It was so great to come back to my practicum school after almost a month. I began the morning with my H.A.C.E lesson that approached the concept of how feelings are associated with the brain and body. After completing my lesson, my SA decided that I continue with introducing their next lesson with journal writing. While students were cleaning up, my SA gave me a quick overview of the journal writing and I had them clean up and begin a new activity. In the midst of trying to transition the students to journal writing, it had completely slipped my mind that the students had been sitting for a long time, and a brain break would have been appropriate before beginning journals. I was upset that I had forgotten to do a brain break, but my SA had assured me that the rest of the morning had gone very well. This was very comforting because I have been very nervous for my ten week practicum unsure of how I would be able to teach more than one lesson, let alone an entire day! It was a big step for me to transition from one lesson to another with very little preparation and I am very glad that I was able to accomplish it.

The rest of the day went as usual except my afternoon SA had been away, so the morning SA filled in for her. This meant that there was no library in the afternoon, and science had replaced it. I think the day was very heavy for a grade 3 class. The day schedule was as follows: H.A.C.E, Journal Writing, Recess, Math (review test), Lunch, Science, Arts and Music (which there was no time for). Even just looking at the schedule written on the chalk board made me feel overwhelmed so I can’t imagine how the students were feeling. This was evidenced when the teacher was trying to sing a song with them about the solar system before beginning the science lesson, and the students could not concentrate and just giggled their way through the first line of the song. It was becoming so chaotic that the SA decided to cut it short and continue with the lesson. My SA was aware of the energy level of the students and she had planned to take a quick break to go outside, but the weather just did not cooperate. Moreover, music was going to the enjoyable part of the day for the students, but there was not enough time for it.

It was a long day, but definitely a learning experience as are all the other days I have spent in that classroom.  I look forward to the upcoming weeks as I continue my teaching journey.