HD450-Teaching Role Models

HD450-Reflective Teaching
Teaching Role Models
March 7, 2016

HD450-Teaching Role Models

The majority of my career I have worked within the private sector, which does not
implement reflective teaching that I witnessed. It is solely based on a curriculum
timeline. Each day, week, and month has a lesson, which must be executed, in your
classroom with outstanding results. If there is a concern with test scores or learning
abilities, it completely falls on the student. For over two years I have worked for an
agency that practices reflective teaching. This has been a new and very exciting time in
my teaching career.
Within our organization we use child observations, lesson plans, and CLASS
(Classroom Assessment Scoring System). By observing children, it enables me the ability
to know where the child is as a whole. I can observe how the child processes their
surroundings and information given so I can adapt my lesson plans accordingly. Even
though I have been exposed to this reflective approach, I cannot turn away from an
influential teacher/director that I had the privilege to work with in my beginning years in
education.
When I enrolled my oldest daughter in private school she was 4 years old. I met
the director, Mrs. Maxine Kyker. She was a mature woman, but moved and acted younger
than myself. She directed the preschool program that consisted of nursery-Pre-K as well
as being the principal of the K-8 program. I admired her ability to multitask as well as
well as being personable to not only the children, but also each parent.
I watched her as she handled frustrated parents, school fundraisers, licensing, and
teaching a class when a teacher was absent. She had pride in our school and it showed. I
remember one day watching her walk from the elementary grounds to our preschool and

HD450-Teaching Role Models

seeing her picking up pieces of trash along the way. She could have told our janitor to
clean it up, but she did it herself. I wanted to emanate that it care and love. Mrs. Kyker
always showed her love for the school and all within it. Unfortunately, when she passed
away in 2010, so did our school. The love and care she gave was not the same and each
parent and staff member felt it. The school is now closed but the memories live in my
heart. I remind myself each day as I walk into the gates of my site and pick up trash along
the way. I take pride in where I teach and I want each child and their families to feel it
when they enter their school.
By having this remarkable person influence my early years and create a great
foundation for teaching, it had allowed me to build on it with the program I am currently
working for. I started as an assistant in 2013. I was placed at a site where I learned quite a
bit, but when I received a promotion, I was sent to a site that changed my view of High
Scope curriculum. I was sent to a site in Pomona where I met the site director, Laura. She
seemed quite professional and to the point. In the beginning I thought the classroom ran
smoothly, a little robotic, but it had structure and purpose. As the days went on, I began to
take in the concept of the classroom.
Laura has a way about how she orchestrates her classroom. She is soft spoken,
firm, but fair. Her approach is direct with a calm tone in her voice that showers the
children with open-ended questions. With ease she challenges them to critically think
without anyone really realizing shes doing it. I witnessed her absorb the day and when it
was over she reflected on it with her staff. She would discuss about moments she
observed in the room that I had completely forgot about. She analyzed the situation, took

HD450-Teaching Role Models

suggestions from her team, and then implemented a lesson plan that had purpose to assist
those in her group.
I would see her do the same with her coworkers by giving them suggestions or
offer observations she witnessed during a work or outside time with their group of
children. By her being a reflective teacher, I did not experience a one-track mindset from
her. She was open to opinions/suggestions and enjoyed even feedback from the children
in her class. Laura set the example of the classroom and modeled professional behavior. I
felt calm in her classroom as well as the children. Their work was with purpose and they
were not acting out aggressively.
One day we had a new child start, his name was Jesse. Jesse is a child with
disabilities, so one of his challenges limits his vocabulary to a few words. The children
and Jesse were working in the house area and Jesse began to throw the items on the floor.
Laura approached calmly, went down to his level, and told him in a really calm voice, I
need you to pick these items up Jesse. Would you like me to help you? He continued to
throw them, so she lightly took his hand and assisted him in picking each item up, one at
a time. When he picked one up, she showed him the picture where it should go, named
the item 3-4 times, and when he placed in that space, she said, thank you Jesse, good
job!
I remember realizing how calm and reassuring her approach was. The children
continued on as if nothing happened and the day went on like clockwork. I enjoyed
working with Laura for six weeks and I never forgot the wonderful examples she left for
me. Her classroom allowed for children to be safe and creative. She does not limit them
and their interests, especially if does not fit the norm. When I arrange my classroom, I

HD450-Teaching Role Models

think of her and reflect on how I want the children to perceive the environment, not
myself. I am grateful for these two great foundational influences within my professional
career and I hope to be just as influential to not only the children and families in my
classroom but my team of educators as well.