Funny...my practicum started with Halloween, and it's ending with pajama day!....and a potluck breakfast, which I just realized goes very well with the pajama day theme. There's no better way to end my time at KKSA - no day is ever really normal there.
It's the morning of my last practicum, and I'm a bit sad. I had such a great practicum experience and it's going to be a bit heart breaking to part with all the staff and students that I have met over the last month.
It was good to see one of the big assignments I assigned come to a conclusion this week. I assigned photo essays to the grade 6s and 7s that had to communicate a message about human interaction with the environment (outside/nature environment). Because, very fortunately, KKSA is well equipped with a computer lab of Macs, the students made the photo essays in iMovie. It was challenging at first to get students comfortable with the technology, but they were all very excited for the assignment and the end results were really great.
Also, today we have the big co-teaching math lesson that a few ATs and TCs are coming to observe, so that's another exciting thing to add to the last day of practicum! I think the lesson is going to be very fun and a great learning experience to conclude practicum. I really feel that I've learned a lot in the last 4 weeks. I got a lot of experience teaching grade 6 math and now, something that started out being a bit terrifying, feels pretty comfortable after everything I've learned from my students and AT. Knowing your students is such a key part of teaching. The grade 6 class I got to teach math to is so awesome and the students are all self motivated to learn so I was lucky I got to teach in such an exciting classroom.
Well, I'm off to the final day of practicum! What a great 4 weeks filled with challenges, collaboration, creativity, and learning, all in a positive and welcoming environment :) Can't wait to see what the next one brings.
P.S.
The OISE blogs I have commented on are: Vivian's, Steven's, Mack's, and Lauren's.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Ms. Paskauski, Paskausas, Paskausi
By the end of week 3, most students could actually say my name properly! A lot of them got it quickly, but some still struggled to remember it, but now, I think they all have it.
It was interesting when I started my practicum. I decided that I wouldn't want students to call me Ms. P....is that mean? My mom and brother are both teachers and their students call them by their full last names, so I thought, "Ok, I'll see how the whole Ms. Paskauskas thing goes". I've heard some interesting variations, but after pronouncing it slowly to students, they remember it.
It was also a weird adjustment to start actually being called and introducing myself as Ms. Paskauskas. I caught myself a few times introducing myself to students by my first name.
Also, now that I'm heading into week 4, it's nice know that I have built a good re-pore with the grade 6 math class that I see the most. I've gotten to know them pretty well and know what they need in order to learn to the best of their abilities. They had a math test last week and I was proud to see that they're all getting what I've been teaching them :)
But, still lots of learning to do - bring it on week 4!
It was interesting when I started my practicum. I decided that I wouldn't want students to call me Ms. P....is that mean? My mom and brother are both teachers and their students call them by their full last names, so I thought, "Ok, I'll see how the whole Ms. Paskauskas thing goes". I've heard some interesting variations, but after pronouncing it slowly to students, they remember it.
It was also a weird adjustment to start actually being called and introducing myself as Ms. Paskauskas. I caught myself a few times introducing myself to students by my first name.
Also, now that I'm heading into week 4, it's nice know that I have built a good re-pore with the grade 6 math class that I see the most. I've gotten to know them pretty well and know what they need in order to learn to the best of their abilities. They had a math test last week and I was proud to see that they're all getting what I've been teaching them :)
But, still lots of learning to do - bring it on week 4!
Crayola Markers and Chart Paper
No matter how careful I am, somehow, everyday at practicum my hands end up being covered in Crayola marker. The teachers barely use their chalkboards at my practicum school because they are covered with word walls, students' work, and other important diagrams and charts for student reference (which is a good thing), so I end up using chart paper and markers a lot of the time when I'm teaching math. It's nice having my neat chart paper notes done up, because then, these too can be added to the walls of the classroom for student reference, allowing me to leave my mark :)
Although it's good having all the various things on the walls of classrooms, it makes me wonder - how can we be moving more towards paperless schooling when it seems so vital to have all this paper up on the walls? We can use things like Smartboards and projectors, but how do you get a projection to stay on the wall all the time so that students can look at it when they need some help with a problem their solving? And all the chart paper notes that go up on the wall - what happens with them when the year's over? Are they saved for the next year?...probably not...because the next class or teacher will want to make their own, new notes. Hmmm....
It seems the only way to go totally paperless, is to use lots of technology...which in turn, doesn't that use up more energy/electricity, still somehow contributing negatively to our environment? This is something I battle with - to use paper and maybe waste a tree, or use a computer that's sucking up electricity to be working right now? It seems like this scenario can transfer into many different worlds - personal, professional, educational, social...I wonder which is the better route?
