Brittany Bizzak

Dr. Reis
Steps to Great Teaching
February 18, 2016
Teaching Journal Self Assessment
Good teachers consistently strive to improve, and they focus on something they can
control: their own performances. (Whitaker, 2012, p.38) One way good teachers can improve
their teaching is through constant and meaningful reflection. Teaching journals are a very
powerful way for teachers to reflect. These journals can show the individual teacher their
strengths, weaknesses, and patterns through documented thoughts and reactions to lessons. For
me, this was an eye opening experience. Reflecting and journaling throughout the school day
really helped me realize what I was doing well, and it helped me find areas that I needed to
improve on a daily basis. After reflecting, it is then my job to make necessary changes because
the best teachers accept responsibility for their classrooms. (Whitaker, 2012, 28) As the teacher
it is my job to have high expectations for myself, and it is my job to make necessary changes so
that my teaching is as beneficial as it can be for my students.
First, when reflecting on my strengths I found that one of my first thoughts every time
was were my students focused, on task, and engaged? This connects to the reading because
Whitaker feels that as teachers we must always work to engage the students. (2012, p. 34)
Overall, I found that most of my strengths related to my students being enthusiastic and engaged
in what they were doing/learning. Of course, there were a few lessons I did not list this as my
initial strength, but I knew why right away. For example one time the students were not engaged,
but I think it was because the lesson contained a lot of direct instruction, was new information,
and contained a lot of teacher talk and no hands on practice. Next time I teach this lesson, I will

be sure to add an interactive part to it! Other common strengths I found through journaling
include routines/ procedures, discussions, and everyone participating. For homeroom, reading,
math, and social studies I had reflected that daily my students knew what to do when they started
to get ready for that subject. The reason I feel this is strength is because I really focused on
practicing and modeling these routines since the beginning of the year. I also have to give some
credit to my planning. Every morning when reviewing my day I think about the best way to
begin class. In one part of my reflection I did find that when we did not have a smooth, routine
based start of one class (writing) the rest of the class did not go so well. This shows the
importance of routines, consistency, and procedures.
Next, the most important reflection I was able to make through my journaling related to
my weaknesses. Overall, I commonly noted the need for more differentiation in almost every
class. The comments included stated things like, some students were able to complete the
activity with very little struggle and some students did not have necessary background
knowledge to complete task. This shows me that some are above what I am teaching and need
enriched and others need more structure and review of previous skills. Other weaknesses I found
include timing, too much teacher talk (teacher centered), not enough productive struggle, and
lack of informal/assessments in certain subjects. From this reflection I know and understand that
I can improve these areas by taking responsibility because great teachers know they are the
variable in the classroom. (Whitaker, 2012, p.41) One way I can improve these areas is through
my planning. I need to incorporate leveled activities specifically in math, watch the clock in
reading to be sure I am at the correlating part of our reading program, and provide more exit slips
in writing and social studies. Based on my observations I also found a need for more productive
struggle within my classroom. I know, especially after reading the assigned text, that it is not the

students fault if they solve the problem easily. It is not the students fault they seem to give up
quickly. As the teacher I am the variable that needs to change. I need to make sure I am
presenting my students with problems that challenge them (planning) and that I am modeling
how to approach a problem that seems difficult. I also need to be sure to scaffold the instruction
by asking students constant questions instead of providing them with answers.
In conclusion, success in any profession starts with a focus on self, (Whitaker, 2012,
p.41) which is why this assignment was so important. As educators we need to be making
constant observations of our strengths and weaknesses so that we can grow and improve as
educators.