Reflections 3 & 4
As a teacher, designing a thematic unit to teach is a lot of fun but it can also be somewhat of a daunting task to complete on your own. There are so many components that a thematic unit must incorporate to make sure that the “whole child” is being taught. The teaching must also prove to be effective in that students would be able to process and retain the new information they are learning about in school. Since our graduate class was smaller in size, myself and all of my classmates were able to design this thematic unit about Community Helpers together. I was able to feel confident because each team member brought their own area of expertise to developing the unit properly. I was also able to learn a lot from my other team members about their own teaching styles and see so many new and different resources to use for my own classroom. It was interesting to learn about how each of us incorporate different methods of teaching but also still remain within the limits of our varied curricula and state guidelines. Our thematic unit focused primarily about four different Community Helpers (doctor, dentist, chef, and firemen). As a group, we were able to use these careers to make center and small group activities as well as incorporate pre-writing, singing, math, and other fine/gross motor-skills related activities. We were also able to incorporate lots of technology and use differentiation strategies for EC (Exceptional Children) students that are in NC Pre-K classrooms. I was able to use all the information from the lesson plans to create a pre and post assessment for teachers to use to see what knowledge their students had in their schema before starting the unit and compare it to the information that they retained after teaching the unit. The presentation of the unit was also developed in a very beautiful and professional way that is easy to understand and shows the depth that out unit was developed. Overall, it was a very enlightening and enjoyable process to design this unit as a group. In addition, I will be able to use this unit for my own classroom and that is invaluable!
I am a new teacher, so I haven't had a lot of experience with coming up and designing unit plans. I have never had to design one for pre-k since I am a 1st grade teacher, so I was really nervous about this project. I was relieved when we were able to work as a group instead of alone. Most of the time I dislike group work but this worked out well for all of us. We all brought something new to the table and we all worked and meshed well together. I was assigned to building this website. At first I felt like I wasn't putting anything into the unit because I wasn't doing anything. This all changed when I started receiving everyones parts. Now I feel I have put in just as much work as everyone else. In the beginning I thought putting this website together would be a breeze because I have made a few before. I was WRONG! I spent countless hours but it is was all worth it when I showed it to the group and they loved it. Since I put the website together, I got to read everyones parts. I learned so much. I have never seen a pre-k unit and I did not know so much had to be put in and covered. I deeply respect pre-k teachers. They are what start the children's education and they deserve way more than they receive.
I am a new teacher, so I haven't had a lot of experience with coming up and designing unit plans. I have never had to design one for pre-k since I am a 1st grade teacher, so I was really nervous about this project. I was relieved when we were able to work as a group instead of alone. Most of the time I dislike group work but this worked out well for all of us. We all brought something new to the table and we all worked and meshed well together. I was assigned to building this website. At first I felt like I wasn't putting anything into the unit because I wasn't doing anything. This all changed when I started receiving everyones parts. Now I feel I have put in just as much work as everyone else. In the beginning I thought putting this website together would be a breeze because I have made a few before. I was WRONG! I spent countless hours but it is was all worth it when I showed it to the group and they loved it. Since I put the website together, I got to read everyones parts. I learned so much. I have never seen a pre-k unit and I did not know so much had to be put in and covered. I deeply respect pre-k teachers. They are what start the children's education and they deserve way more than they receive.