Megan Leonard
Tomorrow’s Teachers
Ms. Mason
1 April 2020
Field Experience Reflection
From the beginning of February to the middle of March, I was lucky enough to be able to
participate in my field experience, where I went to an elementary school every day from 1:20 to
2:10 and was able to work with incredible fourth graders on math. This experience, little did I
know it, was one that was going to change my life, and was one that assured me that I was in the
right profession.
To start, I want to discuss the things that went well throughout my field experience.
When I first walked into the classroom, I remember being incredibly nervous, but as soon as I
started to talk to my teacher and the students, my nervousness melted away and I was left with a
welcoming and excited feeling. Right away I started working with the kids, and soon enough I
had a daily routine of teaching one of the three small groups happening in the room! This is one
of the things that I felt went really well during my experience. I was able to work one on one
with the kids every day and get to know them all personally. I was able to help them learn in
different styles, like using pictures and colors. Another thing that went well was my full day. I
was able to work with the students who came in early for help with their reading, and as a future
English teacher, I was so excited! I taught the group of 7 students all by myself and got one of
the least involved students engaged in his work.
I learned so much during this experience, but the major thing that I learned is that not
every child is going to be excited to do their work, and you’re going to have to find different
ways to get students engaged. I had some students who did not see the point in doing the work,
and in order to get their attention, I had to add in fun ways to get the work done. For example, we
would use a lot of highlighters, markers, and pictures on the work to switch things up. I also
learned that kids love learning in different areas. Around the room, there were a bunch of
different ways in which students could learn that were fun. There were donut seats, more cubed
chairs, a rug, and carpet squares. All of these were really fun ways to learn and the kids loved
them. I definitely want to have an environment for learning that is as creative and loved as the
one I was in daily.
If I were to do anything differently about my field experience, it would be to make sure I
did not take one day for granted. The week before school closed, it was the week of the musical
and I was running around constantly, trying to balance the late show rehearsals, schoolwork, and
a decent sleep schedule. I had no idea that March 11th was going to be the last time I was going to
see those kids. It was just a normal day of working in small groups, but I wish I cherished it more
and was in the moment completely. Instead I was worried about time and making sure I was not
late to rehearsal.
Overall, I have such a positive lasting impression about my field experience. I got to see
my kids grow as students, I got to watch them succeed, and I got to know them. I made
connections with these children, and they saw me as a real teacher. When they failed, I felt it,
and when they achieved their goals, we celebrated together. I learned what it is like to be a
teacher, the feeling of caring for these children like they are your own. I wish I got to say
goodbye. I wish I got to discover what my one student wanted to be when he grew up. I provided
him with that task at the beginning of my field experience, because he was lacking motivation. I
have dreams of being back in the classroom with them, learning long division. Things might
have gotten cut short this time, but I know that soon enough I will have a class all to myself. I
will get to do “field experience” for the rest of my life, and I cannot wait to start!
