Julianna Ruffino

Field Experience Reflection

After being in the classroom for about a month, I have experienced something that I

wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else. I enjoyed being in the classroom with such

amazing students and a more amazing teacher to look up to. This experience taught me many

things about how to teach and what to expect when becoming a teacher. I’ve learned what career

I want to pursue in the future, just from observing and teaching lessons in the classroom. I made

amazing connections with the students and they are the ones that made it fun for me. They

helped me decided that I want to teach in the future and that this is something I want to spend the

rest of my life doing.

If I had to do the field experience all over again, there would be a few things I would do

differently. The first thing I would do is interact more with the students than observe. I know my

main goal was to observe what a classroom is like, but I wish I interacted with the students more

and had conversations about them. The kids were so amazing to me and cared about me, all I

wish I did was got to know them a little bit better. I feel like I did observe my cooperating

teacher enough and understood a lot of things, but I didn’t make the complete effort to speak to

each of students individually about them. Another thing I would do differently is when I did my

lesson for the class, I wish I incorporated a fun game for the students to play. Playing a game

helps me memorize things better, so if I made up a game for them, they would have an easier

time learning about fact families.

Even though there are some things I wish went differently, there are still a lot of things

that went great throughout my field experience. The first thing that well was the students and

how they treated me. Each student was very kind and sweet to me. Every day they would ask me
how I was doing or compliment something about me. I always felt like I was wanted in the

classroom and that I belonged there with them. Another thing that went well was when I would

help teach. There were times where I would take a group of students and work on papers with

them. Each time I di d that, I never had a problem with any of the students. They listened nicely

and completed all of their work. Lastly, my teacher was very flexible and helpful throughout the

whole process. She made me feel comfortable on my first few days there and she was able to

work her lessons around me and what I needed to do for the field experience.

During my field experience, I learned many things that I can use in the future. The first

thing I learned was how to communicate with first graders. Having a conversation with an adult

and then with 6 and 7-year-old’s are completely different. It’s like they have their own language.

You have to be kind and use words that they will understand. I also learned that teaching first

grade is like teaching the basic things of life. You have to teach the students discipline and things

like to wash your hands after you go to the bathroom. The students did learn how to read, write,

and count, but they also had to learn that they should cover their mouth when they sneeze and

how to properly sit in a chair. Another thing I learned is what to do in certain situations.

Sometimes something comes up and you have to change you lesson plan. Having an idea of what

to do in those situations can help you become an amazing teacher. The last thing I learned was

how to keep students focused when they are doing work. There were many times where the

students got off track, but all I had to do was lead them into the right direction and they listened

to me. Sometimes I would have to stand there and watch them to make sure they were doing

their work.

My lasting impression from the field experience is that I will always remember these

students and that this was the first classroom I ever taught in. I will never forget how nicely they
treated me and how much fun it was to be in that classroom. Also, interacting with each student

made me realize that teaching is my passion and that I want to further a career in teaching. This

experience proved that this is what I want to do. I wish I was able to stay with the kids longer

because I loved being in that classroom and making connections with them. They are the reason I

want to teach and want to be with children in the future. Teaching is very hard, but it is

something that I want to do and put the effort into. I enjoy being in the classroom even with the

difficulties that come with it. I want to be the teacher that makes an impact on each of the

students’ lives.

My thoughts going on forward is I do want to teach students a little bit older. The first

graders were amazing, but they did have a lot of behavioral issues. I think that if I teach older,

maybe third or fourth grade, the students will be a little bit better behaved and that they will be

learning things in more depth. No matter what, I want to teach, and I want to educate students on

things that they will need in their lives. I have decided that teaching is my thing. It is the career

path I want to pursue in and what I want to do when I’m older. I love being in the classroom and

seeing the children’s faces each day. They really care about their teachers and how they are

doing every day. I am extremely excited for the future and what’s to come for me. I want to

thank this field experience for teaching me things that I could only learn in a classroom and that I

have completely decided that I will be teaching in the future. I also want to thank my cooperating

teacher for being so kind to me and for teaching me many things that I can use in the future when

I’m teaching. I still have many things to learn about teaching, but I’m ready for it and I want to

know how I would be able to better myself as a teacher. If I could do this again, I totally would

because I had so much fun for the short amount of time I was there. I can’t wait to become a

teacher and work in the career of my dreams.