Although it's good having all the various things on the walls of classrooms, it makes me wonder - how can we be moving more towards paperless schooling when it seems so vital to have all this paper up on the walls? We can use things like Smartboards and projectors, but how do you get a projection to stay on the wall all the time so that students can look at it when they need some help with a problem their solving? And all the chart paper notes that go up on the wall - what happens with them when the year's over? Are they saved for the next year?...probably not...because the next class or teacher will want to make their own, new notes. Hmmm....
It seems the only way to go totally paperless, is to use lots of technology...which in turn, doesn't that use up more energy/electricity, still somehow contributing negatively to our environment? This is something I battle with - to use paper and maybe waste a tree, or use a computer that's sucking up electricity to be working right now? It seems like this scenario can transfer into many different worlds - personal, professional, educational, social...I wonder which is the better route?
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Grade 6 Math Anyone?
When I found out my practicum placement back in September, the word MATH was the first word that jumped out at me. Having music being the focus for me in my post-secondary education, math has been far off in the distance for quite some time. So when I found out math was going to be one of the subjects I'd be teaching during practicum, I felt pretty nervous and my confidence hindered. However, as I digested the information about my practicum, it became clear to me to take teaching gr. 6 math as a challenge that I could rise up to.
Now, one week in, I'm very much enjoying my practicum. Teaching math isn't that scary and I actually look forward to developing interesting math lesson plans. I'm also teaching library and media literacy, where I can further let my creativity lead in lesson planning. Having a music background, it's great being at an arts school, where I am surrounded by artistic and creative students and staff. Art and student work is displayed all over the school and students are given opportunities inside and outside of class to really let their creativity shine. As a TC, I was greeted with a warm welcome right from my first STEP day and I've been learning a lot from my AT as she has already allowed me to take the reins in many of her classes.
The first lesson I taught was in media and it was the lesson related to my All About Me. It was the first day of practicum, Halloween, and I was standing, dressed as a cowgirl, in front of a class I had never met before. Nerves were kicking in. The beginning of the lesson was a little rough. There was some discussion that had to lead up to my All About Me and the assignment the students would be doing, but I didn't word my questions quite right, so there was a little bit of confusion. But as the lesson progressed, discussion perked and the students were on their way to working on their assignment. I'm teaching this lesson to 4 classes in total, so for the second time I taught the lesson, I structured the lesson a bit differently and it flowed amazingly! It was a rewarding experience being able to reteach a lesson, restructure it, and have it work :)
I also taught math everyday this week. The first math lesson I taught went pretty well, but as the week went by, my math lessons improved and I'm getting the hang of teaching math to grade 6 students.
My word for this week would be clarity. Students need lots of clarity in lessons. It's quite an adjustment going from an adult student environment at OISE where we can make connections and figure a lot of things out on our own, to a middle school, where I'm working with younger students of varying abilities and talents. It took some adjusting for me to remember that I need to really break down the steps in my lessons and find the best way to be as clear as possible as to the purpose of my lessons, and what students are assigned to do.
All in all, a really great week filled with hard work and collaboration. I'm really looking forward to the next 3 weeks and to the challenges and experiences coming my way!
Now, one week in, I'm very much enjoying my practicum. Teaching math isn't that scary and I actually look forward to developing interesting math lesson plans. I'm also teaching library and media literacy, where I can further let my creativity lead in lesson planning. Having a music background, it's great being at an arts school, where I am surrounded by artistic and creative students and staff. Art and student work is displayed all over the school and students are given opportunities inside and outside of class to really let their creativity shine. As a TC, I was greeted with a warm welcome right from my first STEP day and I've been learning a lot from my AT as she has already allowed me to take the reins in many of her classes.
The first lesson I taught was in media and it was the lesson related to my All About Me. It was the first day of practicum, Halloween, and I was standing, dressed as a cowgirl, in front of a class I had never met before. Nerves were kicking in. The beginning of the lesson was a little rough. There was some discussion that had to lead up to my All About Me and the assignment the students would be doing, but I didn't word my questions quite right, so there was a little bit of confusion. But as the lesson progressed, discussion perked and the students were on their way to working on their assignment. I'm teaching this lesson to 4 classes in total, so for the second time I taught the lesson, I structured the lesson a bit differently and it flowed amazingly! It was a rewarding experience being able to reteach a lesson, restructure it, and have it work :)
I also taught math everyday this week. The first math lesson I taught went pretty well, but as the week went by, my math lessons improved and I'm getting the hang of teaching math to grade 6 students.
My word for this week would be clarity. Students need lots of clarity in lessons. It's quite an adjustment going from an adult student environment at OISE where we can make connections and figure a lot of things out on our own, to a middle school, where I'm working with younger students of varying abilities and talents. It took some adjusting for me to remember that I need to really break down the steps in my lessons and find the best way to be as clear as possible as to the purpose of my lessons, and what students are assigned to do.
All in all, a really great week filled with hard work and collaboration. I'm really looking forward to the next 3 weeks and to the challenges and experiences coming my way!
Thursday, 27 October 2011
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