A Pedagogical Reflection Guide For Future Social Studies Pre-service Teachers
The Reflection
Chapter
There will be mornings when you enter the classroom with a "blurry" mind because the cycle of preparation and execution is relentless. This experience teaches you that teaching is as much about physical and mental endurance as it is about pedagogy. It is a test of how well you can perform when you are at your limit.
The Hierarchy of the Classroom The Primacy of Management: You will quickly realize that content mastery is secondary to classroom management. No matter how well-prepared your lesson plan is, it will fail if you cannot manage the energy of the room. A beautiful slide deck cannot teach a class that is not listening. The Boundary of Authority: You will learn that being "too close" or too kind to students in an effort to be liked can lead to a loss of authority. This forces you to realize the necessity of firm boundaries and "pagtitimpi" (self-control)—staying calm even when your patience is tested by disruptive behavior. How will you maintain your composure when your mind feels "blurry" from the nightly grind of preparation? What strategies will you use to engage the "nonchalant" students who do not meet your initial expectations? How will you redefine "success" on days when your technology fails but your presence remains?
The importance of the Cooperating Teacher (CT) relationship is another vital realization. You will find that your experience depends heavily on the person supervising you. You will learn that the professional path is smoothest when you adopt a "yes to everything" attitude, fulfilling tasks without complaint to maintain a harmonious relationship and secure the grades that dictate your future.