Reflection #3

• Are there particular interests you have developed that you would like to focus on throughout the certificate program?
• What goals might you set for yourself regarding what you would like to know and be able to do by the time you have completed the certificate program?

         I have always been interested in psychology and how children learn. However, this first course in the certificate program has opened my eyes up to new ideas in education. It has been fascinating to learn about cognitive and neuroscience research and how it affects the way an individual learns. Acquiring knowledge about the Brain-Targeted Teaching Model has given me an opportunity to apply these new strategies into my classroom in order to improve instruction. It has been helpful to be able to implement these strategies in my classroom as I am learning about them, and to see firsthand how it is assisting my students. I also have been encouraged about this model and the strategies for each target since they are each based on brain research. 

          In this first course, the process of how children develop literacy skills was only mentioned briefly. However, I am hoping throughout the certificate program I will learn more specifics about ways that students acquire new information in reading and mathematics. In my current classroom, there is a wide range of reading levels. I am hoping with more knowledge about how students learn to read and process words and vocabulary, I will be able to help those students who are reading below level make more gains throughout this year. During this first course, we also touched on students with ADD/ADHD and the differences in their brain functions. I am hoping I will be able to learn more about ways to assist students with these special needs. Each year, it seems like more of my students suffer from these types of learning disorders and I am hoping as I start to understand how their brain is functioning, I can begin to incorporate strategies to help those students stay focused and be more successful in the classroom. With a more complete understanding of how these students are processing information, I will be able to identify the best ways to help them. I also am looking forward to learning about motivating my students and helping them deal with their emotions. Since I work at a Title I school, I need to be able to use the best strategies to keep my students engaged and excited about learning. I would like to help them separate their emotions and anxiety about events at home from their behavior in the classroom.

         By the end of the certificate program, I would like to be able to implement the Brain-Targeted Teaching Model in various academic areas. I have been able to utilize parts of the model in my classroom during this course as I have learned about the various strategies. However, I hope by the end of the certificate I will be able to make use of the model consistently. I am also hoping that it will become second nature to be able to implement the arts into my lessons. Right now, it is extremely time-consuming to figure out ways to include artistic activities in all of the academic areas. My goal by the end is to be able to find ways to include the arts more easily. Another goal I would like to set for myself is to have more of my students motivated and engaged for a greater duration of their time in the classroom, especially those students who suffer from ADD/ADHD and other emotional issues.