Reflection+on+Understanding

Fabulous Fractions! A unit for third grade﻿  ﻿﻿Reflection on Understanding ** ﻿ ** ** Reflection on Understanding ** 1. What do you love to do? Identify something you understand very well. For example, some people love cooking and are great cooks. Other people dance very well, or play a musical instrument. Identify any skill, ability, or interest that you have and that you are good at. You can choose something related to the teaching profession or something that has nothing to do with teaching.

I love to paddle surf. This is a Hawaiian tradition where one stands upright upon a long (surf) board and paddles with a long handled paddle. This is primarily done on smoother waters, like lakes or calm surf, but is becoming popular on faster-moving waters (rivers). 2. How did you get good at this skill? How did you develop your understanding? Did you have a coach, use trial and error, or did you practice all the time? What were the ways you learned and became good at the skill you have identified? There were many small steps and lessons I went through to become proficient. I began as an older learned with no natural coordination to speak of (zero prior mind or body knowledge). It took courage to try a new sport in the first place. I sought a coach who could help assure a safe entry to paddle surfing, hopefully one who would accelerate the learning process. After finding my coach, I have had to practice this sport. Each time out, I have had to incorporate new minute adjustments to posture, energy, or focus in order to become better. 3. How do you know that you are good at the skill and that you understand it? Identify the **evidence** do you have that you are good at it. Does your Evidence include any of the following? After having been out several times, I was challenged in several ways. First, I paddled to the foot of a waterfall and had to navigate a safe landing in fast moving water. This was a different scenario than I was accustomed to. Another problem solved was paddling alone for an extended distance and period of time and knowing at the end, I survived and succeeded. A third time, I was able to assist a newer surfer with tips on balancing, which is one of the harder skills (at least for me), as well as correcting postures that were contributing to falling. 4. What issues with regard to teaching and curriculum design have been raised by considering "understanding" from your own personal experience? In your reflection, consider ways you might develop curriculum that supports the kind of in-depth understanding you have been reflecting upon in this assignment. With regard to teaching, I understand my coach was not ‘doing it for me”. He first helped give me confidence that I would be successful even before beginning the first time. Then he led me to think about what I was understanding at the moment about balance and posture rather than telling me what must happen. He provided a safe environment where I could make mistakes and be okay with them – even learn from them. The many times I experienced surfing assisted in making my muscle memory much more concrete and after a while, I didn’t have to focus on standing, but could look to move forward and try new things. My teaching needs to be thoughtful in many of the same ways. My students are quite comfortable in my classroom, but I should consciously plan to provide a safe learning experience that will not threaten them or scare them. Many concepts can be frustrating and scary for an eight year old student, like multiplication or cursive writing. I can set up my relationship in advance as a facilitator by planning in advance to allow student-paced lessons, activities and assessments. When my students become fixed on a misconception or dead end, I can help them find their own enthusiasm utilizing technology and alternative sources of learning. I can plan to include newly their learned material within scaffolding to reinforce its use. A final thought is that learning is wide and deep and often at the same time. I can help with this balance by considering how my students understand.