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Classroom/Observation Paper

James Black

Paris Junior College

EDUC. 1301.200

Dr. Marian Ellis, Instructor

December 2, 2018
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Classroom Observational Reflection Paper

The classroom experience is a very remarkable and rewarding encounter especially when

it seems to be your calling in life. To watch young beings that are eager for knowledge grasp and

see the world revolve in a different manner daily as their views grow is amazing.

My career in education began in 2013 as a substitute in the Clarksville Independent

School district, now knowing that path would lead me to becoming an educator and taking the

reins on the passion for education that was instilled in me. Being hired in later at the elementary

level as an aide working with kindergarteners, opened my mind to the worlds of four and five-

year-old students that had no cares in the world. These individuals had one goal in mind, and that

was to learn something new! Every new concept you placed in their view excited them beyond

measures because it was something they didn’t know. Starting with things as simple as

identifying colors, counting to ten, and being able to recite the alphabet was a “Big Deal” to their

little minds. As I jumped into education my first year, I was with a kindergarten student that had

behavioral disorders, you can only imagine how structured and well managed my days were. I

worked under the leadership of a kindergarten teacher, Ms. Walsh, who encouraged me every

day to push and give each little student a nugget of knowledge through every encounter. Students

face many challenges as I learned very quickly; the necessities in life such as the knowledge of

raising a child will affect the child. The child I worked with lacked the early childhood skills that

most children his age had grasped. This was due to his mom being a young mother and not

exposing him to the proper trainings needed to function as a normal child. I, as an educator, had

to learn how to not only control the situation but navigate many methods to learn and understand

how to educate a young mind that had many adversities in his way. Spending many days with

Principal Whitehouse evaluating kindergarten curriculum brought me additional knowledge on

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the brain functions of the early child. Watching my “Little Guy”, grow from tantrums when

things didn’t go his way, to a structured, well mannered, smiling student that was prepared for

excellence was my confirmation to the calling in education to my life. As my journey continued

in education, I was moved to Clarksville Middle and High School, where my journey took flight.

So many memories being made to this day, have encouraged me to continue my education and

become a secondary educator.

My observations took place beginning at the Elementary level with a fast acceleration to

the High School level. I’ve observed many teachers throughout my 3-year career at Clarksville

High School, and now being the Library Manager, Dual Credit Monitor, and Theater Director; I

have the opportunity of having my own personal students that are under my guidance daily. I

look at the many teaching methods and realize that they all work together because every student

learns differently. On the high school level, you have more advanced learning where the

conversations are student driven and more intellectual. Working alongside Mrs. Melinda Sanders

with 504 and Special Education I’ve learned that each student has their own personal way of

learning. This has helped me extremely in the past two years in monitoring Dual Credit students.

Not one individual moves at the same rate as the other, and they all have different ways of

grasping the information and studying it. I’ve assisted students that learn visually by making

memory boards; kinetic learners by moving around in an environment catered to their studies and

more. I tend to think I have an advantage because I’m working in the field as I obtain my degree.

I get to understand the student that I once was and watch the many facets come together to a

well-rounded individual learner.

One specific thing that caught my attention was working with Mr. John Wimbley, which

was a previous Geometry and Math Models teacher at CISD my third year of working as an aide,
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was his methodology. He focused on repetition and student-centered learning. He had to know

the student understood what he was teaching. His favorite line being, “Stay with me!” When the

students heard that phrase, they knew it was time to ask questions and lead him as an educator

through his own teachings. This was a time in class where the methods he taught were now being

questioned by his students to make sure he broke the lesson down as plainly as possible. I

watched as he engaged physically and mentally with those students leaving an impact on them.

Questions and answers being so uniquely conversed that a first-time student in that subject area

could grasp the concepts. He taught me, “It’s not how well you can teach your students, but how

well they can teach you!” That quote was engraved in my mind as I watched his students learn

vigorously and excel in their studies. This alone made me more eager to take a career in

education by the horns.

Striving to be a future certified teacher is my goal and going beyond the classroom is my

major goal. I plan to implement the many methods of student learnings throughout my career, to

know and understand how and why my students learn. Not only that but help others along the

way become the best individuals they can be as life long learners, each day, grasping more

knowledge and being an effective citizen.