Hello!

I have been so horrible for not posting 🙁 I’m usually pretty good at this … but it has been absolutely crazy tiring! In a good way though.

I’ve been telling my friends that I have been soooo tired lately. Like every night I’m always “complaining” to my family about how tired I am… but at the same time, I’m also the happiest I’ve ever been.

It’s a tiring job,  but I’m happy to do it. It has been an absolute roller coaster of a ride. I feel like I have been learning so much already within the short 4 weeks that I have spent in the classroom.

Many teacher are giving me great suggestions/comments and feedback — which is great! Because I’m in my practicum to learn… and if I have to make a few mistakes to learn, then I’ll make those mistakes.
Based on all these experiences, Here are a few things that I think I need to work on:
* Classroom Management : All teachers tell me that classroom management is the hardest to master, and it seems that no matter how “senior” a teacher is.. classroom management is always something that people struggle with and “work on”. It is definitely something that I need to work on. It is soooo difficult to find that balance between being nice and being firm enough that the students won’t disrespect you/think you’re just “fooling around” or “not a real teacher”. I really am trying. I have been trying different ways to manage the class, which my S.A. says is a good thing. I have been trying the claps, call-outs, counting it out, and just plain waiting. A teacher in my school suggested flicking the light switch. I’m not 100% sure about using that, but I told her that I might try it when I think that the behaviours in the class is getting too much

*My lessons: My SA mentioned to me that my lessons are typically and usually good. But they don’t have a good “flow” to them. Like they aren’t as strong as they hoped they could be in terms of the connections they make with what they’re all learning. I think it’s pretty difficult to make the lessons flow smoothly when I’m only teaching a certain amount of the day. I am hoping that as I take on a greater teaching load, my lessons will flow more smoothly because there will be no more awkward “okay,… so I’ll just pass you off to your teacher now…” moments.

*MYSELF: I am learning to be more flexible. I am learning that not everything I plan will turn out the way that I planned. I’m also trying to be much more creative because when things don’t turn out the way that I planned, then I better have a good way to turn that “Oops” into something Beautiful (Something I’ve learned from the Beautiful Oops!)

But over-all, I really am having a great time teaching K/Grade 1. I understand now when teachers say that teaching a K/1 split is difficult, because it is. I feel like I’m planning for TWO classes sometimes, and in a way, I guess I kind of am. But sticking with my INQUIRY question, I do want to maintain that classroom community within my split class — so I’m really hoping to integrate more SEL-like activities and lessons throughout the school day. It’ll definitely contribute to a more positive classroom climate (not that my SA isn’t already doing an AMAZING job at that!)

I feel like I can type/talk about my practicum experience for days! There’s so much to say and in a way I don’t even know where to begin.

But it’s 10:30pm on a Sunday night and I am currently typing some last minute changes to lessons I have made.
This is me being flexible, but at the same time — this is the reason why I’m tired!
BUT, also really happy! I’m so excited to do the lesson with my students tomorrow 🙂 I think it’ll go great!

6 weeks to go! Time is passing by way too quick!