Kaitlin Martin

I've learned that motivation has multiple steps to it, and each of those steps needs to be attended to with students. Students also need me to focus on the WHY behind their objectives and assignments, be clear and communicate well, and engage both types of memory to build their learning scaffold.

I need to stay focused on my students throughout the class. They need me to stay engaged and keep a pulse on how they are doing. I also need to be ready to realize that we may all need some variety and reorganization midway through the class to remain engaged.

There are a lot of ways to meet student needs: be silly and creative at times, be open to student suggestions, get students involved, provide for their needs, examine your classroom space, treat them as adults and with respect, and more. It's a lot to juggle, but at the same time, it all comes back to WHY I am teaching and WHY they are there. Those things need to connect in several ways and at several levels, and I need to keep that in mind.

I've learned (or been reminded rather) that learning about my students as soon as possible can help address frustrations, fears, obstacles, and set them up for success in my classes. 

I'm also considering what it means to teach class over just a case. I'm a new educator, so while I'm observing, taking notes, and trying to absorb it all before I teach my first class on my own, I can't help but feel like there is so much I'm not grasping and will miss until it's too late to help my students. I don't want MY fear of failure to… >>>

I do not have much experience creating lesson plans, but I need to think carefully about the content, goals and objectives, delivery methods to reach various learning styles, evaluation procedures, materials needed, and make sure I am paying attention to the time.

There is a LOT to do in that first day, made more complicated by the fact that I work in an accelerated program. I think some of the elements might need to be shifted to the LMS shell, like a welcome video from me about who I am, my background, etc, the syllabus, and a discussion space for students to get to know one another. I do think it is still important to take the time to review course objectives, expectations, how the students will be evaluated, but it would need to be condensed I think. I do like the… >>>

I know that my institution standardizes many of the components discussed in this section, so it is even more important that I master the elements I can such as knowing my content and textbook well, preparing for class and arriving for class early, making a checklist (which I love checklists anyway, so this is no hardship for me) so I don't forget important topics or steps, and keeping a notepad handy for new issues/concerns, etc that come up during class.

I have learned so much from this module! I can definitely see how my time management issues in my one teaching position before undercut my credibility with my students, and I need to give myself more time moving forward to be better prepared so I can be on time. I also like the idea of developing a professional development plan that is big plan but also takes into account that I am a first-time classroom instructor with a lot to learn just in that arena, and it's ok to focus there and then expand outward once that is more settled.