My Teaching Experiences & Evaluations
First Practicum: Full-Day Kindergarten, Harriet Todd Public School
My first placement of my professional year was in a full-day kindergarten classroom, where I had the privilege of learning about the new play-based learning curriculum. This experience was a true testament of my ability to differentiate my teaching instruction to meet the various needs and strengths of my students. It is true when other professionals say that kindergarten teachers are the first differentiators for a junior/senior kindergarten classroom is so diverse in terms of abilities, levels, and behaviour.
During my time in kindergarten, I was able to gain a fresh perspective on the play-based learning curriculum. I have to admit that I was initially uncertain about the new curriculum and how a play-based learning environment would prepare students for grade 1 without traditional instruction. It was a huge learning curve, but a fun one at that. Through the guidance and support of my team, I learned to create and implement centres that strived to include differentiation (could be geared up or geared down for different levels), self-regulation, and collaborate with others. As a 21st century educator, it was also crucial that I integrated technology into the classroom. This included, having centres with computers or iPads where students could play math games, or practise reading or writing. In addition to using technology in the classroom, it was strongly encouraged to have students use ipads or ipods in the classroom to take pictures of their own work, or make videos to explain their own thinking (metacognition).
Inquiry-based learning was a huge portion of our daily activities; not having specific themes or set plans for each day enable more opportunity to follow the students' interest and see how far the students can take their critical thinking skills. Not to mention, it encouraged me to be more flexible and also see opportunity to ask open-ended/higher-order questions and allow students to take ownership of their own learning as they collaborate, clarify, and expand on existing ideas and new ideas.
My first placement of my professional year was in a full-day kindergarten classroom, where I had the privilege of learning about the new play-based learning curriculum. This experience was a true testament of my ability to differentiate my teaching instruction to meet the various needs and strengths of my students. It is true when other professionals say that kindergarten teachers are the first differentiators for a junior/senior kindergarten classroom is so diverse in terms of abilities, levels, and behaviour.
During my time in kindergarten, I was able to gain a fresh perspective on the play-based learning curriculum. I have to admit that I was initially uncertain about the new curriculum and how a play-based learning environment would prepare students for grade 1 without traditional instruction. It was a huge learning curve, but a fun one at that. Through the guidance and support of my team, I learned to create and implement centres that strived to include differentiation (could be geared up or geared down for different levels), self-regulation, and collaborate with others. As a 21st century educator, it was also crucial that I integrated technology into the classroom. This included, having centres with computers or iPads where students could play math games, or practise reading or writing. In addition to using technology in the classroom, it was strongly encouraged to have students use ipads or ipods in the classroom to take pictures of their own work, or make videos to explain their own thinking (metacognition).
Inquiry-based learning was a huge portion of our daily activities; not having specific themes or set plans for each day enable more opportunity to follow the students' interest and see how far the students can take their critical thinking skills. Not to mention, it encouraged me to be more flexible and also see opportunity to ask open-ended/higher-order questions and allow students to take ownership of their own learning as they collaborate, clarify, and expand on existing ideas and new ideas.
How to Build A Snowman
Lesson/Activity: In my kindergarten classroom, many of my students had an interest for snow and building snowman. As part of a procedural writing activity, I had my students be the teacher and retell the steps to building a snowman. To incorporate the element of play into the activity, I had my students use model magic play-dough, and left the rest up to their own imagination. Differentiation was implemented by allowing students to verbally re-tell the steps of how to build a snowman or for those stronger writers, they had the option of writing the steps down to their best ability.
how_to_build_a_snowman_lesson_plan-4.pages | |
File Size: | 343 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Counting and Adding Numbers
In this unit. I used a variety of activities and centres for students to represent and identify numbers in different ways. We used the app Pic Collage so students could explain their mathematical thinking and conceptual understanding.
winter_time_subitizing_lesson_plan-7.pages | |
File Size: | 349 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Formative and Summative Evaluations For Full-Day Kindergarten
summative_assessment.pdf | |
File Size: | 97 kb |
File Type: |
formative_assessment.pdf | |
File Size: | 56 kb |
File Type: |
Second Placement: Hewitt's Creek Elementary Public School
Making the transition from FDK to a grade 5 classroom was quite the adjustment for me; however, I enjoyed every minute of it and learned so much from my students. During my placement, I was responsible for creating and implementing a math unit of decimals and fractions, a science unit on Conservation of Energy that was cross-curriculard with language Arts, Cooperative Games in Health and Fitness, and art. This learning opportunity was so diverse and beneficial to my growth as an educator. I have learned the benefit of integrating technology in the classroom, games and interactive learning, regular DPA during 100 minute blocks, to enhance student engagement and participation. Below you will a glimpse at my grade 5 experience and examples of lesson plans.
Fraction Unit: (Representing, Comparing, Finding Equivalent Fractions, Converting Mixed and Improper Fractions)
math_unit. Decimals & Fractions | |
File Size: | 137 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Here is a quick exert from our math fraction Museum. The students had an awesome time creating their own fractions and being a host while other students walked around and solved their mystery fractions.
Building strong relationships with my students is what I value most. Here's a look at some of the best "I will see you later" gifts a teacher could ever receive!
Formative and Summative Evaluations for Grade 5
summative_assessment_grade_5.pdf | |
File Size: | 57 kb |
File Type: |
formative_assessment.pdf | |
File Size: | 56 kb |
File Type: |