Personal Narrative: The Classroom

Through Out elementary school I was bullied. I never really wanted to tell anybody, because I figured no one would believe me. They only saw what what on the outside of me which was a pretty, little, intelligent girl. Every time I got on the bus I was scared because, every day they would make fun of me. I used to think’’ Is it my hair, the way I dress, or are they just making fun of me.’’ Every night I told myself I was ugly and no one liked me. Then eventually I just stopped talking to most of my friends. I lost most of them. When I came home from school my step-dad used to ask me “How was your day?’’ I just said good and went upstairs and cried. I just felt like their was’nt enough room for me in this world. I used to even think my mom did’nt like me at one point. When ever I

Starting in fifth grade when I first picked up a viola, orchestra has been a fundamental part of my identity in school. My first year in high school I was in the entry level orchestra, which I greatly enjoyed despite the easier music because of the community of people in the class. At the end of my freshman year, orchestra got the news that the number of orchestra classes would be cut down to two, making an entry level class, symphonic, and an audition only higher level class, chamber. Wanting a challenge, I auditioned for chamber, but I did not get in. Now, this was not the failure that came with a grand lesson There happened to be a large number of very talented violinists who had seniority over me. There also happened to be a shortage of

In Second Grade, I moved from Framingham to Weston and started going to Woodland School. I was a really shy and quiet kid in general, and it didn’t help that I was a new kid, too. For our ELA (English Language Arts) “class”, we sat in a circle and took turns reading passages from a book. I wasn’t a bad reader, but I was scared of having to read in front of everyone. In fact, I was so scared that whenever it was time for ELA, I would hide behind someone else so my teacher, Ms. Garcia wouldn’t call on me. When I was eventually called on (despite my best efforts), I gathered up all my courage and read the passage. I ended up reading it perfectly fine, and the experience helped me break out of my shell. After that, I stopped trying to avoid reading

As I walk into the gloomy, boring, grey classroom, I set my big colorful books onto my desk. I then head toward the ugly, gritty, blue ugly colored chair to sit down and start learning. At least five minutes into class I’m already in my “La-La-Land” as the teachers call it, I then look around the room and look at random objects like the dirty, grey white board. And the hideous, black, metal cabinet. As I looked at those random objects I heard the teacher, “ Class pay attention over here!” She said angrily. I quickly looked over up at the screen by the bulky door and I look over at the furious teacher. She at least pressed the auto-focus button at least more than twenty times.

My cooperating teacher was observed this week in her resource classroom. I was present for the observation. Her performance was excellent! During the observation, I found it interesting how one student was purposeful to gain the supervisor’s attention while being disruptive.

Running bare footed pounding the cobbles, echoed around my head. The hypnotic sound created a gratifying distraction from the impending despairs of returning to one of my many Hells on Earth….school.

“I don’t want to change my schedule.” Those were the first words I said last enrolment

To be completely honest, I had no thoughts on what the course may be like I was just positive that I wouldn’t like it. I was ready to wash my hands of the class before it had even begun. But, again, being completely honest, it had nothing to do with the class itself, but rather my own attitude regarding my schooling so when it officially began and assignments were handed out, I struggled without a doubt. I will freely admit I lacked motivation and proper self-discipline – I wanted for the year to be over and I was all right with brushing by to wait it out. Throughout the whole semester, it is entirely up to each individual to take responsibility of their own actions and achieve goals on their own motivation. Eventually, the class forced you

Walking into my classroom, something didn’t seem right. I saw the board scratched like some kind of creature was trying to escape, but eight people was holding it back. Everyone smiled, but it wasn’t a good smile, it was a demonic smile with their smiles to wide and their bloodshot eyes, staring at me with fear. While I was walking down the aisle it felt like a never ending hallway. I finally got to my seat, and I sat down. The classroom was filled, but when I sat down it was empty. I saw only two things one looked like a girl and one looked like a dog. My teacher was turned around writing on the board and it read one of us. I tried to get out of my seat, but I was trapped by barbed wire holding my wrist down and every time I moved it got deeper

I have 8 years wide teaching experience as a instructor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) and as both a graduate student lecturer and a teaching assistant at The city college (CUNY). I am fully experienced with many styles of classroom instruction including the use of workshops and peer mentors, graphing calculators and symbolic algebra packages such as Mathematica, Maple and Math Lab.

My heart fluttered, my feet felt tingly. I folded my hands in my lap—a prayer—and waited for death. But nothing happened. Everything went straight. My vision. My thoughts. My legs worked again and I stood.

Over the course of these eight weeks I have learned new tips to stay organized, as well as sharpening the skills I have. I would say that is a combination of all the learning activities that I benefited from. It’s been so long since I last went to school, and I am so proud of myself for returning and accomplishing my goals. This class really sets you up for success and gives you the tools necessary to achieve your goals. The most important thing I have learned while taking this course would be the discovering your strengths’ activity. I tend to always look and a completed take and see my mistakes, rather than seeing what I have accomplished. I always look at the positive side of life; but, I am my own worst cretic. By doing this activity I

Personal Teaching Persona Description: If I were to choose four words to describe my current teaching persona, I would choose approachable, responsive, flexible, and open. To exhibit those behaviors to students in an online class, I have to take some of the things I do in a F2F class and “tweak” them.

Giving speeches is something I have enjoyed for several years now. Getting up in front of a class is difficult sometimes, but I always try to put my best foot forward when giving a speech. This year in Fundamentals of Oral Communication, I feel that I was able to grow even more as a speaker and presenter. After reading all of my evaluations and rewatching my speech, I now am more aware of what I can still improve upon and what I improved on just in the last couple years.

New with my observation is that I feel as though my target child has become a lot more comfortable around me and is continually coming to me and asking me to play with him and to help him with various activities. With him being more comfortable around me it has made for a more natural environment and feel for my observations and seems to be more comfortable when he knows that I am observing him or talking with him for various observations. Something else that is new with my observations is that the children in the class actually refer to me now as a teacher. They know their two normal teachers in the class but they now think of me as a third teacher and when I come in the classroom as me why I was not there the day before or when I will