Weekly Reflections Examples for Portfolio

Dakota Graham
EDU 430
Week of March 1st-6th

Weekly Reflection

This was another solid week!  My focus for this week was to finish up learning and

studying Greek gods and to start Greek mythology.  I really did enjoy this week.  I felt as if the

classroom had fully become “mine.”  Mr. Link is always there for me and guides me along the

way, but he has basically made the classroom all mine.  He is still always there in the room and

backs me up, but I have complete control of the room.  

The lesson this week was, “fun,” for the students, but highly educational.  The students

were learning and applying what they learned in an activity.  By having the students create their

own myths, I was able to see what they took away from the lesson and how they applied what we

learned.  When having the students do this activity, I noticed that many of the students were

confused about the same thing; making sure there is a life lesson in the myth.  If all the students

had this issue, it made me reflect and note that perhaps I was not clear when I was teaching that

part of the lesson.  So, by the time I was teaching the last few lessons, I made sure to explain

what a life lesson was in greater detail and provide examples.  By the last few lessons, the life

lesson aspect went a lot better!  One other thing I learned this week was how to apply a

“teachable moment.”  When I was reading a myth to the class, the word, “arrogant,” came up in

the story.  I should have stopped and explained the term to the class.  After Mrs. Tranquillo went

over my lesson with me, she explained that I should have explained the word to the students. 
From there on out, I explained the term to every class!  This was good for me to learn so I can

explain vocabulary terms more frequently to my students.

Dakota Graham
EDU 450
Week of Feb 8th-12th

Weekly Reflection

This week truly depicted how teaching does not always go as planned.  This past week,

Mr. Link and I had these document based questions for the kids to read, discuss, and answer

questions.  In our heads, the lesson was intended to go really well, but in reality, we tweaked the

lesson like three times!  As I start to teach more and more, I have realized that each class is so

different and that every student takes in information differently.  In addition, every student is

different.  I really enjoy working with students one on one.  I like this because I feel as if I have

a  direct impact on the students and get to know them on a personal level. Also, this gives me a

better understanding of how the students learn.  When I get the chance to work with students

independently, I can learn what does and does not work for them.

After teaching more frequently, I still need to work on wait time and not being as

monotone.  I know I am still learning, but I am really trying to give the students enough time to

jot notes down, think, or even answer questions.  Mr. Link says in certain cases I give the perfect

amount of wait time, whereas other times I normally give too little of time. I know   I know this

time will come with practice!  I am very fortunate that Mr. Link is honest with me.  No other

teacher has ever told me that I am monotone at times, so I truly appreciate the honest feedback.

Mr. Link says it's not so much that I speak in low tones, but more so that my voice needs more
“spunk.”  He says that as the teacher, we need to present the information as if we are excited to

teach it to the students.  As the instructor, if we are not engaging and even sound bored teaching

the information, the students will not be responsive.  I never thought of teaching in that way

before, but it is very true.  I am truly enjoying this experience so far and have learned so much.