Blog Entry #8

I think the most important thing I have learned doing my fieldwork experience is that classrooms are as diverse as people are. No two teachers teach the same way, and even the same teacher will not teach the same lesson the same way every year. Teaching is a constantly changing field of work. People who like routines and traditions probably aren't the best sort for teaching careers. Fortunately, I am not such a person. I love learning new ways to do things and I look forward to the adventure of creating new ideas to teach old concepts. Part of the reason teaching is subject to so much change is that students are constantly changing. They come from immensely diverse backgrounds opening up an exciting challenge to teachers to develop their understanding, tolerance, and utilization of differences. Along with background diversity, students, especially in elementary school, are extremely adaptable. Little of their knowledge is set in stone and, likewise, their behavioral characteristics are adapting. Teachers are responsible to guide students education in a positive direction, encouraging behaviors that will lead to success in the future while appropriately discouraging inappropriate behavior.