Reflections from observations

As a "experienced" teacher, I might have taken many things for granted. Ever since mentoring the student teacher, I have had many opportunities to reflect on my own teaching. I appreciate these chances because they become another way for me to see my "blind spots" and improve my teaching. When I observed her teaching during the past two weeks, I gained some new insights into teaching, to be sure.

1. To start with, sitting in the back of the classroom enabled me to put myself in students’ shoes more directly. I felt sympathetic rather than angry when I watched some students lose interest or attention. My analyses reminded me that a mediocre class might result from unclear instructions, monotonous lectures, complicated grammatical points, lack of discipline, poor management, etc. In the past, it was my belief that if teachers have dutifully done their share of work, how students perform have nothing to do with them. Nevertheless, I come to realize that a teacher should take part of the blame when students lose their interest or when a class went wrong. (It's not that my student teacher did anything wrong, though.)
   
2. Secondly, as a visual learner, I expect the teacher to integrate different visual aids to make learning more memorable. Besides visual learners, there are audio learners and kinesthetic ones. So, a variety of teaching aids should be used if we teachers want to take care of learners with different learning styles and multiple intelligences.
   
3. I have thought that what I prepare for the students is necessary and beneficial for them. But sometimes, we teachers are just doing things we would like to do, rather than really design a lesson from students' angle. Therefore, a feedback form is necessary for each activity if there is sufficient time. (Time is never enough!!!)
   
4. The student teacher prepared a lot of activities. Though those activities were related to the main theme of the unit, she lost the focus sometimes. It seems that she spent more time on "appetizers" or "side dishes" than on "main courses." I am wondering whether I have made the same mistake or not? Besides, with so many activities in one unit, I am wondering if she designed the lesson according to her own philosophy or she was deeply affected by me? If she regards me as a model, then I ask myself If I am too activity-oriented? Am I? If I am, then what? Still wondering….