Final ImagineIT Report
During this project, I developed a whole new perspective on lesson planning and purposeful learning. Starting with what I want the outcomes to be and working backwards to create lessons that develop the skills I want students to know revolutionized my teaching. I analyzed the resources available to me and found ways to integrate the resources that were available to me to enhance instruction and promote retention of knowledge.
My student focus groups have provided invaluable input. Students felt that the strategies and lessons I used were more fulfilling. They had more input which allowed them to express their own creativity and be more involved. They developed perserverance in problem solving and better understand how to use their own experience to develop methods for solving problems. My peer group provided valuable insight as well. My diverse learner teacher especially appreciated the lessons because she was able to use some of the same methodology to reach her students and involve them in lessons that the regular students were completing.
During this entire process, I grew in ways that I couldn’t have imagined. I found that deeper relationships developed between me and my students than I had had before. I was able to be real and down-to-earth with my students and really felt like I had a true connection with them. My work became much more reflective. I had my own goals for a lesson, but I was able to modify them as I saw student weaknesses and strengths. They developed much more confidence and the willingness to try new things even though they seemed hard at the beginning.
When I started this process, I really thought it would only change a small part of how I teach. Instead, it has become a major basis of how and why I teach. I am cognizant of my goals in everything that I do in the classroom and considerate of my student needs and situations without making excuses for them or for me. I want them to be more successful than me and now I know that everyone is clearly able to see that and understand it based on my everyday speech and interactions. I am truly blessed.
During this project, I developed a whole new perspective on lesson planning and purposeful learning. Starting with what I want the outcomes to be and working backwards to create lessons that develop the skills I want students to know revolutionized my teaching. I analyzed the resources available to me and found ways to integrate the resources that were available to me to enhance instruction and promote retention of knowledge.
My student focus groups have provided invaluable input. Students felt that the strategies and lessons I used were more fulfilling. They had more input which allowed them to express their own creativity and be more involved. They developed perserverance in problem solving and better understand how to use their own experience to develop methods for solving problems. My peer group provided valuable insight as well. My diverse learner teacher especially appreciated the lessons because she was able to use some of the same methodology to reach her students and involve them in lessons that the regular students were completing.
During this entire process, I grew in ways that I couldn’t have imagined. I found that deeper relationships developed between me and my students than I had had before. I was able to be real and down-to-earth with my students and really felt like I had a true connection with them. My work became much more reflective. I had my own goals for a lesson, but I was able to modify them as I saw student weaknesses and strengths. They developed much more confidence and the willingness to try new things even though they seemed hard at the beginning.
When I started this process, I really thought it would only change a small part of how I teach. Instead, it has become a major basis of how and why I teach. I am cognizant of my goals in everything that I do in the classroom and considerate of my student needs and situations without making excuses for them or for me. I want them to be more successful than me and now I know that everyone is clearly able to see that and understand it based on my everyday speech and interactions. I am truly blessed.