Looking Back in Order to Look Ahead
By Gillian Kutches
Reflection is one of the most important components to teaching. Contemplating how to make lessons even more effective and powerful is something educators do on a daily basis. Along with reflection, being a lifelong learner is essential to being a successful and accomplished teacher. I openly welcome any opportunity to learn how to be a more impactful teacher, and the past year has unquestionably given me significant knowledge to utilize in my classroom. Now I find myself reflecting on the last year in Michigan State’s Master of Arts program, how my goals as an educator have changed, and how this new knowledge will drive me forward.
When I first applied for my Master’s program in the fall of 2009, I knew I wanted to focus on literacy. Literacy has been a passion of mine since the beginning of my teaching career. Instilling a love for reading in children is something I treasure as a teacher. I was eager to learn new techniques, skills and ideas to bring back to my classroom to help facilitate student learning and growth. These goals have become more significant since accepting my teaching job in Atlanta. Many of my students come to me struggling to read and write and receive little support from home. This fact alone has made me want to help my students become confident readers and writers. Teaching in my current school has brought these goals to life because I have the students to connect it to.
My initial hopes were also to learn various theories and methods of literacy education in the 21st Century. I wanted to learn key strategies to make learning to read more significant for my students. I feel that this program has provided me with knowledge about early educators like Hirsch and Dewey, the individuals that paved the way for present practices. It was beneficial and meaningful to be able to understand where education has come from. I feel knowing where we have been can better equip us to move forward into the future.
A year ago, I anticipated staying in the classroom another few years and eventually possibly becoming a Literacy Specialist in my school. I think it would be a humbling and enriching experience to be able to collaborate and help my colleagues in their classrooms. Although this is still a career goal, I realize I want to gain more critical experiences in the classroom first. I feel the more valuable experiences I have, the better I will be able to assist other teachers and students.
Michigan State University’s Master of Arts in Education program has undeniably made me a better educator. My courses have taught me invaluable lessons about educational policy, how to help struggling readers and writers, how to make Multiculturalism a reality in my classroom, how to connect with special education students, and countless others. Although my goal of achieving my Master’s degree will soon become a reality, I look forward to extending myself even more in the coming years.
When I first applied for my Master’s program in the fall of 2009, I knew I wanted to focus on literacy. Literacy has been a passion of mine since the beginning of my teaching career. Instilling a love for reading in children is something I treasure as a teacher. I was eager to learn new techniques, skills and ideas to bring back to my classroom to help facilitate student learning and growth. These goals have become more significant since accepting my teaching job in Atlanta. Many of my students come to me struggling to read and write and receive little support from home. This fact alone has made me want to help my students become confident readers and writers. Teaching in my current school has brought these goals to life because I have the students to connect it to.
My initial hopes were also to learn various theories and methods of literacy education in the 21st Century. I wanted to learn key strategies to make learning to read more significant for my students. I feel that this program has provided me with knowledge about early educators like Hirsch and Dewey, the individuals that paved the way for present practices. It was beneficial and meaningful to be able to understand where education has come from. I feel knowing where we have been can better equip us to move forward into the future.
A year ago, I anticipated staying in the classroom another few years and eventually possibly becoming a Literacy Specialist in my school. I think it would be a humbling and enriching experience to be able to collaborate and help my colleagues in their classrooms. Although this is still a career goal, I realize I want to gain more critical experiences in the classroom first. I feel the more valuable experiences I have, the better I will be able to assist other teachers and students.
Michigan State University’s Master of Arts in Education program has undeniably made me a better educator. My courses have taught me invaluable lessons about educational policy, how to help struggling readers and writers, how to make Multiculturalism a reality in my classroom, how to connect with special education students, and countless others. Although my goal of achieving my Master’s degree will soon become a reality, I look forward to extending myself even more in the coming years.
