Teaching Styles
One important question a teacher needs to address long before they begin to teach is what type of teacher they will be. Whether there classroom will be set up mostly Teacher Centered or Student Centered is a very important aspect they should consider. Both are valid teaching methods and both can accomplish great things. However, because I plan to teach young children, I feel as though a Student Centered approach would be the most effective.
One very important aspect of children developing into responsible and functioning members of society one day is how much they were able to do things on their own. A child who is not allowed to learn for his mistakes and by doing things on his own is probably one who is not growing as much as he should be. It's very important for children to have some sort of a sense of independence and be able to work together with their peers. Although obviously they will need a lot of instruction and guidance because they are still so young, so there will be a portion of Teacher Centered activities.
Technology is changing very fast, so the type of technology I used as a second grader is really outdated today. As a teacher, I would use iPads with learning, reading, and guided level games, however, still be there for assistance and explanation. This would add a fun alternative to worksheets and tests. I believe this would also help children stay involved and actively engaged in learning. This would also allow students who were struggling to not be rushed and let children who got it a little faster to move ahead. This is definitely not the only method that would work, but it is what I think would be most effective in elementary aged students.
