Tara Luke

11/10/14
Student Teaching
FINAL REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
I cannot begin to express how much I have learned throughout this student
teaching experience. I also cannot express how emotional it will be for me to leave this
classroom. Although it is not technically and never has been altogether mine, I do
honestly feel that I will be leaving my students, my job, and my second home in
December. As I am preparing to soon walk the stage and start the exciting next
chapter of my life, this moment of reflection is very bittersweet.
Wayne State University has greatly prepared me for my future endeavors as an
educator. The corresponding assignments throughout student teaching have greatly
helped my understanding of how to become an educator who is innovative, reflective,
and committed to diversity. The journaling process of observing the surrounding
community of my placement school, continually expanding my knowledge of the
schools curriculum, and creating a comprehensive classroom management plan has
really covered a majority of aspects of teaching that I will take with me. Thinking also
about the ten InTASC standards, I feel that those also encompass the massive extent
as to what I have learned this semester. I feel I have always understood these
standards to a basic degree, but now that I was able to experience first-hand what the
real classroom looks and feels like, these standards and assignments have become so
much more clear and beneficial to my knowledge.

The standards of learner development, learning differences, and learning

environments have mainly been established through journaling my teaching and
learning statement and my classroom management plan. By reflecting on myself as a
humanist and also reflecting on the things I would and would not do in my own
classroom based upon experiences that I have had, I am able to establish diversity by
trying to appeal to all students. This may be an appeal to academic or cultural
diversity; either way, these reflection-based assignments have opened my eyes to what
a commitment to diversity truly means. Content knowledge and application of content
have been continuously represented throughout this entire semester through my lesson
planning and various assignments that I have created. I try to make lessons hands-on
as much as possible (especially in science and math), I adapt lessons to suit the
individual needs of particular students, and I try to connect what students are learning
to their own personal lives. This process also ties into instructional strategies, planning
for instruction, and assessment. Lastly, I exhibit professional learning and leadership
collaboration by portraying myself as a proud example and an admirable mentor that
children can look up to. By constantly reflecting, I can assess what was successful and
what was not and I also take enjoyment in involving parents and other professional
staff in students education. I believe the ten standards combined with the various
journals/assignments that have been addressed during this semester have truly allowed
me to become a well-rounded, innovative, and reflective educator who is committed to
diversity.