Chapter 5 Reflection

Chapter 5 begins with the idea that teachers are designers, not free to choose what goals and standards they teach, but free to craft a curriculum of lessons that will meet the needs of every student. I appreciate how the chapter gives a brief outline for the lesson introduction, which is designed to motivate and draw the students in, foster understanding, and engaging students. I liked the idea of the science learning center. It seems like an excellent way to add variety, while promoting responsibility and cooperative learning.

I greatly appreciated the section on managing classroom behavior and found it to be very helpful. The book mentions that not all behavior is equal, and that each case should be dealt with in an appropriate way. Managing classroom behavior is crucial to the success of the lesson, as one disruption takes away from the time devoted to teaching and is a distraction for the entire class. The book mentions that contingency plans should be prepared for possible problems. This may be the only way to prevent problems or at least deal with them in a quick, firm and constructive way. Ultimately, misbehavior in the science classroom is a safety hazard. At the end of the day, it is teacher's duty to ensure a safe and supportive environment. The chapter opened my eyes to the idea that sometimes behavior skills need to be taught and students need to be guided towards alternative and appropriate ways to interact.

The section on implementing a lesson is extremely helpful to any teacher. It is the backbone to a well rounded lesson. This chapter was by far one of the most practical and useful references. It provided a root system for the lessons to grow from. Lessons may be fully developed; without the proper preparation, classroom management, and safety, however, the lesson may not reach its full potential and survive against external elements that may suddenly arise. Happily, a teacher perfects her craft as she gains more experience and renovates her approach by modifying it, adding to it, deleting from it, etc. The students are like a mirror, reflecting back the best and worst of a lesson. Students are our best asset in more ways than expected. They can teach us just as much as we try to teach them.