Name: Hannah Morz
Home University: UNI
Placement Location City/State/Country: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
School: American School of Bombay
Grade Level/Subject Area: Grade 4
Reflection: Week 4
First Placement
Iowa Teaching Standard: 8
“Ms. Hannah my tooth fell out! What do I do?” was something the university did
nothing to prepare me for. “You’re tooth fell out?” “Yes! What do I do?” “Do you believe
in the tooth fairy?” “Of course I do. Last time she gave me $100.” At that moment, I was
prepared to launch into another lecture. “You don’t know how good you have it.” (My
tooth fairy left me 25 cents.) Luckily one of my teaching team came to my (our) rescue.
How many more moments similar to this predicament do I have to look forward
to? Already in four short weeks in the classroom I’ve found the university failed to teach
me what to do when I find students passing notes. “Do you love Sanaa?” How to answer
relationship questions, “What should I do if a girl put me in the friend zone?” When to
know “I really can’t hold it Ms. Hannah!” means, “I want to leave the classroom Ms.
Hannah.” What to say to a student you just made cry (All I said was “Don’t stand on the
table, please.”) or the sheer joy of closing a read aloud right before the good part, “Ms.
Hannah why do you always stop the book at the exciting part?” If what I assume is true; I
can’t wait for the months and years to come.
The university did, however, send me out into (across) the world with the ability to
look a parent in the eye and confidently answer their question “What will you do to make
sure my child is successful.” I have a wide variety of management tools, I can speak
thoughtfully on differentiation, I am happy to be flexible when my planning time is booked
with a meeting or specials run late. Most importantly I can and do reflect purposefully in
every moment of the day as a way to guide my instruction because why else are we
here but for the kids? (And for that I thank you, university.)
I chose to reflect on standard 8 again, but I hope you agree it’s for good reason.
I’ve realized that one of the most beneficial and meaningful pieces of my student
teaching has been just as standard 8 says “Fulfills professional responsibilities
established by the school district.” Being able to spend my entire day as a professional
as opposed to one lesson, half a day, or a few times a semester has really empowered
me to be the best I can be all of the time.
Walking into a school everyday with real live and breathing colleagues and
students is something I’ve come to appreciate and feel a lot of enthusiasm about. I look
forward to catching up with the custodians, checking in with the kitchen staff, chatting
with the desk men and women, getting to know the bus drivers, and building
relationships with the lower elementary students. There’s something really inspiring
about being really apart of an institution fully committed to supporting student learning
whether it be the fourth grade team or the lady cleaning the restroom. I opted to focus
on “The Teacher: d. Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for all learners and
staff” because today I realized I sincerely enjoy my talk with the lunch man every day. I
understand in a more tangible way now what it means to be part of a team who, at their
core, lives to change the lives of a few (800) students, and I’m proud to say I
demonstrate this understanding of respect. There is no I in team, right?