CTE Review

Clinical Teaching Experience Review
December 11, 2014

I really enjoyed this teaching experience. Our group was supportive of one another and came in well prepared for the class to discuss and teach chapters 14 and 15 on Rubrics and Grading. It was challenging at first to figure out what we were going to do for an activity but when we thought of the two chapters as playing off one another it was much easier. Everyone came in prepared to teach which was wonderful and we helped out one another during our presentation portion of the lesson, which took pressure off everyone as individuals and really helped create a sense of support and community with our group that is important especially with this kind of assignment. 

Like any experience this one had positives and negatives based on the result our discussion had on the class. To start we came up with several questions to interact with the class and came up with some that played off of the answers we heard. This was effective because we had several people participating with our questions and voicing their opinions but those answering tended to be the same five or so people. This might have been because of the earliness of the class or that others covered what they were planning on saying. Even though we didn't get the majority of the class talking, those who did participate in the discussion had some very interesting and innovative interpretations and thoughts. I think the best thing we did was the two activities that played off of one another a little. In the first activity, we had the class create their own rubric with categories and requirements they thought were important. In the second we focused on grading with a remade rubric and based on the rubric level they had to give the student feedback of some kind either a grade (level 1) a check or minus (level 2) or just plain feedback on how to improve as well as the things the student did well. This gave the class a chance to see the good parts of these different rubrics and the flaws in them. 

Everything in our teaching experience seemed to mesh well together and created an involved discussion with the class. The students felt comfortable asking questions when they weren't sure about something and as the teachers it was our job to elaborate. I think overall we did a good job and covered the information effectively and used some innovative ideas to help the students understand the double-edged sword that rubrics can be. Getting the class involved with the different activities was key to them understanding what we were teaching and they all willingly participated. This was a really great and not to stressful way (thanks to the group setting) to get us to start thinking about how to plan a class that keeps the students attention and teaches a concept effectively.    

Individual Field Requirement Hathaway-Brown High School 10

Mr. Mose’s Art History Class

December 10, 2014
Reflection

These ten hours of observation I've done in Mr. Morse's Art History classroom have really been an amazing experience. I am appreciative of the fact that he and his students invited me into their classroom with open arms. This gave me an chance to really watch a phenomenal person in a profession similar to what I plan on doing teach in a way similar to how I believe teaching should be done. Mr. Morse believes that he, as the teacher gives his students the tools and is there if they need help or support but it is their responsibility to use these tools and take the next step. He also understands the importance of talking to students and not above them because if you talk to you students, they feel that you are being attentive to their needs as individual learners.
The only thing I can say that would've improved this experience was if I'd also had the chance to observe an actual HISTORY classroom and not just an Art History class since they are similar but share some distinct and important differences.
But besides that, this experience was fantastic and this school was so welcoming (both faculty and students) and wanted to make sure I got the most out of each Individual Field Experience.  I would definitely recommend others to observe Mr. Morse's class because he really has a strong understanding of the key ideas that every good teacher should know and practice to create a good learning environment. This is clearly visible to all that watch him teach and through the respect his students show him. I am thrilled I got the opportunity to observe this Fantastic teacher for these observations. 

Individual Field Requirement Hathaway-Brown High School 9

Mr. Mose’s Art History Class

December 5, 2014

Focus: Style

Mr. Morse understands the importance of speaking to students not above them. He understands that if a student feels that you actually hear them and give them the respect they are more willing to listen and learn in the classroom. Students want to feel that their opinion is being respected and Mr. Morse had created this feeling in his classroom.

 He uses his hands throughout discussions in order to emphasize his points. I'm the same way; I can't talk without using my hands and they help me further my focus. This can be tricky as a teacher because you don't want the talking with the hands to become a distraction to your class and luckily Mr. Morse's don't, instead they emphasize his points. He uses his hands to tick of points with his fingers, to point out key parts of the paintings, and uses his hands to enhance key ideas and their importance to the lecture.

Mr. Morse clearly loves what he teaches and this helps him keep his students engaged. He creates a continuous discussion during the class that includes him offering up certain questions to get his students thinking and come up with new and different ideas than if the entire class was only lecture. Key to teaching effectively, is the important idea that Mr. Morse covers very well. He understands the balance of storytelling and teaching and he also realizes the balance between student and teacher learning. 

Individual Field Requirement Hathaway-Brown High School 8

Mr. Mose’s Art History Class

December 3, 2014

One thing that Mr. Morse has don't throughout my observations that I really admire is he makes sure to fully explain the importance of everything he teaches and why. This just helps create a feeling of understanding with his students that I think is so important in a teacher. If the students are confused but don't attempt to let the teacher know they are confused makes it very hard for them to fully grasp the material. If the teacher takes the time to elaborate this problem can easily be eliminated. 

As a double major in History and Education, I also really appreciate that Mr. Morse focuses of the historical importance of the art he is teaching. To an extent this is necessary because it is an Art  History class, but he goes further. I really believed in the concept of history being bound to repeat itself if we are ignorant of the past and I think that this is clear from certain historical events. History is created through the past and that includes culture which  art makes up hugely effected by this character. Art gives us an opportunity to see the different styles, beliefs, and ideals of a time and from their take the next steps of learning about the artist or the time period it is created in. All of this is centered around the historical aspect of art that I think is so important and Mr. Morse covers fully.