Final Reflection

Final Reflection

By:  Sue Biewer

Contemplation, reflecting upon the presence of God in our lives and work

As I reflect on my journey through the Reading Teacher 316 Program, and I revisit the Viterbo core values I know that I use these core values every day of my life.  I am blessed to have God in my life along with all the students and staff I work with.  This is most evident in the powers that God has given me to apply my knowledge and intuition when working with struggling readers.  Teachers value my opinion and seek me out for advice and collaboration.  God has given me the ability to help students with great success.  Just this summer God helped guide me while tutoring a student that increased 4 reading levels over the summer.  

Hospitality, welcoming everyone we encounter as an honored guest

As students walk into my classroom I do feel honored to have the opportunity to be able to teach them.  I treat each student as I would want to be treated and as how I would want my children to be treated.  Students are all individuals and learn in different ways.  It’s my job to make them feel confident, and feel that they belong in my community as each of us has a different, but an important role.  As students pass by to enter into my classroom I greet them and let them share things with me that are important to them.  By doing this, it creates a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of security in my classroom.  Students appreciate the fact that I care.

Integrity, striving for honesty in everything we say and do

I work with integrity when I work with children and find the best methods to help them and assess them honestly for their own good rather than to make me look good. Working with integrity means to do research and find the best interventions for students, and I am passionate about how I deliver these interventions with fidelity. It also means assessing them honestly to get a true picture of what their needs are and how they are progressing.  My work with students comes from the heart, and I want what is best for my students in the long run not just to pass a test to make me look good.  I want students to be able to take what they learn from me and apply it.

Stewardship, practicing responsible use of all resources in our trust

One of the most precious resources I work with everyday is my students.  I treasure these children like they are my own.  I work with resources that the school provides and those which I have provided for students.  I also utilize other teachers and staff in the building.  Our school recognizes that we are all a team, and we are trusted with doing our jobs with integrity, this includes use of school property.  I am entrusted each and every day to be responsible with all resources I come in contact with on a daily basis, and most importantly, the students.

Service, working for the common good in the spirit of humility and joy

Working for the common good means that I treat each child the same with the goal of helping each child meet, or strive to meet, their goals with a sense of compassion. If the children do not meet their goals it does bring a sense of humility, which only fuels my drive to be more creative in lesson planning.  We teachers work as a team to meet all of our students needs.  We do this for the reward and joy of seeing our students succeed.  As most teachers would say, “That is why I teach”, and this is truly why I teach.