Stephanie Damian

Educ. 2301.200
Dr. Ellis
May 2, 2015
Reflection Paper
My passion for teaching began in the second grade when a teacher showed me
compassion and pushed me to extend my knowledge. Over the years I have learned that teachers
dont have to be the smartest, but yet have to have the drive to encourage and the passion to
ensure their children learn. While observing Mrs. Kee I saw a seasoned teacher, she had
everything planned out and knew exactly what time each lesson would be taught. She knew
when a student was struggling and when a GT student was bored. From Mrs. Kee I was taught
how to maximize the time a teacher is given, how to ensure each student is learning, and how to
incorporate fun activities and signs to the classroom.
The first questionable moment I had while observing Mrs. Kees class was why the
children were getting out of their seats at random times without asking. I soon learned that Mrs.
Kee had a restroom policy; they were to leave a stuffed animal on their desk and she would know
where they were. After a few days I understood how this method worked, she didnt have to take
extra time out of her tight schedule to line the students up and take them to the bathroom. This
method of saving time is something I will seriously consider using in my classroom. She also has
such a well-planned schedule that the students are used to; this also ensures her time is spent on
teaching and not on corralling the children.

As a future teacher my biggest goal is to ensure all children are learning and no child
feels less than the others. I could tell by observing Mrs. Kee that she knew each one of her
students and when one seemed to be troubled she gave that child extra time with her. She also
planned lessons where she could pair a GT student with a struggling child. I saw her passion and
her love for each student; she had a desire for them to learn and for them to maximize their
potential. I saw my second grade teacher in Mrs. Kee.
All children get excited when fun activities are introduced to the lesson, and Mrs. Kee did
just this when teaching. I saw the children get excited about adding and subtracting when they
played around the world. They enjoyed telling time and counting money because Mrs. Kee had
fun charts in the room. When she taught measurement around Easter she put wicky sticks in
Easter eggs and had the children hunt and measure them. These are all examples of a wellplanned teacher and this is how I want to be.
My passion for teaching extends back 22 years all because of a loving and caring second
grade teacher. I saw that teacher in Mrs. Kee and this has furthermore lit my fire to finish my
degree. The exciting things I learned from Mrs. Kee like how to maximize my time, to ensure all
the children are learning and how to incorporate fun activities and charts to my classroom are
things I will apply to my future class. If I can reach and encourage a struggling child I will have
accomplished my goal as a teacher.