Short Practicum Week #1 Reflection

The first week was extremely overwhelming but incredibly reaffirming that I want to make teaching my career. I thoroughly enjoyed observing classes for the first two days, as it got me thinking about how I wanted to deliver my lessons. It also made me think of ways to do so creatively, engaging students while expanding upon their learning. I am extremely grateful to both of my SAs for setting up observations for me this week with other classrooms and teachers, which provided even further examples of how lessons can be delivered. Also, my observation of the foods class with Ms. Francis was my favourite and something that I want to explore potentially during my long practicum of gaining certification in teaching as I love to bake and cook. 

Teaching my first two lessons was nerve-wracking, but once I got into the initial flow of things, I became more comfortable giving instruction and interacting with students, checking in with them regarding their understanding of the lesson content. Reflecting after both lessons, “Deconstructing an Essay Question” with the Grade 10’s, and “Emotional Motivation in Secondary Characters” with the Grade 9’s, I realized that more scaffolding with vocabulary/term sheets would have made the lesson even more effective. Also, I hope to become more comfortable with delivering lesson content while developing stronger connections with individual students, maintaining the extension of their learning, and pushing them to their greatest capabilities. 

Looking ahead to the coming week, I plan on using what I’ve learned from my first two lessons to better my lesson plans by including more scaffolding items to better student’s comprehension of the content. I am also planning on participating in Spirit Week to engage with the school community and continue working on the relationships that I have already begun developing with the students. I am excited to keep learning from my SAs and students alike and look forward to all the opportunities for my own growth as an educator during this last week of short practicum.