Reflection : Importance of Thematic Unit and Evaluations

Reflection:

The Importance of Thematic Units and Evaluations

          I consider that thematic units are extremely essentials in teaching.  When a teacher uses a thematic unit they are embracing diversity.  I consider that thematic units embrace diversity because by using them a teacher can integrate different materials that hold the same purpose.  Using thematic units allows the teacher to treat the four language arts.   I believe that once you start creating thematic units you will be able to acknowledge all the different strategies and techniques you can use to teach certain topics.  There are a lot of times when teachers limit themselves to teach using the same ideas over and over but when using a thematic unit teachers can explore different forms of achieving their objectives.  I have to admit at first it becomes challenging to create thematic units that could last for weeks but the truth is that once you create the thematic unit you are also dealing with the daily lesson plans. 

          On the other hand evaluations and assessments are also techniques that are essential in teaching.  Evaluations and assessments allow the teacher to evaluate the learning process.  Most of the teacher’s only use test to evaluate learning but the truth is that not all of our students perform well in a given test.  There are many ways that you can assess learning that serve as a motivation for the students.  Of course I believe that written evaluations such as test are extremely important but in my practice teaching experience I let my students express learning in many other ways.  I used different techniques such as role play, drawings and painting to make sure that learning was taking place among the students. 

          Both of these terms thematic units and evaluations require a teacher to have disposition in order to create them.  It is up to the teacher to become a typical teacher or to become that teacher who the students will always remember.  I believe that no matter what grade you are teaching every student has a child inside even 12 graders, so my advice is to let the child inside you out and transform your classroom into a fun learning environment.  All of this can be done if a teacher is able to hold a positive learning environment for all of the students.