Lesson Plan in Action: Who’s the Boss?

Today was only my second day in the classroom, but with the support and encouragement from my school adviser I decided I was ready to dive in head first and teach my first lesson! This is what I’m here to do, right? Why not jump right in? I was nervous, as I had never written a lesson plan before and simply followed a template from my Social Studies text, but after a great chat with my faculty adviser before school and my SA’s go-ahead, the nerves transformed into excitement pretty quickly.

Since it is the Thursday before the federal election, and learning about government and personal responsibility as a Canadian citizen is part of the grade two and three curriculum in BC, I chose to teach about how we choose the people that represent us in government and why it is important to vote. I had a feeling that some of the students would be at least aware of the election, maybe even have some opinions (or their parent/guardian’s opinions) already, and I was right, but my desire to keep it non-partisan helped me steer any political discussions back to our main focus.

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Dear My First Class,

Teacher's Desk - Linn School
It’s the eve of the night I meet you, and boy am I excited. I say that a lot, I think, that I’m excited, but this excitement is an entirely different thing. You see, you’re what I’ve been waiting for my entire life. Really. No foolin’. I’ve been waiting to meet you since I was a little girl, and you didn’t even exist yet. Isn’t that neat? I feel pretty neat, being allowed into your classroom for a whole year so I can get to know you and play with you and see what you’re good at. You’re probably good at lots of different things, maybe more things than me! My excitement is bubbling over. Are you excited, too?

Rumour has it you’re a great bunch. I bet you’re smart and funny and curious and cool. I bet you all wear your hair different from anybody else in the class, and I bet you all look great doing it. I secretly hope you’ll paint me a picture of a taco. I promise to frame it. I hope you want to learn loads of stuff and ask lots of questions and search for some answers. I have lots of questions.

Will you show me around your classroom and tell me your favourite part?

Do you like space and dinosaurs? And volcanoes?

Isn’t this cat skirt the best skirt ever?

What is your favourite book?

What do you want to know about me?

Will I do a good job?

I know the answer to one of those questions already. Two, if you count the one about the cat skirt. I WILL do a good job, because it’s the job I was born to do, and because you guys deserve it.

See you in the morning,

Ms. Bayne, your teacher.

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So many questions! Or, Let’s Inquire!

Holy vagueness, Batman!

As  beginning Teacher Candidates, it is natural that we all have a whole lot of questions.  Questions about our own studies and expectations about the program, how to translate that into the classroom, and how we’re going to get through it all in one piece! Teacher inquiry is essential to my practice, of course, but where do I start?

In the one month of instruction I’ve had already had, several topics have jumped out at me that I would like to inquire about further. Social justice in the classroom and beyond, the inclusion of Aboriginal ways of knowing and learning into my teaching practice, and the use of emerging technologies in in learning are all topics that are relevant to me. I’m excited to see where these inquiries take me!

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Hello, class!

We can skip taking attendance.

My name is Ms. Bayne and I’m a teacher candidate in the KIPP cohort in UBC’s Teacher Education Program. In September 2016 I will be out in the world, teaching all of the children, but until then this space will be where I post my work and my reflections, and act as a channel for the excitement that comes along with learning to be a teacher. As I am easily excitable, I’m going to need it!

I intend to learn to teach effectively and with purpose, with a focus on the primary years, through a lens of social justice and humanity. I hope to help guide a new generation of human beings who are kind, free-thinking, and socially conscious, that not only want to facilitate change but have the skills to actually do it. Tall task? Oh, yes. But is it worth it? You better believe it.

Look for posts in this space on a regular basis, because there will be lots of stuff going on! I’ll be posting in a couple of different ways. First, I’ll be sharing things like lesson plans, games, themes and more, to use as a resource for myself and other teachers and act as a dynamic and evolving CV of all my education-related work. Second, the blog/vlog posts will be more reflective and personal so you can really get to know me, your new favourite teacher.  Teachers are people, too, and we have things to say!

“But Ms. Bayne,” you ask, incredulously.  “How is any of this relevant to non-teachers?” Well, friend, let me tell you!

I hope the information I share here, both personal and academic, will help the greater public to understand what it really means to be a teacher, and the intense work and dedication that is essential in taking on that role. The tremendous care that goes into educating your children is something to be savoured, unlike that paste, Billy, so put it down!

All photos and other intellectual property here are either my own or used with permission under creative commons licensing, and will be attributed to the original creator with links whenever possible.

Class dismissed!

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