Week 8: My Final Reflection
What a ride the past eight weeks has been!
As a first year education student, I think it benefitted me to have the opportunity to spend doing the fieldwork portion. Although this was most certainly not my first experience in a classroom working with students, I absolutely loved my placement and it reassured me that I still really want to be a teacher. My time spent in the classroom this semester made me think deeper as to who I want to be as a teacher. I am truly grateful for the experience, as I gained new insights I will be able to carry with me and use as a future teacher. During the past eight weeks, I was required to observe and experience many aspects within the school and classroom setting.
I was placed in a loving, high- energy, active and fun Grade Two/Three classroom. Within this classroom, I learned that there are many students who excel in their learning. With that being said, there are also many students who struggle with their learning as well. There are students in this classroom who are reading two grade levels higher and some children reading two grade levels lower. Some children in this classroom require teacher aids with them at all times and some children are very independent. Many of students in this classroom have the ability to stay on task and complete their work correctly and some need extra reminding.
From this information, I truly realized that no two students are the same. Therefore, as a teacher, there is no one way that will teach all the students in the classroom the same. In order to be a successful teacher, you must adapt to the students and learn how to teach them in the most successful manner.
Each student in the classroom is unique and different. At the elementary school I was placed at, the students come from all types of backgrounds. My co-op teacher explained her classroom as being like a "grab bag". Meaning, the students in her class are place on a wide spectrum. Some students come from a split family or live with their grandparents. Some students have both Mom and Dad. Other students come from a family with little money and some come from a middle-class family. Many students come from an Indigenous culture and a few students just moved to the city as they lived in another country. This Grade Two/Three classroom is very diverse.
Due to this, Mrs. S teaches her students to be themselves. She welcomes all her students with an open door and reminds her students to tell the truth, respect everyone around and to not judge others.
Within all the diversity, this elementary school incorporates religion into their curriculum. The children have the opportunity to learn and honor this aspect. I really appreciated this way of knowing, as I did not have the chance to learn this in my schooling. The children are fortunate to learn about different Saints, where Christmas originates from and several other important religious aspects. The school has assemblies where each classroom has the chance to share what they have learned in their religion lessons. There are many ways in which this school honors ways of knowing and I believe that having religion as an option is such a great thing.
Along with diversity and honoring ways of knowing, another aspect I experienced was technology. It is the year 2019, and I believe in staying with the times, so I think technology can be a positive when introduce into the classroom at the primary level. There are SO many resourceful and practical apps and websites for teachers to use to help their students learning. I am also a strong believer that technology should have a time and place. I may be a little 'old school' in that sense, but I think there needs to be a balance. In order for technology in the classroom to be beneficial, teachers and students must use it properly.
There were so many aspects I was able to observe and think deeper on. I learned ways to express statements in a more respectful way. I learned areas for my own professional development to work on. A professional goal I have is to create an inviting and welcoming classroom for each and every student that walks into my classroom. I want my students to feel safe. I want to express kindness and positivity in all that I do. I also want to make sure that my students understand how important inclusiveness and diversity is with their classmates as well.
I know this is just the start of my journey and I will only continue to grow and learn as a future teacher. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for my educational career.
(I added a picture a little girl in the Grade Two/Three classroom gave me on my last week. It says, "Good Luck", and I thought it was the sweetest note to start my journey)!