PACIFIC OAKS COLLEGE

Pasadena, California

HD 450: Reflective Teaching

Book Reflection #3:
Learning Together with Young Children

DIANA LISSETTE CAMPOS

Faculty:
Professor Carla Franklin, MA
Fall 2017
1. What confirmed your experience/knowledge?
What confirmed my experience and knowledge was under the Principle: Developing
Rituals that Create Memories. In the example given, it is mentioned that “you never know
when you’re making a memory” (Curtis and Carter, p. 49, 2008). This confirmed my
experience because in reality we never do know when we are making a memory. We
might think something is not a big deal but to someone else, it might be the most
memorable memory. Any moment can become memorable but it’s up to the individual to
decide what they chose to remember. We can help them continue to create different
memories.
2. What challenged your experience/knowledge?
What challenged my experience and knowledge was when ‘contamination’ was
mentioned, in the sense of reducing the confidence a child may have in their own ideas
and the process they figure things out (Curtis and Carter, p. 201, 2008). The reason it
challenged my thoughts was because, when I see an individual needs help my first
thought is to help, I’ve never thought about their confidence in that sense. I changed a
certain teaching method last year, in math instead of saying anything I began asking more
questions to have the student figure it out. I suppose that is more helpful than just helping
directly.
3. What quotes/passages spoke strongly to you? Why?
The quote that spoke strongly to me was located on page 18. They mentioned, “teachers
and children become hungry learners and knowledge seekers that are eager to invest their
time in further education,” (Curtis and Carter, p. 18, 2008). The reason it spoke strongly
is because I fully agree with this quote, we are all eager to learn and looking to take full
advantage of every opportunity. Another quote that I liked was, “experiences that are
valuable for what they are: spontaneous moments of wonder, discovery, and delight” it
can be seen as an opportunity to really see (Curtis and Carter, p. 88, 2008). The reason I
chose this quote is because it really talks to me. Children see the world as a magical place
and we sometimes need to be reminded of that.
4. What are the points that address your own skills? The course content?
The points that address my own skills were thinking out of the box. I really enjoyed
reading the story in chapter six about the door. Any teacher can have them draw a
rectangle, but she had the students go above and beyond and to be able to imagine what is
behind the door. Children have an amazing imagination and it's up to us to expand it and
think out of the box. This is a skill I am always trying to practice and see more then what
is there. Any simple action can have an opportunity for enhanced learning (Curtis and
Carter, p. 142, 2008).
5. What affective responses occurred?
The affective response that occurred was thinking about my own teach process. I want to
be able to learn with my students and learn from each other. This book helped me realize
to better teach we need to focus on interests which help us connect to our students.
Throughout the book curriculum and lesson plans were changed based on interest, which
actually worked for the students.
6. How can you use this book in your professional and personal life?
I can use this book in my professional and personal life by looking back and reflecting on
my actions. Although I work with adolescents, we all learn differently and always need to
keep an open mind. I also want to continue to connect with my students and find ways for
them to learn that’s more concrete, maybe it will help them learn better. Each book has
helped me learn something new and I always leave my notes inside the book to always
look back and reflect.
 Works Cited

Curtis, Deb, and Margie Carter. ​Learning Together with Young Children: a Curriculum
Framework for Reflective Teachers​. Redleaf Press, 2017.