Learning Goal #1: Actively engage in the work of the school and classroom to understand the role of stakeholders in creating and sustaining and engaging, inclusive, safe and equitable learning.
Communication:
Within the short time period I have been at my practicum school, I have not had the opportunity to have any interactions with the student’s parents. However, whenever my mentor teacher is in contact with a parent she’ll share some of what the conversation was about with me so that I have a better understanding on what’s going on. I believe that since French is not a first or second language to many of the students it is especially important to keep in contact with their parents. I have been building a positive rapport with my students and I hope that each week students feel more comfortable discussing different aspects of their lives with me.
My mentor teacher has expressed the importance of being organized and writing down what is discussed while speaking with student’s parents. She’s also informed me of the necessity of writing down notes on the presentations/work the students have done so that if a parent asks about it, there is always something you can go back and on look at/ discuss.
Community:
The relationship between the school and the community is extremely important. What happens in the community completely reflects into the schools that are a part of it. Although the school provides a glimpse of the community, it is only a snapshot that doesn't capture it entirety. Through community research and engagement, we are able to get a better understanding of the total community, which will help us teach and engage with our students. We are able to form a more personal relationship when we can see where the students come from, any struggles they may have and what resources are available to them. This information allows us to tailor our lessons to what our students.
Technology:
The world has changed drastically in recent years because of technology. Unfortunately, the education system hasn't yet completely adapted to the technological world. In recent years, teachers and schools have been making good efforts to increase technology in the classroom. There are multiple ways that teachers can integrate technology into our lessons to improve the quality of our teaching.
Unfortunately the school that I’m at isn’t as technologically advances as some, as they don’t have ipads or white/ smartboards in all classrooms. However in my class my MT uses an online website to communicate assignment and posts some of the lessons/ readings for her students to visit if they need to review it.
In my future classroom I would like to incorporate technology a fair amount because of how it uses multimodality to challenge and cater to all different types of learning styles.
Learning goal #2: Demonstrate a professional manner in keeping with the Ontario College of teachers Standards of Practice and Ethical Standards of Practice.
Professionalism:
Professionalism can be portrayed through various means from the clothing you choose to wear to the attitude you choose to display in the classroom. As a teacher, your students view you as a role model; therefore, conducting yourself in a professional manner is key. This includes, being respectful, honest, responsible and reliable. To be professional, also means to be able to adapt and react to any situation reasonably and professionally. Professionalism also encompasses the ability to treat students, parents and coworkers with respect and to maintain equitable relationships and interactions.
On the Ontario College of Teachers website, the Standards of Practice and Education Committee outlines various themes to continually maintain professionalism within the profession. This includes commitment to students and student learning. As a teacher, one is committed to care for the students, treat students rightfully and to be sensitive to different individual learning methods. Next, professional knowledge allows individuals to be up to date with the current practice and strives for ongoing learning. This encompasses understanding the current curriculum, learning theories, ethics and policies. Using professional practice and experience to encourage student learning through assessments, evaluation and technology to plan the lessons. Finally, as a teacher, one is responsible for providing safe and supportive learning communities to promote student success.
Learning goal #3: Develop professional relationships with students, teachers, other teacher candidates, school staff, parents and others.
Relationships:
A great way to make the most of my practicum experience is to establish professional relationships with my mentor teacher, other teacher candidates, students and other school staff. My mentor teacher and I have a professional and respectful relationship in that she does her best to teach me what she can about the profession, and I do my best to observe and learn from her. We treat each other in a respectful manner, which is important for my learning process, and I am thankful to be placed with her. I have also developed professional relationships with the other teacher candidates. In terms of professional relationships with the students, I have learned a lot about the different ways to form them with them. I have learned a lot about professional relationships and their importance through my practicum experience.
Learning goal #4: Actively engage 100% of the day in the work of the school to support student learning.
From day one of my practicum I’ve always tried to give it 100%. When my M.T. isn't giving a lesson and the students are given time to work independently I try to walk around the class to help the students with any questions they may have or clarify parts of the lesson they might not have understood. While my M.T. is giving a lesson, I am actively observing and jotting down notes on classroom management or how she has things set up (desks for tests/quizzes, how she grades presentations, etc.)
Collaborative learning:
As a teacher candidate, I have noticed the importance of collaborative teaching and learning. Teachers typically use their own experience and understanding of the subject along with the curriculum standards to create lesson plans. However, there is a lot we can learn from our colleagues. Each teacher has a unique experience or expertise to offer and by working together, it can help guide teachers with their lessons. If teachers work together to share their knowledge with one another, it will in turn, provide students with richer material to learn. In essence, both teachers and students gain valuable knowledge through collaborative learning. At the high school level, it is important to collaborate with the teachers while teaching the higher grades; this is especially important in classes that build upon previous knowledge.
I haven’t yet had to opportunity to co-teach or co-plan as I’ve been primarily trying to focus my learning on classroom management, hopefully next semester I’ll have the opportunity to co-teach a lesson or two. I also hope to be able to observe a few core French classes or a social science course next semester to see different classroom management skill.
Learning goal #5: Reflect on how the school structure (physical environment, committees, extra curricular activities) impacts student learning.
The classes that I observe during my practicum seem to be very multicultural and inclusive of one and other. The way that the classroom is set up allows the students to work in small groups or individually and they’re all able to see the board/screen, I believe that the structure of the classroom helps to impacts their learning. The classroom also has many posters in French; the one that specifically stands out to me informs students why they should study French. Another important part of the classroom is the bulletin board with important information that the I.B. students need to know (mission statement, how grades works, etc.) In my classroom, my M.T. has a calendar with all the important dates that the students need to know for the up coming month on it, and I think that’s a really important thing to have in ones classroom.
