Week 8 - Journal Entry
I really enjoyed the "Magic" and "Hearbeat" readings for this week. I admire Dr. Mamchur's attitude towards her students and her ability to know when to companion a student and when to let them do their own thing. I do have to say, however, that the course readings and the study guide material, while interesting and engaging, is also very idealistic. I am wondering how realistic it is for a teacher in today's system to teach in the way Dr. Mamchur describes.
I also wonder if there isn't room in the teaching profession for people who are not particularly intuitve, preceptive, or good at teacher/student relations but who genuinely love teaching and have the best of intentions. Just as there are many learning styles there must be different teaching styles. I am not disagreeing with anything Dr. Mamchurs is saying, I agree with her vision. But when I read a statement like: "It is a joyful experience to have mastered your area. It takes years of dedicated study. Anything less is just that, less, not enough" (Unit 2, Section 5, p. 42) I feel this stance is admirable but excludes the good work done by teachers who work hard but are not so intensley dedicated.
I've included this entry as a reflection on the tone of some of the course material.
I really enjoyed the "Magic" and "Hearbeat" readings for this week. I admire Dr. Mamchur's attitude towards her students and her ability to know when to companion a student and when to let them do their own thing. I do have to say, however, that the course readings and the study guide material, while interesting and engaging, is also very idealistic. I am wondering how realistic it is for a teacher in today's system to teach in the way Dr. Mamchur describes.
I also wonder if there isn't room in the teaching profession for people who are not particularly intuitve, preceptive, or good at teacher/student relations but who genuinely love teaching and have the best of intentions. Just as there are many learning styles there must be different teaching styles. I am not disagreeing with anything Dr. Mamchurs is saying, I agree with her vision. But when I read a statement like: "It is a joyful experience to have mastered your area. It takes years of dedicated study. Anything less is just that, less, not enough" (Unit 2, Section 5, p. 42) I feel this stance is admirable but excludes the good work done by teachers who work hard but are not so intensley dedicated.
I've included this entry as a reflection on the tone of some of the course material.
