ReflectiononImpactonStudentLearning

Studentsworkisamirrorthatnotonlyreflectstheirunderstandingofthelesson,
but also reflects my teaching performance. It is very important that teacher makes
studentachievetheirlearninggoal.ThatiswhyIamveryseriouseveryworkmystudents
havedoneintheclass.
BeforestartingHunterCollegeEducationprogram,Ionlyhadprivatetutoring
experience.Iguidedmystudenttocompletehomework,reviewedthetopicsthatmy
student struggle with and prepared for the school exam and state exam. My student
startedgainingconfidenceinmathandgettingagreatimprovement.Sheismorewilling
tochallengeherselfnow.Iamsoproudofherthatsheseesherabilityinlearningmath
positively.Italsoshowedapositiveimpactonstudentslearning.
Collectingthedatafromstudentsworkandanalyzethemareveryimportantin
teaching. It is because it gives me an idea what can be done to improve students
learning.InmySEDF206course,Ilearnedhowtoassessourstudentsindifferentlevels.
IcreatedaprojectthatincludeddifferentassessmentsIwantedtouseforthePythagorean
Theorem.Iinvited some 8th graders in myfieldworktolearn aboutthePythagorean
Theoremfrommeandthentheyhadtocompletethetest.Ianalyzedtheresultfromthe
testandrealizedthatifIhadmoretimetodeveloplessons,itwouldbemorebenefitto
mystudents.
MystudentteachingexperienceatManhattanHunterScienceHighschoolletme
understandhowmyteachingperformanceaffectsmystudentlearning.Ihad30students
inmyclass.Itwaschangelingtometogiveeverystudentpersonalattentionwithin43

minutesalesson.Besidestheinteractioninclassandmyobservationwiththem,Iasked
mystudentsforcompletingamathsurveysothatIknewabouttheirpreviouslearning
mathexperience,selfevaluationoflearningmath,themeaningoflearningmathtothem
andtheirpreferenceoflearningmath.Thedatafromthesurveyreallyhelpedmealotin
planning.Ialsocollaboratedwithmycooperatingteachertomonitorstudentperformance
andmakeinstructionresponsivetoculturaldifferencesandindividuallearningneeds.
In order to encourage students show their understanding, I used a variety of
methodstoassesswhateachstudenthaslearnedsuchasusingmultipleindicators,both
formativeandsummative,tomonitorandevaluatestudentsprogress.Irememberthat
myMath620courseprofessorBurkealwayscreatesatestthatstudentsareallowedto
choosethequestionstheycandothebest.IusedthisideawhenIcreatedmytestsduring
mystudentteachingexperience.Mystudentsaremorewillingtoanswereachquestion
withdetailexplanation.
When I analyzed the tests and homework for each student, I found out each
studentsstrengthandweaknessinmath.IusedthedataIcollectedandgroupedstudents
basedondifferentlearningabilitiesinspecialtopic.Iencouragedstudentsdiscussthe
questiontogetherandsharestrategieswithothers.Throughlisteningtotheconversation,
students enjoyed learning from each other. I was so heartened to see how students
interactionaffectsstudentsattitudetowardslearningpositively.
Also,Irememberthattherewasastudent,whoseldomsubmittedhomeworkon
timeanddidnotdowellinmostquizzesandtests.Iwaswonderingthereasonbehindof
itsoIdecidedtotalkwiththestudentafterschool.Hetoldmethatheonlymethisfather

duringweekendsohedidnothavetimetodohomework.Hewasreallytreasuredthe
timehespentwithhisfathereveryweek.IunderstoodhissituationbutIalsosharedmy
concernsabouthim.Afterthat,weagreedtomeeteverydayduringlunchperiodsohe
cametomyclassandcompletedalltheworks.Wheneverheknewthathewouldbe
absent,hewouldaskmeforthepacketsandcompleteitbyhimself.Oneday,hecameto
myclassandsaidthankyou!Hismomwassohappytohisimprovementinthemath
classandhewantedtokeepthegoodworksothathisparentswouldbeproudofhim.
ThemoreeffortIputonthelesson,thebetterperformancemystudentshave.My
studentteachingexperienceandallcoursesItookatHunterreallyhelpmedevelopand
preparetobeabetterteacher,whoisreadyformyfirstofficialteachingposition.Ilove
learningcontinuouslyandkeepgrowingintotheteacherIwanttobe.