Reflecting on my Folio
I have found the benefit of creating field folios during my time with the GVSU College of Education. For one, it forces me to reflect upon my work and decide upon which method and activities worked for me, and which were not noteworthy enough to include in a folio. This allows me to move forward and refine the things I have identified to have worked and thus avoid any confusion within my early career about where to go with my work. Focusing on the InTASC standards while creating such a portfolio has also reminded me of what the most important things are about being a teacher. During these semester so many things happen! Between classroom lessons every day and then college courses, there is a lot of information. This portfolio works to help remind me of all the evidence there of my growth.
The individual folders of this portfolio also help to focus my growth in four parts. While teaching is obviously important since that is the verb of teachers. The leading, learning, and within a democratic society folders are also necessary, although less obvious within the teachers realm of responsibility. However, I have found through this semester that these other three folders are what help me to enjoy teaching the most. When writing articles for teachers, or seeing my students outside the classroom, that is when I enjoyed teaching the most. In fact I ran a math competition this year and wrote an article for a journal. These two acts are where I learned the most about collaborating with educators, and with working for and among students to create the best possible learning environments. However, I doubt that I would have realized how much I learned from this article and math competition if I did not have to incorporate them as part of my portfolio.
That is the true benefit of working on and completing this education field portfolio. The ability to make me reflect on my practice and be able to choose the positive from the negatives. I plan to continue updating this portfolio through my teaching career, thus enabling my ability to be a reflective practitioner and continue to improve my profession.
The individual folders of this portfolio also help to focus my growth in four parts. While teaching is obviously important since that is the verb of teachers. The leading, learning, and within a democratic society folders are also necessary, although less obvious within the teachers realm of responsibility. However, I have found through this semester that these other three folders are what help me to enjoy teaching the most. When writing articles for teachers, or seeing my students outside the classroom, that is when I enjoyed teaching the most. In fact I ran a math competition this year and wrote an article for a journal. These two acts are where I learned the most about collaborating with educators, and with working for and among students to create the best possible learning environments. However, I doubt that I would have realized how much I learned from this article and math competition if I did not have to incorporate them as part of my portfolio.
That is the true benefit of working on and completing this education field portfolio. The ability to make me reflect on my practice and be able to choose the positive from the negatives. I plan to continue updating this portfolio through my teaching career, thus enabling my ability to be a reflective practitioner and continue to improve my profession.