It has been quite awhile since I have written any of my adventures down.

Here is the reason.

Since February 1st I have been consumed by my long practicum and have been teaching  at a secondary school in North Vancouver. I have been enjoying all the wonderful, stressful, exhausting and inspiring times provided by my students on the ten week practicum. I began at 8:00 am teaching grade 8s and immediately abandoned my previous conceptions of teaching (turns out jumping jacks make students even more rambunctious!).

My first lesson was one step away from disaster. I could feel my control of the classroom slipping away with every minute.

By the end of that first day I was almost ready to quit. The evening found me bundled on the couch in tears. I was pretty certain I was never going to get the hang of teaching and should drop out and save myself both time and money. Luckily I have a husband fresh from practicum who told me that everyone’s first day was difficult. So I decided to stick it out.

The second week passed by relatively smoothly and I began to see the light. Every day I became more and more comfortable in the classroom as I began to enjoy myself.  By the end of the ten weeks I was having a blast.

I taught students from grades 8 through 12 in woodwork, metalwork and electronics. I got to introduce new projects and take grade 8 students through the new experience of working with their hands. It was amazing!

As I got to know my students I felt certain this was the job for me. They were what made the whole experience worthwhile and fulfilling.