Communication:
Within the short time period I have been at my practicum school, I have not had the opportunity to have any interactions with the student’s parents. However, whenever my mentor teacher is in contact with a parent she’ll share some of what the conversation was about with me so that I have a better understanding on what’s going on. I believe that since French is not a first or second language to many of the students it is especially important to keep in contact with their parents. I have been building a positive rapport with my students and I hope that each week students feel more comfortable discussing different aspects of their lives with me.
My mentor teacher has expressed the importance of being organized and writing down what is discussed while speaking with student’s parents. She’s also informed me of the necessity of writing down notes on the presentations/work the students have done so that if a parent asks about it, there is always something you can go back and on look at/ discuss.
Community:
The relationship between the school and the community is extremely important. What happens in the community completely reflects into the schools that are a part of it. Although the school provides a glimpse of the community, it is only a snapshot that doesn't capture it entirety. Through community research and engagement, we are able to get a better understanding of the total community, which will help us teach and engage with our students. We are able to form a more personal relationship when we can see where the students come from, any struggles they may have and what resources are available to them. This information allows us to tailor our lessons to what our students.
Technology:
The world has changed drastically in recent years because of technology. Unfortunately, the education system hasn't yet completely adapted to the technological world. In recent years, teachers and schools have been making good efforts to increase technology in the classroom. There are multiple ways that teachers can integrate technology into our lessons to improve the quality of our teaching.
Unfortunately the school that I’m at isn’t as technologically advances as some, as they don’t have ipads or white/ smartboards in all classrooms. However in my class my MT uses an online website to communicate assignment and posts some of the lessons/ readings for her students to visit if they need to review it.
In my future classroom I would like to incorporate technology a fair amount because of how it uses multimodality to challenge and cater to all different types of learning styles.
Learning goal #2: Demonstrate a professional manner in keeping with the Ontario College of teachers Standards of Practice and Ethical Standards of Practice.
Professionalism:
Professionalism can be portrayed through various means from the clothing you choose to wear to the attitude you choose to display in the classroom. As a teacher, your students view you as a role model; therefore, conducting yourself in a professional manner is key. This includes, being respectful, honest, responsible and reliable. To be professional, also means to be able to adapt and react to any situation reasonably and professionally. Professionalism also encompasses the ability to treat students, parents and coworkers with respect and to maintain equitable relationships and interactions.
On the Ontario College of Teachers website, the Standards of Practice and Education Committee outlines various themes to continually maintain professionalism within the profession. This includes commitment to students and student learning. As a teacher, one is committed to care for the students, treat students rightfully and to be sensitive to different individual learning methods. Next, professional knowledge allows individuals to be up to date with the current practice and strives for ongoing learning. This encompasses understanding the current curriculum, learning theories, ethics and policies. Using professional practice and experience to encourage student learning through assessments, evaluation and technology to plan the lessons. Finally, as a teacher, one is responsible for providing safe and supportive learning communities to promote student success.
Learning goal #3: Develop professional relationships with students, teachers, other teacher candidates, school staff, parents and others.
Relationships:
A great way to make the most of my practicum experience is to establish professional relationships with my mentor teacher, other teacher candidates, students and other school staff. My mentor teacher and I have a professional and respectful relationship in that she does her best to teach me what she can about the profession, and I do my best to observe and learn from her. We treat each other in a respectful manner, which is important for my learning process, and I am thankful to be placed with her. I have also developed professional relationships with the other teacher candidates. In terms of professional relationships with the students, I have learned a lot about the different ways to form them with them. I have learned a lot about professional relationships and their importance through my practicum experience.
Learning goal #4: Actively engage 100% of the day in the work of the school to support student learning.
From day one of my practicum I’ve always tried to give it 100%. When my M.T. isn't giving a lesson and the students are given time to work independently I try to walk around the class to help the students with any questions they may have or clarify parts of the lesson they might not have understood. While my M.T. is giving a lesson, I am actively observing and jotting down notes on classroom management or how she has things set up (desks for tests/quizzes, how she grades presentations, etc.)
Collaborative learning:
As a teacher candidate, I have noticed the importance of collaborative teaching and learning. Teachers typically use their own experience and understanding of the subject along with the curriculum standards to create lesson plans. However, there is a lot we can learn from our colleagues. Each teacher has a unique experience or expertise to offer and by working together, it can help guide teachers with their lessons. If teachers work together to share their knowledge with one another, it will in turn, provide students with richer material to learn. In essence, both teachers and students gain valuable knowledge through collaborative learning. At the high school level, it is important to collaborate with the teachers while teaching the higher grades; this is especially important in classes that build upon previous knowledge.
I haven’t yet had to opportunity to co-teach or co-plan as I’ve been primarily trying to focus my learning on classroom management, hopefully next semester I’ll have the opportunity to co-teach a lesson or two. I also hope to be able to observe a few core French classes or a social science course next semester to see different classroom management skill.
Learning goal #5: Reflect on how the school structure (physical environment, committees, extra curricular activities) impacts student learning.
The classes that I observe during my practicum seem to be very multicultural and inclusive of one and other. The way that the classroom is set up allows the students to work in small groups or individually and they’re all able to see the board/screen, I believe that the structure of the classroom helps to impacts their learning. The classroom also has many posters in French; the one that specifically stands out to me informs students why they should study French. Another important part of the classroom is the bulletin board with important information that the I.B. students need to know (mission statement, how grades works, etc.) In my classroom, my M.T. has a calendar with all the important dates that the students need to know for the up coming month on it, and I think that’s a really important thing to have in ones classroom.