A Learning Experience [Reflection Two]

During the past two weeks I've had the opportunity in class to prepare a few lessons to teach my peers.  What an experience. At first it freaked me out, I kept telling myself  I chose the wrong major and that I should never become a teacher. I surprised myself once I got up and started teaching though, things went smoothly and I had fun! I am grateful for the experience and the many, many things I learned from my own teaching and that of my classmates. For this entry I wanted to compile all of the feedback I wrote down and benefited from during those teaching days in class. I'll list them below.

• When teaching, start off with something to catch attention.
• Give instructions first and then supplies. 
• Walk around as the students work.
• Use mixed media while teaching.
• Act as a salesman when starting off with a lesson. Why should they want to learn this?
• Know where you are going beforehand! Be explicit with the direction of your lesson.
• When showing videos, tell the students what to be looking for while watching it.
• Reduce the nerves of the students by not calling on just one person, let them learn together.
• Don't be too PowerPoint dependent.
• Use the classroom.
• Have the students drive the computer instead of you stuck behind the screen for extended periods of time.
• Don't be self-depreciating. YOU are the expert!
• Stay away from open questions.
• Board display -- use different colors and write neatly!
• Write the objectives of the class on the board each day.
• Don't use public voting throughout the entire lesson.
• Focus in on one thing, don't be too broad in a lesson.
• Formatively assess!
• BE EXCITED.
• Presentation performance is important! Create your own teaching style!
• Involve the class, don't be too lecture driven.
• Use rhetoric in situations where it will be successful.
• Let other people teach themselves.