RECOMMENDATIONS

            Although this experience has been trying at times, I worked hard and I believe that my students appreciated the time I spent preparing interesting, interactive lessons for them on the subject of inequalities.  I received positive feedback from my students even though many of them found the topic to be difficult.  This speaks to the effect that any teacher can have on their students by simply being open to differing opinions, being flexible and always being available to help your students succeed in any way possible.  Although many questions arose each day that I taught, I tried my best to answer each of them and take the time necessary with each student to ensure that they understood the material before moving on.  Additionally, although many complained about the homework we assigned, I could see in their work the progress they were making in solving inequalities throughout the course of the unit.

            Beyond the students, I had the opportunity to work with an excellent cooperating teacher from whom I have learned a great deal.  Although she has only been teaching for three years at Morrisville Middle School, the students respect her as an authority figure while trusting her as someone they can turn to.  She effectively manages the classroom while making sure the students gain the knowledge they need to succeed.  She presents her lessons in an innovative, entertaining way that the students respond to.  She has instilled a love of math in each of her students and I am inspired by the positive effect she has had on each one of them.  She was a great help to us while planning our unit and she was supportive of any strategy or activity we attempted with the students.  Without the support and aid she provided to us on a daily basis, I would not have learned as much about teaching as I did this semester.

            Now that my junior field experience in teaching has concluded, I have learned a lot about myself both as a future educator and also as a student myself.  Through my observations from my cooperating teacher and my professors at TCNJ, my own reflections from watching a video of my teaching, and the comments received from my students on a post-teaching survey, I have come away with many positive reflections and many constructive criticisms for the future.  For my student teaching experience and beyond into my first years of teaching, I look forward to continuing to set high expectations for my students.  I will continue to implement a variety of instructional methods to reach as many students as possible and ensure that all of my students work towards reaching their own goals and fulfilling their dreams for the future.

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