reflection 17

Even though I wasn't able to make it to class on Thursday because I had to go to work for a special project, I was able to learn a little more about democratic classrooms. Something that stood out in my mind was that "students who are strongly motivated to learn do not need a manager." What I caught from that was that if a teacher promotes individual thinking and student interaction, along with a positive atmosphere, then the students might be more self-motivated to learn. In essence, the students will not need nor want the traditional teacher, or classroom manager, who tells them exactly what to learn, do and expect. From this newer theory of self-motivation, the old authoritative teacher is out and the new teacher allows the students to help govern the way the class is run. I think this promotes the students' will and desire to learn and be a part of the class; they feel like they are part of the class. When I become a wood shop teacher, I am going to have to be authoritative at the beginning and throughout to a degree; I need students to practice safe techniques and behave around heavy equipment. But if I can promote student motivation to want to learn how to efficiently design and woodwork, then I think the students will naturally want to behave and be safe.