Eastbrook Elementry - Brooks, Alberta
For my Professional Semester 1, I spent 5 weeks in Brooks, Alberta. I had the opportunity to student teach in a Grade 6 class and loved every moment of it.
I was able to teach grade 6 math. At first teaching math was quite challenging, as I was not sure how to teach some of the concepts in a way the children would understand. After some coaching and some valuable tips from the experienced teachers I became more comfortable. |
I spent some extra time with one particular student who seemed to lack confidence in her math ability. We reviewed the concepts together and finally she was able to master the rest of the unit with ease.
The grade 6 class in Brooks included several ESL students, who while they are very motivated to learn and blend into their new environment are held back by their lack of understanding of the English language. This in itself makes teaching this class very challenging. Once I had time to get to know each of these students individually and understand some of their challenges, it became easier to try and help them. It did take some time but once we had that connection the children gladly took me into their ESL classes and were happy to share their work and achievements with me. They shared lots of stories about making friends and having fun playing in the snow in Canada. This was an experience I enjoyed because these children come from such a diverse background and I may not always have the experience of including ESL students into my class.
I also taught Ancient Athens in Social Studies that semester. Exploring Greek history with the Grade 6’s was so much fun. To finish the unit off, I organized an Olympic Games event for my students to participate in. I must admit it took a lot of preparation, however, that day was one of the best days ever. We got to play games as a class and celebrate the opening and closing ceremonies. What a great way to finish my first practicum.
My first practicum was very enjoyable and this was due to the fact that Mrs Angrove and the staff at Eastbrook are very open to sharing their knowledge and welcoming the student teachers into their classrooms.
The grade 6 class in Brooks included several ESL students, who while they are very motivated to learn and blend into their new environment are held back by their lack of understanding of the English language. This in itself makes teaching this class very challenging. Once I had time to get to know each of these students individually and understand some of their challenges, it became easier to try and help them. It did take some time but once we had that connection the children gladly took me into their ESL classes and were happy to share their work and achievements with me. They shared lots of stories about making friends and having fun playing in the snow in Canada. This was an experience I enjoyed because these children come from such a diverse background and I may not always have the experience of including ESL students into my class.
I also taught Ancient Athens in Social Studies that semester. Exploring Greek history with the Grade 6’s was so much fun. To finish the unit off, I organized an Olympic Games event for my students to participate in. I must admit it took a lot of preparation, however, that day was one of the best days ever. We got to play games as a class and celebrate the opening and closing ceremonies. What a great way to finish my first practicum.
My first practicum was very enjoyable and this was due to the fact that Mrs Angrove and the staff at Eastbrook are very open to sharing their knowledge and welcoming the student teachers into their classrooms.