, but it is the responsibility of the teachers to provide the guidance needed to succeed. My perception of teaching and learning since the beginning of the semester has not changed because of what I have learned in my classes or what I have observed at Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. What both experiences have done is confirmed my understanding of teaching and learning as being a challenging yet rewarding process. Teaching the whole student and helping them build on their skills around critical thinking, researching, and the general fusion of written and verbal knowledge in a caring and connected way that teachers need to do constantly but can also be a challenge. According to Brown & Knowles (2007), “As educators, we are obligated and responsible to create curriculum that has meaning” (p. 208) and would help students understand how social and cultural contexts can shape their learning. Teaching and learning are entwined through almost every aspect of life and once students understand and are willing to entangle themselves in both the reward for student and teacher can be astronomical.

My perception of teaching and learning did not change but what was the most surprising aspect of teaching was how I must be an organized and caring teacher at all times. According to Brown & Knowles (2007) “Middle level teachers will need the ability to show unconditional caring for their students while providing a classroom where consistence is always a priority” (p.