- Real teaching experience’s: Within the Village Project I was able to gain real teaching experiences. A huge takeaway from this project was how much I was able to learn from actually being in the classroom. The moments that I have experienced within the classroom have really helped to shape me into a better future teacher, making me more confident about my career path.
- Memories & connections that I made: A very meaningful takeaway for me from the Village Project would be the memories and connections that I have made with the kids within the classroom. Although I wasn’t with them for a very big span of time, I was still able to watch their growth and get to know them. Building relationships with the kids has been very special!
- Fostering a growth mindset: Within the Village Project I have been able to encourage a growth mindset to the children I worked with. With whatever they were struggling with, if ever, I was able to reinforce positivity into their minds.
- effectiveness of work-based learning: I have discovered that work-based learning is almost essential for teaching young minds. I saw that this is an important tool, through doing things like fun activities, games and hands-on experiences. Work-based learning makes learning affective, fun, and interactive.
- Adapting to the needs of each child: Throught the Village Project I have had the chance to realize that every child is different in their own way. This experience has taught me how to adapt to the needs of each student and their different learning styles. I have learned patience and flexibility through the experience.
- Importance of meeting people where they are: I have never heard or thought of this before Dr. Riggle introduced me to it. I have learned that meeting people where they are is key to success, within a school environment. Understanding things like learning styles and individual needs is important, in order to offer the right support to an individual. This goes outside the classroom too, not just in the classroom.
- Centering: Centering to get into a state of mind, where you can find balance and not have to worry about all the things going on in your life is a great way to start out the day. Centering gives me a sense of peace and calmness, it helps me let go of all my worries and anxieties. I have never done this prior to this class, but it is very affective!
- Teaching is an act of service: Within this course, it has become aware to me that teaching is not for my own benefit, but for the benefit of my students. Teaching is an act of giving your time and energy to help guide others while they are growing.
- Speaking up: As someone who is on the shyer side, I have learned that having the ability to speak up is very important. This is important because you need to be able to share ideas, advocate for things, and speak to a room full of people.
- My role as a teacher will go beyond academics: Not only is teaching about classroom content, but it is more so about providing emotional care. I have learned the importance of not only teaching my students, but also providing emotional support, understanding struggles, fostering a positive environment, and building relationships.
Experiencing the Village Project, as an after school volunteer with the first graders, has so far been a very transformative experience for me. One of the most impactful experiences for me as been witnessing the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity as they are engaging in various activities during the two hours that I am there. I have been learning that it is very crucial to foster a supportive environment, as I see how positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation. Additionally, building relationships with the kids has taught me patience and adaptability, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of working with young minds. Overall, this experience has deepened my appreciation for education and the vital role community programs play in shaping children’s lives. I can’t wait for the many more memories that I will make within the Village Project!
Teaching in an urban setting might be unique because it will most likely require extra flexibility. A teacher might be introduced to a more diverse student body, the school may require more community engagement and there may be more behavioral challenges. Being surrounded with a more diverse learning environment will probably require teachers to be equipped to being responsive and adapt to the different learning strategies of their students. Being in an urban area might also require teachers to engage within the community. They will interact with parents and community organizations. By engaging with these people and businesses, this can provide support and better learning opportunities. Lastly, teachers will need to be prepared to handle unexpected classroom behavior and be at use to those who have certain needs that need to be met. It is more likely that teachers who are in an urban area will need to be prepared for these things, because the students are exposed to more things like violence, poverty and family issues. Overall, teachers who are in an urban enviornemt will most likely be exposed to more things, so this means that they need to be prepared to handle certain situations and devote more of their time into their job and students.
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