Looking Back and Moving Forward
by Fatmeh Beydoun
When we first got the assignment of reflecting on our goals, I figured it was going to be simple because my goals had not changed…or so I thought. As I was reading through my goals I realized that in actuality some had changed. One that remained constant is my need to meet the educational needs of students with learning difficulties. I wanted to continue to add to my repertoire of techniques that could help enhance these students' understanding It was the first goal I wished to attain when embarking on my masters. For so many years, I saw students slipping through the cracks of the education system. Mostly, these students had learning difficulties but did not qualify for special education services. Through my coursework, I have taken many courses that have helped me achieve this goal. I have been exposed to and have utilized teaching techniques that are aimed at technology integration and study tools in literacy, math, science and social studies instruction. Alongside that I learned instructional techniques that not only target students with special needs, but help mainstream students as well.
An area in which I did notice a change was my second concentration. At first, I was looking to expand my knowledge of teaching math and
science. I have always had a passion for teaching Mathematics. When I taught in the US, I was involved in the implementation of a Math and Science club for girls. As a student that almost lost all hope in understanding Math, I know how discouraging it can be when lack of understanding leads to disinterest. At that point, I had heard way too many negative statistics about girls losing interest in math and science by the time they reach middle school. So, when I was contemplating returning to school, I thought this would be an area that I could delve into. Throughout the span of master’s courses, I noticed that while my students were grasping the basic concepts that I was teaching in Math and Science, however it was increasing difficult to help them gain a full understanding due to their language barrier. I recognized that, although I knew how to teach them math and science, I needed to gain knowledge in reading, writing, and comprehension methods for English as a second language students. That is when changed my concentration, and I am very happy that I did. I realized that I still had so much to learn in the techniques and methods of teaching literacy. Literacy does not have to be taught in the English classroom, it is integrated into every class and aids students in gaining a deeper understanding. Therefore, I feel now that my prior training in the program may have been insufficient to meet the needs of the students I am encountering.
Looking back, I think that my original goals from 2010 were hopeful, but now I feel that they have transformed into goals that are applicable and realistic. What I thought was going to happen in my career was changed by the students I was teaching and their specific needs; which is something that I thing will always continue to evolve. Obviously, it is always necessary to reflect and change my goals based on the outcomes I wish to accomplish both personally and professionally, but I was surprised at how much of this process is actually steered by the learner.
An area in which I did notice a change was my second concentration. At first, I was looking to expand my knowledge of teaching math and
science. I have always had a passion for teaching Mathematics. When I taught in the US, I was involved in the implementation of a Math and Science club for girls. As a student that almost lost all hope in understanding Math, I know how discouraging it can be when lack of understanding leads to disinterest. At that point, I had heard way too many negative statistics about girls losing interest in math and science by the time they reach middle school. So, when I was contemplating returning to school, I thought this would be an area that I could delve into. Throughout the span of master’s courses, I noticed that while my students were grasping the basic concepts that I was teaching in Math and Science, however it was increasing difficult to help them gain a full understanding due to their language barrier. I recognized that, although I knew how to teach them math and science, I needed to gain knowledge in reading, writing, and comprehension methods for English as a second language students. That is when changed my concentration, and I am very happy that I did. I realized that I still had so much to learn in the techniques and methods of teaching literacy. Literacy does not have to be taught in the English classroom, it is integrated into every class and aids students in gaining a deeper understanding. Therefore, I feel now that my prior training in the program may have been insufficient to meet the needs of the students I am encountering.
Looking back, I think that my original goals from 2010 were hopeful, but now I feel that they have transformed into goals that are applicable and realistic. What I thought was going to happen in my career was changed by the students I was teaching and their specific needs; which is something that I thing will always continue to evolve. Obviously, it is always necessary to reflect and change my goals based on the outcomes I wish to accomplish both personally and professionally, but I was surprised at how much of this process is actually steered by the learner.