In the three-week practicum I learned a lot about myself and it reaffirmed to me that this is what I want to do. I was nervous at first all I’ve done before is subbing and it’s a different kind of pressure when all eyes are on you and the teacher is right there. I was in a Grade 2/3 class that had a majority of boys. Which I’ve never seen before. They were a handful but I was able to learn from my coaching teacher. I learned a lot about assessment, teaching different grades at the same time and classroom management.I connected with the students gradually. By the end, it was hard to say goodbye. I took the advice we got from presenters throughout the program and found small things to connect them with. From asking them what they’re going to do over the weekend to joking around with them to reading with them.
A lesson that was a big hit was The Barnabus Project lesson. I was nervous about this one because I didn’t know if they’d like it or be able to sit long enough and listen to the story. I would stop and answer their questions or listen to their comments rather than keep them silent the whole time to try and keep them engaged. I wanted to see if this would work with them and it did. They enjoyed being able to create their creature and spent a lot of time on them. They enjoyed the book, made connections, and sat through it. Having a connection with the students helped and giving an overall explanation of why and what they’ll be doing helped them be engaged. I learned that students like being able to create and can help them be engaged.
“In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure.”
– Penguin Random House Canada
After reading this book students answered questions as a refresher about what they’ve heard. To create a summary for them. They then got to draw their own barnabus creature and give a write up about it. Then they got to create their creation out of plasticine and they loved it. It was only supposed to take 30 min but had to be extended because students were so engaged in their creations my coaching teacher and I let them continue creating. If I were to teach it again, I’d have a set number of materials for the students to use and portioned out in baggies. Students used a lot of clay which is not a bad thing but having it limited might add an extra learning element. I also would go through the page of characteristics etc with them so that everyone could follow at once and ask their questions for everyone to get the answer at once. Instead of the overall worksheet, I’d have a conversation with set questions to help them remember and make connections. Students were in groups which helped them help each other which I’d do again; let them be in groups or work together
