Week 6 Reflection

     In small groups this week, my fellow interns and I showed each other videos of ourselves teacher and evaluated each others lessons, instruction, emotional support, and other areas of our teaching. I orginally thought that I would not like this activity, because I am always nervous when the eyes on me are not those of smaller, curious students. I also cannot stand to hear my own voice on recording. During my instruction, I was thinking of the video tape and stumbling over my words not wanting to mess up and wondering how annoying I would sound. The students were able to focus although I was not. I eventually pulled myself together and forgot that the camera was on me. My lesson went fairly well and I was as happy as possible with my product to show my peers. Once we were in small group, I heard other people talking about how nervous they were to show their videos. Some would say things like "Oh! I didn't even notice that kid jumping over there!" or "Just ignore this part, I was nervous and didn't make sense." I immediately felt at ease. As I watched my partner instructing her class, I realized that this activity is not as much for us to assist each others teaching and work together to better ourselves, it is also helping us to realize that good teachers are nervous. Good teachers realize that they can't know everything and that sometimes things don't go as planned. Good teachers do not feel superior to other or flawless. Good teachers are human and don't take life to seriously. As I listened to my peers discussing all the positive things their partners did and built them up to be positive role models, I noticed we all acknowledged are differences, potential, and passion. Good teachers are kind and supportive and maybe, if we are really great teachers, our students will also learn to be kind and supportive.
     I have video taped myself teaching a few more times after the small group analysis time and now feel more comfortable infront of the camera. I still make mistakes and wish I had practiced before I turned the camera on, but I know that my peers will not judge me and that they will see the good in what I am doing. I have more confidence during my video taping now, and I hope that will show in my videos used for my final portfolio.