Reflective Essay: Engaging your Teaching/Learning

Environment
Mackenzie Tourigny-Conroy
05-80-201
November 17, 2015

Page 2 of 7
Teaching is never a stagnant position and effective teachers know that going into it. The
profession requires a lot of work and self thought to be successful. With the world constantly
changing, teaching methods have to as well to be able to constantly engage the new age of
students entering. This is a career where learning never ends, teachers must constantly be finding
new strategies that will encourage effective learning. A large part of continuous learning is
reflection because learning from your own practices can be key.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that the education of a child needs to be unique and catered to best suit that
child. Using new a different teaching strategies to teach students with different learning needs
and keep them engaged can be challenging but effective. I believe that students need to be
completely engaged to maximize their learning potential and as teachers it should be our priority
to ensure this occurring. A quote that sums this up nicely is Teachers who love teaching, teach
children to love learning. (Meehan, 2011) Making the students a large part in their own
education will increase their interest and motivation to learn.
The environment a child is in also plays a big role in their success as a learner. I believe
that a part of being an effective teacher is creating a conducive learning environment. Students
have to have respect not only for the teacher, but themselves and their peers as well. A teacher
can create this in their classroom mainly by giving the students that same respect. A student who
feels comfortable will be more willing to engage in learning and take more leaps in their own
journey of education.

The Teacher as a Reflective Practitioner

Page 3 of 7
A person will never be done learning because the world and society will never stop
changing. A teacher must recognize that no two classes will ever be the exact same. This means
teachers must learn from their students to adapt their lessons to them. A major part of being able
to succeed in this is reflection. Once a day is done that does not mean it needs to be filed away in
the forgotten file, this can be the most important tool you collect over your career. The ability to
reflect on a lesson and understand what was successful and what was not. Looking at how a
lesson could potentially run smoother and what changes could make it more effective. Farrell
outlined four principles of reflective teaching, Reflective Practice is Evidence Based, Reflective
Practice Involves Dialogue, Reflective Practice Links Beliefs and Practices, and Reflective
Practice is a Way of Life. (Farrell, 2013) Being a reflective practitioner does not have to be a
lonely practice, peers, research and other resources can aid in your reflection and make you the
most effective teacher you can be.
Another major aspect to reflect on is students ability to learn. This can take place on a
daily basis, looking at each student and how you can alter your teaching to better suit each
student in your current classroom. This may not be the simplest task because understanding how
each of your students learn, which in high school can be around 75 student, can be
overwhelming. However, understanding if your classes are majority hands-on learners can allow
you to make your lessons more hands-on. This can allow you to also reflect on future classes and
how you should alter your lessons to best suit their overall needs.
The ability to reflect and respond on how your class responds to different strategies can
be vital. It has been researched and found that there was a linkage between reflective learning
environments and higher student learning outcomes. (Keiulia, 2002) This evidence supports the

Page 4 of 7
fact that constantly reflecting as you are teaching can allow the students to receive a better
education. As well, students have individual learning needs so a teacher can never be completely
sure of how the students will respond to a strategy or lesson.

Strategies for Supporting Effective Teaching and Learning

Effective teaching and learning can look different from classroom to classroom and this is
because of the variety of strategies that can be used. One educator stated that there are several
highly effective practices: Teacher Clarity, Classroom Discussion, Feedback, Formative
Assessments and Metacognitive Strategies. (Hattie, 2012) Clarity is very important for student
success like stating learning goals before a unit or giving an agenda for the day. Classroom
discussion is also very important because it allows students to discuss their ideas and verbally
workout any problems they may have with the material. This is best done in pairs, for example a
think, pair, share, because then each student receives the opportunity to discuss and express
themselves to someone. Feedback and formative assessments are important because it allows
students to receive constant reassurance that they are on the correct path or allows them to check
where they need to better their understanding. Having a daily understanding check like a ticket
out the door can also allow the teacher to understand where the class is at and if they can mover
forward in the unit. Lastly, metacognitive strategies are important because it allows students to
facilitate their own learning.
A major strategy for effective learning that is currently on the rise is inquiry-based
teaching. This is often mistaken for problem-based learning in which students are provided with
the guidelines and materials and then research and understand the material. This is very effective

Page 5 of 7
because it is often more hands-on and student led which they typically enjoy. This can allow
them to generate a better understanding on the material. In contrast, inquiry-based learning has
minimal if any guidance meaning it is entirely student led. This is very effective because it
teaches students not only about the material but how to make inquiries about subjects that are
unknown to them. The ability create a question and objective for their own learning can be game
changing because they can guide their learning in the way they need.
Another strategy for effective teaching is implementing a flipped-classroom. Having
students do primary learning at home that way when they are in class for discussion and better
understanding they have the teacher to assist. This works well because the class is not spent
taking notes when you are not paying attention to the teacher. Instead, the teacher is reviewing
what was learnt and copied last night and using additional strategies to further your knowledge.
The best strategy a teacher can use for effective learning is multiple strategies. As
perviously mentioned, all students have different learning needs so the ability to meet each of
these needs in a lesson makes for an effective teacher. However, having too many strategies
incorporated into a lesson can also be a downfall because it may become messy and more
confusing. Having classroom activities that students are adjusted to can allow the transitions
between different teaching strategies to be more smooth. For example, whiteboards allow hands
on learning for students and having a couple questions scattered throughout your lesson everyday
allows those students to receive the additional learning they need. Also, having elbow partner
discussions or think, pair, shares as a normal activity in the classroom allows the students who
are verbal and auditory learners to succeed and access their learning. Strategies are meant to aid
in the effective teaching of classroom, so using appropriate ones can create effective learning.

Page 6 of 7

Education in the 21st Century

Education in the 21st century is much different than what it was simply a decade ago. The
rise of technology has changed the way classrooms function today. Technology such as cell
phones and the internet are hinderances to the classroom when they are interrupting the students
learning. If it is something that cannot be stopped, then teachers should use it as a strategy for
teaching. Bringing technology into the classroom and allowing students to use their devices in an
educational way can allow them to feel more comfortable in their learning environment. These
devices can be used in activities such as Kahoot and Gizmos where students can engage in fun
technology based learning.
Another change in education is the flexibility of the classroom. Previously, the classroom
was very lecture-based and note-taking however now teachers are accessing different strategies.
An effective method for teaching is harnessing all of the things students love and applying them
to education. Students typically enjoy being social, so using that and allowing students the time
to talk with their peers about the topics can satisfy that. Most students also enjoy social media, so
using that, say tweet your ticket out the door, can engage them more and become more effective.
A teacher must always be able to reflect on their own practice and be open to feedback on
what they can improve. The ability to use current and effective strategies that will supplement
students learning is crucial. Being an effective teacher means being able to teach to every
individual student not only for what they need but what they want. An effective teacher will
produce the strategies and methods necessary for effective learning.

Page 7 of 7
References
Meehan, R. (2011). Teachers Journey: The Road Less Traveled. Tate Publishing & Enterprises
Farrell, T.S. (2013). Reflective Teaching. Alexandria, VA: TESOL International Association
Kiuleia, B., Sharada, S., and Wade, S. (2002). The Impact of Surface and Reflective Teaching
and Learning on Student Academic Success. ERIC
Baron, B. and Darling-Hammond, L. (2008). Powerful Learning: What We Know About Teaching
for Understanding. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Hattie, J. (2012). Visible learning for teachers: Maximizing impact on learning. London:
Routledge.