Professional Development and Learning
Activities to Improve Instruction
1 / Classroom Management
I sometimes struggle to maintain classroom management when confronted with difficult students. I've found that students can sometimes be defiant and refuse to do work no matter what I say. Additionally, I hope to learn to become more prepared to react when students begin to fight amongst themselves and I plan to learn more about how to avoid having bullying and disrespect in my classroom. My third placement was extremely beneficial to my classroom management skills as I started off really struggling and students were chatty as I was teaching, but as I gained their trust and respect, they began to listen to me while I was teaching.
2 / Confidence as a Presenter
As my field instructor mentioned in my second practicum, I am developing in my ability to present, but I must be more througout and not rush through concepts. I may know the content, but my students are learning it for the first time so I need to slow down and describe the concepts clearly and take my time.
3 / Organization and Preparedness
It was extremely evident that being organized and prepared is absolutely essential in the world of teaching. I thought I was organized, but my field placement challenged me to see things differently and taught me the necessity of being ready for anything. You must think on your feet and be prepared for anything that comes your way because anything can happen at a school, whether its a fight that breaks out, the photocopier down, or an unplanned meeting, you must be prepared and organized for everything.
My Teaching Journey
Practicum Experiences
Field 1
This field experience was at a jr. high in Lloydminster. This was mainly observation, where I went to various classes and subject areas which was extremely beneficial to my learning and progress as a teacher. The main takeaway for me was when I observed a grade 8 land-based class on a field trip to mount joy. The teacher implemented curriculum into the outdoors and I found it inspiring and enjoyable for the kids. This school offered me plenty of opportunity to meet with various staff, ask questions, and get to know the students.
Field 2
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I spent 4 weeks at a High School in Lloydminster, teaching math 20/30. This was interesting for me as I had attended this school 3 years prior. I also had the opportunity to coach the rowing team and gain insight into leading lessons. Over 4 weeks, I became more aware of the complexities and challenges that come with teaching in a high school. I gained plenty of skills from my experience, and chats with my partner teacher. She also allowed me to observe other classes which I found beneficial to see other teaching styles and classroom dynamics.
Field 3
This 6-week placement was at a Jr. High in Calgary, AB. I quickly became aware of the challenges of classroom complexity and the importance of classroom management. There were many students with learning challenges and different abilities in one classroom. I was with Dr. Johal, a grade 7 and 9 math and science teacher. I took over the grade 7 math and numeracy portion of the year and made my own presentations and math sheets. I marked assignments and tests that focused on fractions and decimals and led parent-teacher interviews about the stduents math progress. It was challenging at the beginning to get the focus and respect of the class, but with practice, patience, and observations of my partner teacher, I became more skilled and knowledgeable in this area.
Field 4
This 8- week placement was at F.E Osborne again with the same instructor.