My assignment four is entitled “Active and Authentic: A Theory of Teaching Writing”. Assignment 4 required me to develop a personal theory of teaching, which included the role of the student and teacher, as well as a learning environment. I began with these basic categories when writing this paper, but wound up with a few more. Assignment four also asked me to consider opposing views and argue that my theory is in line with current best practices in the field. My paper began with defining the terms to be involved in the discussion of my theory and explained my personal beliefs about key terms. I attempted to bring my classroom environment to life for the readers, including my theoretical ideas and personal experiences. I then presented my view of the teacher’s role and the students’ role. I used quotations throughout to demonstrate how my theory is in line with best practices in the field. Assessment was not mentioned as part of the theory in the assignment description, but I felt that it needed a section of its own after looking into alternative and formative assessment. Assessment is vital to my theory of teaching because it not only is used to check for understanding but also to form curriculum. The process is cyclical and I felt that it deserved a place in my theory.

            After outlining my basic theory I demonstrated how it could be put into practice by communicated what I felt were the implications of such as theory in teaching. In this section I discussed how my theory may actually look in a real life classroom, considering that theory must one day become practice. No discussion of a theory would be complete without consideration of the opposing viewpoints. I presented several areas of contention that the oppositions may have about my theory. I also gave my response to these contentions and I am confident that I would be able to use actual resources to back my theory up when conversing with an administrator of parent who disagreed with my theory.

            I believe that my theory of teaching demonstrates my improvement over the semester because it has grown paragraph by paragraph as I read more texts associated with this class. I have gained a better understand of my own feelings toward the teaching profession and have developed a more well rounded theory than I started out with in this class. To be honest my viewpoints have not changed much this semester, just the confidence that I have in them. I have agreed wholeheartedly with nearly everything that I read this semester, and the readings have given me more ammunition when talking with others in the field of teaching. I feel much more comfortable and confident entering into a pedagogical conversation with another teacher. I used to feel like I was so far down the totem pole that I would never catch up to the pack. I would go to work and teacher would be talking in the lunchroom and I could just listen. This semester has given me the knowledge base I need to jump into the conversation. I feel that my theory of teaching paper shows this. This is my attempt to jump into the conversation, hopefully just the first of many.

            Once again I feel that this paper reflects my success as a college level writer because I have proofread and revised it several times and am comfortable with the way is sounds when read out loud. After reading so many scholarly journal articles I still feel like I have such a long way to go before I could ever dream of being published in one. Yet still, I read them and dream because someday it will be my name in these journals and it will have all been worth it. My writing is not yet at the level of what I have read in these journals, but I do believe it is at least at the level of a graduating senior. I see a lot of room for improvement, but it will take time and effort, many more semesters like this one.