Goal 2: Demonstrate understanding of the social, intellectual, and personal development of students and recognize the diverse needs, interests, and abilities of students in regard to science at the K-6 level.
In science or any subject for that matter it is crucial for the teacher to really know their students. To me, this goal required me to demonstrate how I got to know my students and find out about their culture, background knowledge, what science means to them, and who they are as learners. Additionally, this goal required me to demonstrate an understanding of knowing exactly where each of my students are at in their thinking. This was a goal of mine all semester. It was definitely tricky and not as easy as it sounded. However I had to start somewhere. I began with seeing where my students thinking was one at a time and tried to visit with at least a few students. Then I expanded it and tried using a KWL chart as a tool and was able to see where more than one of my students was at. As I continue to grow as an educator I will continue with this goal and visit with students one on one and come up with a system to where I can visit with more individual students each day. If you do not know your students you really have no business teaching them and I feel like that is what this goal is trying to accomplish.
In science or any subject for that matter it is crucial for the teacher to really know their students. To me, this goal required me to demonstrate how I got to know my students and find out about their culture, background knowledge, what science means to them, and who they are as learners. Additionally, this goal required me to demonstrate an understanding of knowing exactly where each of my students are at in their thinking. This was a goal of mine all semester. It was definitely tricky and not as easy as it sounded. However I had to start somewhere. I began with seeing where my students thinking was one at a time and tried to visit with at least a few students. Then I expanded it and tried using a KWL chart as a tool and was able to see where more than one of my students was at. As I continue to grow as an educator I will continue with this goal and visit with students one on one and come up with a system to where I can visit with more individual students each day. If you do not know your students you really have no business teaching them and I feel like that is what this goal is trying to accomplish.