We experience success everyday. Although, why is it that we remember our failures clearer than our successes? Why do we see failure in such a negative light? It's safe to say that I viewed failure in that way prior to thinking more deeply about how it can be a positive experience. In my first year of teaching there were many times where I felt like students were not understanding the content I was teaching and I was not doing everything I could to help my students. I felt like a failure of a teacher and I was simply surviving. Looking back, I can now say that I have significantly changed my teaching style since then along with my classroom management methods.
My first year of teaching I used something called a "color chart". If a student was "naughty" they moved their stick to red right in front of all their peers. If a student did something amazing, they moved their stick to purple. Also, In front of their peers. I had one student in particular who would throw fits and throw things whenever they were put on red. After that year I knew that I was not doing this method because I believed in it but because other teachers told me to do it. This was a huge fail! Since then, I have completely changed my method and my class is now focused on positive behavior reinforcement and reteaching. I made this switch because I believed in it. I have been complimented by my administrator on the effectiveness of my classroom management and I plan to continually grow in this area. This is one example of how giving up on old habits, creating new ones, and risking the fall can truly be beneficial. I feel confident within my classroom management. Although, I know there is still room for growth within how I teach content to my students. I follow our curriculum daily, I teach all my students the same skills for the week, and I often stick to what seems to be the "safe" choices. I would like to expand my own teaching strategies by changing my idea of what a classroom environment resembles. My goal is to teach my first graders much like how they were taught in kindergarten by using hands-on exploration. The academic article Lifelong Kindergarten by Mitchel Resnick, explains the benefits of a "kindergarten approach" and incorporating play into learning. Often you see children building, making, and exploring new ideas at the age level. They are answering the questions of "how" and "what if". During this time they also learn about the creative process which includes imagining innovative ideas, trial and error, examining, and experimenting. Students learn how to get and give feedback as well. Why should kindergarteners only receive this experience if it has so many benefits? I have always wanted to try play/project based learning in my classroom but for some reason I let the word "failure" hold me back. Below I have included an image of a "Maker Kit" called Squishy Circuits. I will challenge myself to accept failure and embrace iteration (repeating a process until a problem is solved). I will experiment with this tool and think more critically about how I can incorporate it into my classroom. I am excited to learn the benefits of "playing" with tech tools and how I can also integrate content alongside of this.
To purchase the above Maker Kit check out Squishy Circuits here!
As teachers, I believe we have to be open to the fact that society's expectations are changing and becoming increasingly more difficult for to keep up with. Education is a field that should change and evolve as well. I truly want to challenge students in my classroom to think deeper about ideas. To do so, I have to accept the fact that I will fail and I must look at it as a learning moment. I have experienced failure before as a teacher, as a child, and as an adult. Check out my podcast below to hear an example of a #bigfail from my childhood and how I look back on it now.
Podcast created using Anchor.
As I am reflecting more on myself as a teacher and the way I run my classroom, I created an infographic image to summarize my classroom experiences. This includes daily instructional routines and how I try to incorporate creativity and flexibility into my first grade classroom. Check out my creation below to understand my experiences so far and challenge yourself to think more deeply about what failures you are willing to experience!
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Reflective infographic created using Picktochart. See button below to visit the infographic online.
References:
Resnick, M. (2001, September). Lifelong kindergarten. In presentation delivered at the annual symposium of the Forum for the Future of Higher Education, Aspen, Colorado. Resnick, M. (2017). Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating creativity through projects, passion, peers, and play. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
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