Reflecting on my journey this far

This was my last visit at this wonderful school until the New Year. I feel like I have learned so much already by just being in a classroom once a week and I cannot wait to continue to grow and learn more. Now, it is just about applying the knowledge I have learned and figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t. After being in a classroom with many different teachers, some who have been teachers for years and some who have been teachers for months, I realize there is not a one size fits all mentality for teaching. Just like when it comes to students and their learning and how students are all very different, the same goes to teachers. I’m curious to see how I will adopt my own methods and strategies over the next year. For today, we took part in a lot of fun activities. The students were instructed to write in their Christmas cards that they made the previous day. Something like writing in a Christmas card can be a difficult topic when there are children in the class who don’t celebrate this holiday due to religious reasons. It definitely is an area that as educators we need to be aware of. We need to address this in the best possible way however, I understand that throughout my journey to becoming a teacher, I know I will make mistakes and I might not deal with situations like this one correctly. I realize though that as long as I approach every experience with open arms and an eagerness to learn, and challenge myself, I will continue to grow. I read another book today to the students. I thought it went very well. The students were engaged and interested in the story and listened well. I also was responsible for bringing the grade 3’s to the library to watch a quick presentation and then be given a gift in the form of a dictionary. In that moment, I felt like it was my own class. It was quite exciting to see their faces light up when they received their very own dictionary! For the rest of the day, during reading time, students would ask me to tell them a word and they would look it up. I was amazed to see such an interest in books from the students. It was a great feeling. As well, throughout the day, when talking about something with the students, the teacher often asks them to turn to their partner to tell them the answer or to share. I enjoy seeing active engagement and peer sharing within the classroom instead of just the “sit at your desk” style. I also appreciate the use of games to teach students subject areas. I noticed this especially in math. Through the use of games which are being played with a partner, students learn appropriate skills, learn to work with another person, and have fun while doing so. It’s a win-win. In the New Year, I cannot wait to learn more, get to know the students better, and continue to grow on this lifelong journey.