recommend that every teacher read the book "Developmental Discipline" by Dr. Peter Ross. I learned great strategies from that book that will better equip me to run a well-managed class. I learned that using extrinsic motivators or tokens provides students with tangible reasons for showing good behavior. I also learned that communication is one of the significant elements in effectively curbing bad behavior. Positive communication and positive affirmation lead to a positive environment. I personally used the positive affirmation strategy in my student teaching classroom, and students responded very well to it. What I observed is that young children are always ready to please. In one instance, a student comes up to me at the end of each day and says, "Ms. A, did I do well today?" That was an indication that the particular student liked the positive affirmation I had given to other students and wanted to exhibit the same good behavior. That put a smile on my face. Another major area of education where I would like to expand my knowledge base is teaching mathematics to younger students. Learning how to teach math was one of the enlightening courses I took during my two years at Mercer. I learned that mathematics is a way of exploring the world through numbers, shapes, measurement, and problem solving. I was one of those who viewed math in a negative way and thought I was just not good at it, mainly because of how it was presented to me. I have learned a variety of instructional strategies, procedures, and methods to support mathematical instruction in my classroom. First, it is important to create an effective literate environment to enhance mathematicalunderstanding by incorporating foundational knowledge. By incorporating hands-on activities and allowing students to have cooperative learning opportunities with other students, I will use various manipulatives to teach. Secondly, integrating literature and math was one of the strategies that was very enlightening to me. I learned that reading is one of the fundamental processes in life for acquiring knowledge and forming an understanding of basic concepts. Teachers should strive to incorporate literature into math instruction so that students can make connections between math and their daily lives. Finally, another concept that resonated with me is the use of games in teaching the concept of problem solving in math. All students learn differently, which makes the use of games a simple and fun way of emphasising the most important elements of math. I have learned that there are so many layers to teaching math to children, and I will use the knowledge acquired frommy education to make the understanding of math concepts a more pleasurable experience for children. Assessments are a way of evaluating the quality and extent of learning, while reflection is an analysis of how we learn. These two ideas are sometimes used interchangeably. During my practicum experience, I had the pleasure of teaching a fourth grade class. After I taught a math problem-solving lesson, I put a new math problem on the board and allowed students to work individually. After individual time, I solved the math problem on the board together with the students. I asked students to take some time to reflect on how they arrived at their final answer, and I asked those who got the wrong answer to analyse what they did wrong. This activity allowed me to pre-assess the students’ knowledge level of the concept I was teaching without any anxiety from the students. This way of assessing demonstrates how assessments lead to reflection and how learning can be interrelated with assessment. Assessments, as previously stated, should be used as a learning tool to enhance cognitive learning rather than solely to authenticate learning. My most enduring course at Mercer was the Exceptional Learners class. We often lose sight of exceptional learners as transforming teachers. I must say my experiences in this class acted as a catalyst for my personal and professional transformation. This course was overwhelmingly full of very important information that will stay with me forever. All the terminology, technology, and unique curricula for exceptional learners that were all foreign to me nowmake sense. In my profession as an educator, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about where to seek professional literature and services and how to use that information for both exceptional and regular learners. As Dr. Saulson mentioned at the end of this course, we should keep in mind that most of the exceptional learners are also human beings trapped in bodies they have no control over. There is a voice inside that needs to be heard, and we, as aspiring teachers, should strive to be their voices and eyes to make it a somewhat better world for them. As I grow as a transformative teacher, I am going to use reflection to improve and develop my teaching skills. It is important to take time away from teaching to think about your instructional strategies in the classroom. A teacher needs to reflect regularly on whether his or her instructions are working and which ones need to be improved. This helps teachers evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching while they continue to grow professionally. I am from Ghana, where the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" is almost literally adhered to. I intend to learn frommy colleagues and peers and am always open to constructive criticism to enable me to achieve my goals. I have learned that taking the academic route alone does not make you an effective teacher. I believe that in order for students to achieve their full potential in education, teachers need to stimulate students emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. I have faced several challenges in life. It was a challenge when, as a young lady, I left behind the tropical climate of Ghana to experience sub-zero weather upon arrival in Columbus, Ohio, to achieve my dreams, so I know every child with the right support and environment can achieve their academic goals and achieve their dreams. From humble beginnings, I was taught the value of hard work and never to be a quitter but to persevere at all costs. Therefore, when I embarked on changing my career from banking to teaching, I never looked back, despite my many challenges thus far. With each class I completed, I knew I was making steady strides toward my goal of becoming an educator and making a difference in the lives of my future students.
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