Tag: Teacher

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Education, a poem.

This poem was written by a high school student who was living in Busolwe, Uganda back in 2011 when we were there. It deserves a repost every year– as I continue to grow as a new teacher in Vancouver, I keep his words in mind. I appreciate the blessings we have as learners and teachers in Canada.

 

Education.
Where did you come from?
Oh! God, you created others white and others black.
Is this the education I hear?

Education, that you’re wise, whosoever comes
to you becomes wise. WHY?…..?
Education I hear that whoever wants you
pays money!! That you education puts other
people to the first class which benefits a lot
others in the second class which benefits some how
less and others in the third class which totally
inherits nothing. What can do Oh! Education
tell me… … …

Education, should I befriend you so that
I also enjoy the class people in this world today.
And if so where can I find that man
called money to touch you education?

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Life of a student teacher

Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.

 

Being a teacher is hard work. Student teaching follows an extremely steep learning curve, and it is one that requires me to be completely humble. I enjoy the new routine, waking up early and looking forward to an early bedtime. I love being with my students at school, and I feel comfortable and completely at ease in the school environment. However, it is incredibly trying just to be responsible for many, many things all at once.

I appreciate the great feedback I am getting on my teaching, from all perspectives (my mentor, my own reflections, my student’s reactions, my colleagues’ discussions). It is just scary to be so transparent and have to make myself vulnerable to critique in order to grow the most, best.

While I am working on incorporating “Big Ideas” into my lessons, I must also focus on the big idea for me as a teacher. I want the students to love learning. I want to impart strategies that they can use to work together, as well as independently. I want to make learning meaningful for the students by facilitating discussion and exploration of real life events and objects.

Tomorrow is another day.

 

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Preparation

The science lesson before spring break, I planted marigolds and nasturtium flowers with my grade 2/3 class. I tended them over spring break and was excited to bring them into the classroom for the students to measure and observe their plant growth. Tonight, the night before practicum begins, I come home to find them all dead. I was away for two days on the sunshine coast and had asked someone to water them. Either there was too much water, or the sunshine was too suffocating for the sprouting plants. I panicked.

I had planned to observe these plants throughout our whole science unit, but it seemed like it was all ruined. I cried in dismay, frustration, fear, anxiety, and insecurity. How can I teach children about plants when I clearly knew nothing about them? How am I going to come up with a lesson to replace it?

Then I realized that this was a lesson in itself. Not just for the kids to learn about the importance of balance in moisture, air, sunlight, and soil composition. It was a lesson for me to learn, right before practicum even starts, that things can and will change in an instant. I need to be adaptable, and think about the learning moments that each mistake or bloop affords.

Deep breaths, here’s to my certification practicum starting in the morning tomorrow.

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