Lenses for Observation

I thought the article was interesting. One thing that has become clearer and clearer to me over the course of this program is the need to take the time to understand myself. Listening to my own thoughts and feeling and reflecting on why I feel the way I do is essential to effective interaction with others (friends, family, etc.). I found this article helpful because it not only extended this concept to the classroom but also set up structures for thinking about my thinking. Since the fall, I have been thinking a lot about my own education and this reading made me consider how those experiences impact my current observations and work at Amidon.

It also made me aware of things to keep in mind and observe in others. I know that I have trouble with rapidity. I tend to freeze when rushed and my descisions in a high-stress situation are not always the greatest. Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to specifially observe how other teachers deal with these issues. My hope is that I will find some strategis to use in my own teaching and life (since this is not just isolated to the classroom).

The other piece that I found really interesting was the lense of culture and the idea of intercultural competance. In the past, I have been lucky enough to live and work abroad and work with diverse populations here in the U.S.  The role of culture and how your own culture influences your understanding of other cultures is a topic I am really facinated by. This is another area where I am going to target my observations to see if what I can learn from other peoples' experiences.