Senior ELA Class Reflection

One situation that was a positive experience was in my Senior ELA class and we were studying Thoreau’s Walden. I always became engaged and motivated when small group discussions occurred. Additionally, I was surprisingly intrigued more than other students by philosophers like Thoreau and Emerson. We were discussing the metaphorical imagery related to nature Thoreau used to discuss the human experience. Not only did I seem to be one of the few to participate frequently in the discussion but also my responses were deep and concise. I received praise from my teacher and peers, it was one of those few times I felt really proud of myself.

A negative experience I had while in the 5th grade and going through a challenging time in my life. I was the only African-American student in the school system and entire town; my mom was going through a terrible divorce and we had to move out of our home to an apartment. Looking back it really had an impact on my behavior and academics. One day I was acting out so much in class, I was pulled into the principal’s office and was scolded and cursed for 30 minutes by the teachers.

Similarly, Jenson is advocating for education strategies and methods that use research of the brain to enrich our learning. According to Jenson, the brain is the “common denominator” between all people. While as individuals we have different learning styles and abilities, our brains are still affected the same external factors such as stress, nutrition, exercise, and relationships. Undoubtedly these factors affect our student’s discipline, achievement, attendance, and memory all of which are elements of a classroom. Given the significance of these parallels, the better teachers can understand the brain’s complexities and forces which can affect its functionality, consequently practical and relevant teaching strategies will continue to increase in use in