Personal Narrative: Classroom Engagement and Teaching Philosophy

This personal narrative reflects on a teacher's approach to classroom engagement, specifically focusing on a lesson based on 'The Ice Cream Man' to connect with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities. The narrative details the use of student engagement activities like 'Flip the classroom' and technology to create a friendly and approachable environment. The teacher highlights the importance of unbiased teaching, inclusivity, and collaborative learning. The narrative explains how the lesson influenced students by encouraging participation, fostering group activities, and promoting learning through a play approach. The teacher's beliefs about teaching are demonstrated through the use of catchy visuals, simple language, and two-way conversations. The narrative concludes by emphasizing the development of reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills among students through various activities. The references provided support the teaching methodologies discussed.

Running head: PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Personal Narrative
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

2PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Describe a content lesson or unit that defines me as a teacher. How did I engage students of all
backgrounds and abilities in the learning?
I have chosen this unit or lesson because I feel that one of the most important aspects of
an ideal teacher is to make sure that they are developing a strong connection with their students.
As I was teaching class 4 students, I took up a chapter that was very interesting for all students
and all of them could relate with it. I have chosen the student engagement activities like Flip the
classroom and technology in classroom. I started the class by showing some videos and
some documentaries on ice cream man and how kids in every corner keep on waiting for
him every say. In other words, efforts must be taken by a teacher in order to make sure that he
or she is being able to make a very friendly and also approachable environment or atmosphere in
the classroom. I feel that I have been successful in choosing a lesson that has actually helped me
in making a good connection with all my students (prashanthellina.com. 2020). I the chapter, The
Ice Cream man, I have been able to get their attention and the overall response in the class as
also very positive. This is because of the fact that I have been able to communicate with all the
students in a very easy and also free manner. As per my opinion overall involvement and student
engagement is one of the most important aspects of a successful teaching session.
As per my perception an idea teacher must be one who is always unbiased. In other
words, they must be able to make sure that all the students are being involved in the process of
teaching. It is to be noted that there will be student from different cultural and religious
backgrounds in any classroom session (Kim 2017). In order to ensure that there is a proper
inclusion in the classroom session the teacher has to ring all the students into the process so that
none of the student’s is being left out. I chose this lesson the ice cream man because it is
something present in almost all the places and is a certain food product that is popular almost

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among the entire student coming from different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds. As per
my perception this in turn is a very useful lesson as it will be helping in bringing about the
different students together. In the modern day teaching sessions, collaborative learning is of
utmost importance. In order to bring all the children together the teacher has to focus over an all
round inclusion. In order to make sure that the students are able to come to a point of agreement
or understanding the teacher has to choose a certain subject or topic that is common in the
background of all the different students and also they can relate with it properly.
How did that learning influence my students? How are my beliefs about teaching demonstrated
in this lesson or unit?
The influences on students
I feel that helping students to get rid of their hesitations and to speak in front of all others
in the classroom is of utmost importance. I was successful in dong that as I got a very good
participation from all the students. All the students were coming up and speaking about their own
and individual experiences that they had. This helped me in developing many group activities in
the classroom. I was able to group students in different groups and they were able to develop a
good bonding with each other and there was the exchange of many interesting stories and
experiences. Therefore it can be said that the lesson has really been very useful. Students have
been able to learn through play approach. They have learned not only about ice cream but about
seasons and also about seasons like summer, monsoon, winter and the respective objects like
umbrella that is to be used.

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Beliefs about teaching
The lesson is illustrated with pretty and catchy colors. Apart from this, the lesson is given
in a very easy and under stable manner. The simple and yet catchy and crisp language has been
able to get the attention of all the children as they were all excited to read a lesson about ice
cream, which is one of the most favorite products.
I have always believed that teaching must be two way and all the conversation must take
place between the teachers and the students. In other words the conversation must not be
restricted only to one person. I have been successful as I was able to get a very active and good
response from all the different students of my class. I was able to develop an atmosphere of fun
and also understanding within the classroom. The students were having fun while reading about
the interesting things that stay within the vehicle or the van of the ice cream man. I have been
able to develop the skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking among my students. This is
through the different exercises or the activities that are given at the end of the lesson or at the end
of the chapter.

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References
Kim, I., 2017. Teaching badminton through play practice in physical education. Journal of
Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 88(8), pp.7-14.
prashanthellina.com. 2020. prashanthellina.com. [online] Available at:
http://ncertbooks.prashanthellina.com/class_5.English.Marigold/1.pdf [Accessed 6 Mar. 2020].