Lara/22/Australia
I'm completing my Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle) with Honours, and this semester I'm required to keep up to date with reflections of my learning, understanding, and progress as I prepare for a research project, my final prac, and attempting to get a job.
These are my thoughts.
It’s the middle of the holidays now, so this was actually 3 weeks ago, but things became so crazy in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of prac that I just completely forgot to be blogging about it.
So, week 2.
On Wednesday of Week 2, the class had an expo night where each child had a stall in the library to present the work they had been doing to their parents. They each had a powerpoint running on a laptop, brochures with information, activities and posters. The students have been participating in a unit on ‘Healthy Body Systems’ and each chose a system to research, developing a informative powerpoint on that system, and a brochure to explain how to keep that system healthy/how to counter health issues with that system. The unit and the assessment (in the form of the Expo presentations) were informed and based on the Primary Years Program (PYP) created by the International Baccalaureate, and it was a fantastic experience to see the students taking ownership of their work, and producing such mature products.
So anyway, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were all very busy with getting everything ready for that night. We spent a large portion of these days proofreading, conferencing, printing, finishing their powerpoints, brochures and posters.
The actual Expo was so exciting. I was so proud of each child and the maturity they displayed as parents interacted with the stalls and participated in activities. It was lovely to see all the work the students had produced, be so successful.
Thursday I spent the day with my male mentor teacher and all my grade 5 boys at a soccer carnival, though I rarely saw them as I assisted with the grade 6 and grade 7 boys teams. All day. I was eaten by ridiculous swarms of flying ant-type-bugs and was incredibly sunburned (the nasty hypocrite I am, making the boys put on sunscreen, but forgetting myself!).
Friday I taught a lesson on Verbs, which I think went rather well, except that I hadn’t thought through a very good conclusion. I felt that everything had been said, but my female mentor teacher seemed surprised when I signaled that the lesson was over, and she was nice but I felt that she was unsatisfied with the way I wrapped up the lesson. I have to remember that while things seem obvious to me, repeating information to drive it home for students is still important, and better than just assuming they understand.
The week finished in a rainy, sleepy way; the students were tired, I was wrecked (sunburned and sick).
