Going back to my little students after a week since my two week practicum was very exciting. I had really missed the students and was really looking forward to seeing them again. I was welcomed back with open arms and it was a very heart-warming feeling. When I came in the morning, the teacher was not there and the students were starting to flow in. I looked on the board and usually there are morning instructions written such as “Read quietly” or “Doodle in your doodle booklets” but there was no instructions written today. It seemed like the board hadn’t been touched since the previous day considering the date was not changed. I thought about all the chaos that was potentially going to occur if I did not somehow get the students to have something to work on. Since it seemed like the teacher was still not coming and half of the students were hanging their bags and coats, I quickly responded to my gut feeling and wrote on the board “Read or draw on your doodle books.” As soon as the students began sitting down they looked on the board and started taking out their books or doodle booklets from their desks. Some students were questioning why their teacher wasn’t there but after looking at the board for the instructions, which is what they are used to, they settled down and went on following the instructions. I was relieved when the teacher walked in but I am sure I could have played a brain builder with them had she not showed up. It was definitely a teacher’s moment and I am glad I got the opportunity to be in that situation where I had to think on the spot.

The students had gymnastics and we went with them because sometimes the instructor has a difficult time managing some students so extra help is always welcome. The students were doing an obstacle course and I chose to help the group in which I thought needed the most help. Physical Education has always been a passion of mine, and I am always tempted to join the kids in their activities. I even asked the gym teacher once if she is allowed to join the grade sevens when they are having volleyball games and as I suspected she said no. The closest thing I was able to do was help them run the course which is what I did. I held some students hands if they were afraid of walking on the bench, and repeated the instructions for them. I wanted all the kids to be able to enjoy the game, especially those students who needed the extra reminder. Physical Education or DPA is super important for all students and I strongly believe it can make a tremendous difference in their health, well-being, and academic success. I always enjoy having an opportunity to watch the students running around and using up all their energy.

The rest of the day went on as any other day, and I enjoyed building crafts with the students, helping them with creating sentences and thinking of ideas, observing them and most importantly, learning more about each and every one of them.  I am looking forward to the next time I see them where I will be teaching a lesson. I hope it goes as well as it did during my practicum and I hope I can implement all the new strategies I had learned during those two weeks. As I continue on my teaching journey, I am excited for what’s to come as this is only the beginning.