EDG4376 Reflection #20

As always, I knew I would enjoy any class taught by Professor McNair. Yes, his reflections, quizzes, and assignments are definitely a challenging workload, but in the end, more than worth it. It’s a great feeling to get my money’s worth and feel well-prepared for my future academic endeavors. After taking “Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies,” I have become much more knowledgeable in the areas of curriculum integration, the history of the educational system in America, creating unit plans, and creating constructivist and behaviorist lesson plans. But I have to say, most importantly, Joe McNair’s lectures were by far the most influential aspect of the class. I love listening to what Professor McNair has to offer; it’s effortless to get lost in his almost spiritual discussions. Furthermore, it’s almost impossible to walk out of class and not reflect on the thoughts and concepts that were proposed.
As far as my field experience hours at Hibiscus Elementary School went, I had a blast! I worked with Mr. Rodriguez’s third grade TEAM class, and even had the opportunity to conduct a cooperative learning activity with the students for my EEX 3071 class. The children were absolutely wonderful, and I was thrilled to have enough time to get to know each child individually. Mr. Rodriguez’s class was composed of twenty students, and I had never worked with a class that large before. At first, I was completely overwhelmed, especially because I wanted to learn all the students’ names as soon as possible. Furthermore, I had absolutely no idea just how much attention eight years need! The kids were all over me, telling me stories, asking me questions, and seeking out hugs. I spent as much time as I could with each of them, and thirty hours wasn’t nearly enough. I will definitely continue my volunteer work at Hibiscus with “I Have A Dream,” and plan to visit the students from Mr. Rodriguez’s class as often as possible. From my experience in the School of Education at Miami Dade College, I’ve learned quickly that as an educator I must also be a role model. And the more I show the children that I care, the easier it will be for them to care about themselves. This, to me, is the essence of education.