Ben Wolcanski's Website

Here are my 10 takeaways from this past semester. I have ordered them with 5 from class itself and 5 from the village project.

Class

1: One of the main things about teaching is that it is about adapting

• This one of the biggest things that I learned. Adapting to a class is something that is at the very core of teaching and it is important to me because it shows that coming up with things as they come is part of the profession.

2. Each student learns differently.

• Another core tenets of education that is really important to me because it is something that each teacher needs to be mindful of and remember when teaching their class.

3. Education Strategies work differently for each person.

• I found this important because it shows how everyone is different and what might work for someone, doesn’t work for someone else.

4. Education is always evolving.

• This is important because it harkens back to the bit about adapting. Ideas and requirements for Education is always changing and it is something that teachers need to be mindful of. It helps me realize that I need to stay aware of things that are going on that might effect how I teach.

5. Looking at how our system came to be is important.

• Looking at how the Education system came to be is a very important perspective to think of because it can influence how things are run today. Looking at this is important to me because it helps show why things are the way that they are.

Village Project

6. Students look up to their teachers.

• Something that has really been driven home to me from Village Project is how students really look up to their teachers and value them. This is important to me because it shows that my efforts are not in vain.

7. Support from colleagues is really important.

• Having reassuring words and support from others is really important and is something that should be seeked out if having struggles with something.

8. Being prepared for a lesson is everything.

• Being fully ready to go and teach is something that is really important and helps the student and the teacher equally.

9. Go slow and make sure your student understands.

• Although this might be hard for a whole group of students, when it is just one, you need to make sure that if they are struggling with something, that they are okay and understand what is being taught.

10. Some students are not great test takers.

• Each student has an inherent skill and can achieve many things but tests might not be something that a student excels at.

My Village Project experience is a little different from others due to the fact that I am working one on one with a student as a tutor. So far I am really enjoying it because it really shows me that I am on the right path and that I am meant to be where I am. The most impactful elements of this experience has been learning from the tutor coaches as they teach how to be effective tutors and also talking with the student and trying to find ways to adapt to their needs and questions. I am learning how to listen to the ideas of others and use their ideas and my own to how to better help those around me grow and become the best they can be.

One thing I liked the most about the teacher interviews and the guest speakers we have had in class so far is the fact that we get so many different views on what is like to teach and be a teacher. What is interesting to me also is the fact that we get to see so many similarities and differences between what teachers say. It elevates my understanding of the profession because it shows how every teacher is different but also similar at the same time. It also elevates my understanding because it helps reaffirm some things that we talked about in class as something that is actually used in the day to day dealings of teaching such as being flexible and adapting and changing how we connect with students on the regular. Teaching is a profession that is always changing and seeing that through how teachers have changed their teaching philosophy over the years and also how different teachers approach different topics and ideas.