Before
commencing my clinical practice I have been in constant contact with a number
of pedagogical approaches and methodologies that teachers can implement into
their own style and tinker it into their own effective approach. The courses I took
at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao in my concentration courses with
the English Department have given me the sufficient theoretical approach to how
to conduct and carry out each methodology. From positive reinforcement in the
behavioristic theory to the construction of prior knowledge and development of
critical thinking, the courses offered by the English Department and its
professors have given us teacher candidates the tools to effectively improve
instruction in the classroom setting.
Prior
to the commencement of my practice teaching I have already grown fondly to some
methods and approaches and have devised on how to implement them into the
regular classroom for the overall success of my teaching style and practice
itself. Once I began teaching I was able to notice that I was leaning more in
the behavioristic side. In order to have effective group control I realized
that I needed to make good use of some of the behaviorism traits; positive and
negative reinforcement, proper rewards that would ensure effective behavior
form students to name a few. When my practice teaching supervisor came to do my
first formative assessment she noticed that I was using some constructivist
features in my teaching style too. Asking questions to determine their prior
knowledge and then taking the class to improving that said knowledge. I also
used some critical thinking exercises that made students reflect on how to
solve a certain issue or make them reflect on a video, quote or reading.
After
various days in the practice I have observed that I possess an Eclectic style
where I borrow key traits from Behaviorism, Constructivism and Humanism as main
theories. For Academic Strategies I tended to lean on Cooperative Learning and
Balanced Literacy because those approaches focus on group activities that
enhance peer to peer learning. Using these strategies can help improve the learning and language skills of my students.
The
Clinical Practice has given me a small sample size of what I might become as a
teacher. It has given me a glimpse of my potential as a teacher and what areas I
need to improve on. One thing is for sure the English Department has prepared
me to handle and use an array of methods that can become effective in my instruction.
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