Entrance Slip: September 14 (On being a reflective teacher)

1) Does this article 'speak to you' as a new teacher candidate in Vancouver in 2023, even though it was written in a different time and place? What in this article reaches or touches your life and ideas as a teacher candidate, and why? What seems dated or irrelevant, and why?

The notion of being a reflective teacher was summarised really well in the article. I agreed with the categorization of open-mindedness, responsibility, and wholeheartedness, and I feel like that has not changed for teachers. In fact, those are still highlighted points in our current teacher education program, which goes to show how timeless those characteristics are in this profession. 

One example that stood out to me was that of Mary Smith. I thought the distinction between saying you’d like to teach ALL students vs. truly wanting to teach ALL students was notable, because surface level statements can be tested with significant depth throughout the school year. I was reminded of the teaching film, “Freedom writers”, which followed the true story of teacher Erin Gruwell. She is a great example of how impactful reflective teachers can be to students, and the film captures the efforts reflective teachers can go to to be able to support the needs of everyone. As a teacher candidate, this makes me feel more dedicated to treating every situation as a learning opportunity.

I also really enjoyed the mention of “ethnocentric.” In terms of mathematics education, this was really special to me, as I’ve been working towards helping my students de-construct a eurocentric worldview of the subject. This use of this term came across as progressive, especially given how much potential there exists in the field to educate students on the rich history of mathematics! 

2) In what ways does this article help you develop your ideas about teacher inquiry and critical thinking -- both through points you agree with and those you may disagree with?

Devil’s advocate was important to play while reading this article, especially since I agreed with so much of it. I thought it was important to address the practicality of the field in comparison to a utopian view; to assess how politics within the educational institution and government can affect teachers; and to critique how different teachers in varying education systems across the world would connect to this article. This process left me with more questions than answers, but I value the two-eyed seeing worldview since it opened my eyes to the realities that many teachers face, and to the realities that I may have to overcome in the future as well.