Assignment: Edited Teaching Video Reflections

Pre-Reflection- November 9, 2009

In this lesson, I hope for the students to be very interested and excited about the topic. I will be teaching a lesson on landfills and the importance of the 3 R's- reduce, reuse, and recycle. I have been talking with my cooperating teacher, making sure that all the supplies will be ready. She informed me that she would take care of buying all of the supplies. The lesson involves an activity having the students create their own landfill in small groups. I am feeling nervous though. This lesson was suggested and provided to me by my cooperating teacher, so I hope that I deliver this lesson effectively.

In preparing for the lesson, I want to make sure that during the lesson I keep a close track of time. This lesson should take about an hour, but there are so many steps involved. I hope that I keep a strong grip on keeping within the time frame. I know the students will be excited about making this landfill (and later eating it!), so I do expect that they will be more loud than usual.

I expect that the students will have an enjoyable time learning about landfills by doing this interactive activity.





Post-Reflection- November 12, 2009

Wow! That was quite an experience! Earlier this afternoon, I taught my observed and video taped lesson over landfills. I was so nervous! The idea of me being video taped is dreadful enough, but I was also nervous about the lesson going just right. There are many different steps during the activity portion and I wanted it to go smoothly.

After teaching the lesson, I felt relieved. I think it went well. I feel good about what and how I taught, but I also feel like there are so many things I could have done better on. For example, there were many instances when the students got too loud. I found myself being a little flustered on how to get them to quiet down. The excitement of having so many different visitors in there, as well as being video taped, and the activity got them all very excited- which was great! The enthusiasm encouraged me. But I feel like I let my nerves get the best of me. But there were many great things as well. The students were so interested in the topic. I think they have gained a better understanding of what exactly a landfill is. I especially enjoyed how the lesson was so interactive and hands on, and I think the students really enjoyed that as well. Their participation was great and they all had their own role in making their group's landfill.

Even though I feel I could have done a better job in some areas, overall, I feel really great with the way I taught this lesson. And I think the students did as well.




Post-Editing- Reflection- December 4, 2009

I have finished viewing, editing, and reflecting on my observed lesson video. It was quite interesting! It took me awhile to gather the courage to watch the video. But I did so and watched the different clips of my lesson over and over in order to edit it just right. The video allowed me to really see how the classroom really was during my lesson. The video demonstrated my lack of having consistent control of the classroom. At times the students were off task when I thought they were completing a portion of the activity. Also, my methods of keeping students engaged lack firmness and confidence. The video helped me realize that I need to become more confident in myself and when I teach. Remembering back to the day I taught the lesson, I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed and flustered when trying to get the class back on track. I realize now that I need to find some way that works for me. Prior to the video, I thought that I had a strong way of keeping students engaged and on task, but it seems like it is not as consistent as I would like for it to be. So editing and watching this video has pushed me more in trying to find a better way of managing the classroom in such a way that goes along with my teaching style. Whether it is positive discipline or being more firm- I really am determined to find ways that works for me and ways I am confident in.

I realized that I really have to believe in myself and what I am teaching. If I lack confidence, that affects the way I carry myself and the way I handle any mishaps during the classroom. It has been a beneficial and insightful assignment.