What do you hope to learn from your practicum experience?
September 2013.
What I hope to take from my practicum is an increase in my confidence when it comes to standing in front of students teaching. I also hope to learn tactics and methods to introduce a difficult topic, and strategies to allow students to use their funds of knowledge and increase their learning. In addition I hope to learn techniques and activities that I can use in my own classroom. I believe the most important part of the practicum is to gain experience that can be used in the future and I hope I can learn and absorb as much information that I can use in my own classroom as I finish the Bachelor’s of Education Program.
What did you learn from your practicum experience?
July 2014.
From my practicum, I learned more than I can express. From the minute I set foot in my classroom, I felt as though I was learning every minute of every day. I learned how to control a classroom, use the teacher look effectively, allow for wait time, control my emotions, balance a healthy lifestyle as well numerous strategies for effective teaching. Most importantly I learned that lessons, activities, assessments and discussions do not always go as planned. Yes you write a day plan, have a set lesson plan, but it is 100% guaranteed that there will be changes made to the day plan, and adaptations made to the lesson plan. As the days went by, I quickly found that you cannot always have everything planned to the minute, and sometimes it is ok to go with the flow and the mood of the class. 
Near the end of my practicum, there was a sense of accomplishment, as well as a sad goodbye. The hardest part of leaving was leaving the school community. As the weeks went by, I felt a part of the school community, as well I felt as though I had created a community in my classroom. Saying goodbye was very difficult, but as one of my students puts it, “it is not goodbye, rather until next time.”
How do you plan on growing?
As an educator, I will continue to establish a community, and welcome all into my classroom. I would like to enhance my own language skills, to therefore incorporate as many different languages in my classroom. I would like to attend and develop my own professional development on importance of building a community. This will allow me to enhance my own practice and collaborate and share with other individuals.
The Final Goodbye
I started my practicum with the goal of creating a community in my classroom, and building relationships. On my last day, from the messages I received from my students, the goodbyes we said, and the memories we shared, I was convinced that I had been successful at creating a community. I received a card with personal messages from each and every one of my students. These personal messages all highlighted the things that I did in my practicum to engage my learners, the special stories I shared about my life, my humour, and passion for teaching and my students.
A student wrote a beautiful letter for me on my final day, that I will always treasure as I pursue further goals in my teaching career. 
“Dear Miss K
Your reassurance, enthusiasm and aspiration to continuously encourage our growth not only as learners, but growing young adolescents is extraordinary. Every day you enlighten us with your quirky humour, and radiant smile. The positive effect you have on the class is so significantly profound, and I can only imagine the journey you have yet to embark on, including the memorable experiences you shall stumble upon. Traveling abroad offers countless opportunities to encounter new people, languages and ways of life. Students universally are unconscious that you will be a part of their lives, as you did ours. I am uncertain as to where you’ll go, but so is everyone else, as only you can decide where
you’ll make an impactful change. I can only hope you’ll carry the memories you have created with us over these past few weeks. It has been a privilege being a part of your learning experience, as you were a highpoint of mine. The hardest part of anything is when it’s time to say goodbye, as much as we’d like things to stay the same, change is an inevitable part of life, this is why we mustn’t say “goodbye”, but only “see you soon”. Although I may be uncertain as to where you’ll venture, I am certain it’s not a matter of if we will see each other again, but when?
Love *****, Gr. 7 student”
Growth and the Future
I started my practicum with the goal of successful completion, different learning opportunities and a positive experience. Each week I was faced with different challenges, and obstacles.
Each week, I overcame them which resulted in my growing as an individual, and as an educator.
I grow by learning that having everything planned does not mean everything goes according to the plan. I learned how to be adaptive, an how to embrace each challenge with a positive attitude. It soon became apparent that planning for an hour lesson, may result in a three day lesson. The Middle School interruptions were ones where it required adaptive teachers. One of the biggest growths I had was being flexible and going with the flow of the day. My day planners always looked different at the end of the week, then what I had originally planned.
I learned that no matter how bad a day has gone, the smiles on the students faces makes it all worth it, and you know that you are doing something right. Even if the lesson wasn’t as great in my mind, the reactions of my students meant that they enjoyed it, and to me that was what the most important factor.
I learned that the more effort you put into planning the lesson, the more engaged and excited students are. The extra effort put in by a teacher is defiantly noted by students. When it was a lab or demo day, students left with vibrant smiles and discussions that would carry throughout the bus ride home. In addition, they noticed the little things. Every time a new display board went up, or images were added to our photo wall, students enjoyed looking at them and would take pride in their classroom.
I learned that giving students responsibility for their learning allows them to grow as individuals. Sometimes we do need to let go and trust that students can be successful on their own.
I learned that collaborating with other teachers will not only be beneficial for the students but also the teacher. Throughout the practicum I worked as a part of a team. I grew as a team player.
I learned that inclusion and building of a community takes time, effort and energy, however the end results are the best reward. It allows the class to function as a whole. I went into my practicum with the aim of having an inclusive classroom community to foster creativity and self regulation. Looking back at the ten weeks, I would have to say I did create a small community in my classroom, and I can only take the skills and improve them for my future classroom.
In addition, outside of my classroom, with the staff at Moody Middle School, I felt apart of their community. A staff that has a great relationship with one another results in a school that is one big community.
Overall, looking back on the ten weeks at Moody Middle School, I’d have to say I went in and was successful at completion, gaining lots of knowledge and having a positive experience. In addition, I was able to carry out what I had set to do, plus much more. If I had to narrow it down to one thing that I will always cherish from my practicum, it will be the gratitude from my students for my smile and positive attitude, which allowed them to smile and feel welcomed in the classroom each and everyday.
In the future I will continue to work as a part of a collaborative team, no matter what school or setting I am in. The collaboration allows for a community build in the school, which then can transfer to the classroom.
I will continue to foster a community and create units that are engaging and hands on for students. My aim is to do this with the students of my classroom. Asking for student input I found is the best way to make lessons engaging.
Lastly, I will continue to engage in Professional Development not only to collaborate with other teachers, but continue learning to enhance education. This will help me while I am on my continuos learning journey.