Learning Letter

1. Reflect on the work you’ve completed in the course (book talks, unit plans, etc.)

Overall, the most valuable aspect of this course for me was the breadth of material that we covered and the diversity of the work we did. Completing readings, book talks, the unit plan, and blog posts gave me an opportunity to engage the material from a variety of approaches. This was an important exercise as it relates to teaching, since as a teacher I will need to approach lessons from different angles to fit the needs of different students.

2. Reflect on the theories and concepts we explored in readings and discussions.

I think the most impactful and thought provoking reading that we discussed was Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This reading was impactful because it presents a paradigm shift in the approach to education. Rather than thinking of teachers as the holders of knowledge who are responsible for bestowing that knowledge on students, Pedagogy of the Oppressed presents teachers and students as co-discoverers of knowledge. This shift alters the role and responsibility of students in a way that empowers them and makes learning their responsibility.

3. Reflect on how you think your participation in this course has influenced your thinking about yourself as a teacher

I think this class taught me to be more student focused. As someone who is training to be a teacher, it’s easy to get caught up in discovering my own strengths, preferences, and approaches, but it’s important to remember that ultimately teaching is not about me. I need to know my students to a degree that allows me to teach the way that they need me to teach.