Whew! There we go, our 3-week practicum teaching at 25% is done! What a learning experience that was! To start sharing my journey with you, I am going to say that my practicum experience was less than typical. I was absent for 1.5 weeks in the middle of my practicum. This resulted in me starting my practicum early and ending later – therefore for my three weeks, I was in and out of school between February 6th to April 6th. I would not change my experience for the world. I feel so grateful and blessed to have been placed at Ecole College Heights Elementary with Tamara Deford. The staff was extremely welcoming and kind. The kids were even more welcoming. So, thank you to the staff, admin, and kids at Ecole College Heights Elementary.
A peak at what I learned:
- Relationships are key to teaching. This includes relationships with the admin, teachers, staff, and learners! Without creating and building those relationships specifically the students, teaching cannot happen therefore learning cannot happen.
- There are more ways to teach math than just worksheets.
- Be prepared to pivot at any moment.
- Listening to productive conversations between students is a valid and informative way to assess the students and yourself. What I mean by yourself is assessing if you’re teaching is sticking with them, is it making sense, etc.
- When you are doing individual assessing, finding that balance with the classroom, timing and assessment can be difficult.
- Creating a classroom management strategy that works for you and implementing it as soon as you can benefit you and the students in the long run. (I have been in classes where management is minimal and classes like this one, where management is very present and it makes a difference).
- The majority of my learning came from doing and listening to the students. Collaboration is key! (With the teacher, other staff, and the students).
- Lesson planning gets easier the more you learn the curriculum.
Below are a few pictures of lessons I completed during my practicum!
To end this practicum, I gave my students an art challenge. I gave them three types of self-portraits and asked them to choose one based on what they thought they will be successful in completing as it had to be done from start to finish today. (Little did they know they did not have to be done but I wanted to challenge them as this class can be perfectionists and particularly when it comes to art). When the time was up I explained to them as a student I cannot take pictures and share them online when their faces are present, and I wanted them to make these self-portraits to hold in front of their face for our “final photo.” The students loved this and they were so proud of their self-portraits.
Such a bitter sweet ending. I was not prepared for how difficult it would be to leave the students but I am excited to continue in my journey. As I leave this practicum I think it is important to note that I am leaving with a full heart and growing passion for teaching. I am proud and grateful to my coaching teacher, my practicum evaluator, my committed school community, the families and kids within the school, and everyone who takes part in influencing and educating our up and coming citizens.
