The First Lesson I Ever Taught

The first lesson I ever taught to my kindergarten practicum class was a lesson about fairy tales, specifically, Humpty Dumpty. I read the fairy tale to the class and then we practiced it numerous times to ensure understanding. Students were then tasked with colouring in four pictures from the fairy tale and putting them in order of how they appeared. I modeled the project step by step showing the students exactly what I was expecting of them. I asked leading questions such as should I cut fast and outside the lines or should I cut slowly on the lines. We talked about showing a teacher first after everything was coloured, cut, and laid out to ensure that students wouldn’t glue the pictures in the wrong order. I discussed how important it was that students did their best work as I was going to be putting them up in the classroom for all the parents to see.

When the students started working it was fascinating to walk around and see them doing a project that I created. In addition, students weren’t hurrying to get the work done so they could play. They were taking their time to do their best work. Specifically, students that usually scribble and cut jagged were working really slowly and methodically to complete their best work. Once all the students were done and I put the work on the wall you couldn’t tell which students work was which. This made me a very proud teacher as we usually have a few students whose work stands out compared to the rest of the class.

I believe that I created intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation for all my students with this project but specifically for the students who usually struggle. They were very engaged and focused throughout the entire process. They were extrinsically motivated because as a new teacher in the classroom they wanted my praise of their work. They kept telling me to look at how good of a job they were doing and that they were doing their best work. Intrinsically, I believe that they want to do a better job and be at the same level as the other students. These students have never had experiences with holding a pencil or colouring unlike the other children in the classroom. At this age group the experiences children have before coming into school play a huge part on their development. Having no experience with writing, art, or socializing, causes the students to be behind other children of the same age group who have been exposed to this at home or in a daycare setting.

I would not have approached this situation any differently as every student did the best work that they could do. It made me proud that the students that usually struggle the most had the most improved work. When they were finished they were so proud of their work showing the other students and teachers. It showed them that they could accomplish something that they never thought was possible.

This experience showed me how important it is to inspire children to want to achieve their best work. I think because I explained/modeled each step in such detail and explained the importance of the assignment the students really took that into consideration. I want to learn more techniques in how to constantly receive the best work from my students. I want them to be motivated to constantly do their best work and push themselves outside what they thought they could ever do.