Professionalism
Artifact: Experience During Lab #3 from PED 201
Element: 6.3
Date: October 2011
During lab three, my group and I went outside to play with the students on the playground. The students were either playing with the Cortland students, or among other classmates. While we were outside with the kids, I noticed one child who wasn't interacting with the other students, and was off to the side by himself. I asked what was wrong and he began to tell me how his father had surgery on his leg, which was why he was upset. I then began to comfort him letting him know that the doctor took care of his father, and he will be fine but just needs rest. Once I saw he understood, I tried to motivate him to participate in some of the activities that were taking place outside, but he seems to be one of those kids that like to do their own thing. Realizing this, I decided to challenge him to go down the slide, and give me a high five at the bottom, in order to get him to do something except just stand around. This put the biggest smile on his face, as he would go down, give me a high five, then run back up and keep doing it. It made me feel really happy that I could have an effect on cheering him up and letting him know his father would be alright.
This artifact represents progress that I’ve witnessed in myself. Prior to PED 201, I can’t say that I’d feel comfortable trying to talk to one of the students about their personal life, thinking it’s not my place to do so. But through experience through the labs I learned a lot. This artifact is important to my development as a teacher because it shows how you can learn all the facts about something out of a text book, but when it comes to teaching, there are just something’s that cannot be taught through a textbook. Instead of just trying to get the child to play with the other kids, I took the time to find the underlying reasons for not participating. Teaching is a profession where you can’t assume things are the way they seem.
