Week Four

This week came with a lot more responsibility. Unfortunately, my S.A. picked up a few of the many germs floating around an elementary school classrooms and was out for two of our three days together last week. A TOC was called in for both days and luckily, there was one available to cover our Grade 2 classroom. I was more than happy (and ready!) to step up and take on the responsibility of the classroom since I know the kids and our routines. There is a lot to think about when you are the central teacher in the classroom… Did the fish get fed four times today? When will that important notice go home? What are the plans for next week? Do the fish need a water change? Did the potatoes get watered? And those are just the questions I asked myself (and my S.A. via text), let alone the many questions I get throughout the day from my students! An experience that came out of this was that I had to communicate to parents on my own. I had to have a conversation with a parent regarding an incident that was problematic with a parent. This experience connects well with inquiry topic because I have been interested in and researching about school-home relationships. Luckily, it was with a parent that I had been building a relationship with over the past months of being at my practicum school. The conversation may have gone differently had it not been with a parent that I see every day, twice a day. The incident was dealt with and a solution was reached with the help of the parent, the student and our E.A. It was oddly comforting having this test of responsibility so close to transitioning into the four weeks of full load teaching. Although I still need the support of my School Advisor, I feel like I am ready for this next milestone and challenge in the practicum.