A Rich Experience - My Final Reflection

The past three and half weeks have proved to be a rich educational experience.  Through daily observations of children in a non-academic setting, I have come to appreciate the power of learning through observation.  Each day as I sat and watched and listened to the students at La Casa and at Bragraw , I observed that children are craving fun, attention, love and discipline.  I have observed children playing board games, playing with their electronic toys such as Nintendo DS or iphone, and/or talking with each other about a variety of topics.  I also observed how children have mastered how to emulate the negative behaviors of adults.

At both locations, the boys played more actively, and the girls talked among themselves.  However, at some point during the morning or afternoon small verbal exchanges took place between students.  These exchanges were usually short in duration but were filled with explicatives and negative body language.  The students seemed un-phased by their behaviors but I experienced a range of emotions from disappointment to anger;  not with the students but at the situations I had observed.  However, I was not always sure what to do with these emotions or how to address the situations.

I decided that when a teachable moment presented itself I would intervene.  If that opportunity did not present itself I would allow children to regulate their own behavior.  I cannot say that I am totally comfortable with the decision not to intervene but I am keenly aware that the students are simply displaying behaviors that 

see and that the behavior was somehow deemed acceptable.

The lesson I take from this summer placement is that children emulate what they see.  As an emerging educator, I must always be mindful to set good examples for my students.  This means purposefully choosing my words, and my tone.  I must clearly articulate outcomes and maintain a balance between discipline and love.  The key to engaging students is to be prepared, to be prepared, to be overly prepared. 

As this experience has come to an end, I continue to be amazed by children and I continue to learn from every interaction with a child. From this experience I intend to be a teacher who is prepared, establishes clear expectations, maintains a balance between discipline and love, and strives to inspire my students to be their best.   To all the students I met and interacted with this summer I thank them for the opportunity to be a part of their summer experience.