Field Blog #1
Today on Thursday October 11th marked my first day of my field experience with my partner Kaitlyn at Henry Braun School. We have the privilege of being in a Special Ed classroom with Cat Todorvich. This classroom consists of grade 4’s to grade 8’, although there are only 8 kids in the class.
When we first got to the school we were taken on a tour to see all the levels of learners throughout the school. The school environment is very friendly, and people say hi to anyone they see in the hall ways. We then proceeded to introduce ourselves to the students in the classroom by playing a game called two truths and one line and we all got a chance to play. They first had story time where one of the teachers’ assistants read them a story and we went to the staff room to talk more about the school and get to know are co-operating teacher. After we got back they were allowed to have free time so me and my partner played a game that I have never heard of, but the student knew a lot about the game and proceeded to help us learn the game. And it was a cool experience to have them be able to help us learn about something new. Like people say, “you learn something new everyday”.
The learning environment is very different from a regular classroom. It has lots of room to move around and had lots of different areas where they can go to do an activity or just take a mental break from work. They have this really cool thing in their room where it is just a small room with a mat and a bean bag chair in it and where they can go to take a nap/breather or just go to read in silence. The room although has to have a window on it so that the teachers are able to monitor the student.
This environment is very different from what a grew up learning in, but it is a good experience to have a diverse learning situation so that you can spend one on one time with the students and get to know how they work and what they respond to. This space makes me feel very welcome and it overall just has a very positive atmosphere.
Today on Thursday October 11th marked my first day of my field experience with my partner Kaitlyn at Henry Braun School. We have the privilege of being in a Special Ed classroom with Cat Todorvich. This classroom consists of grade 4’s to grade 8’, although there are only 8 kids in the class.
When we first got to the school we were taken on a tour to see all the levels of learners throughout the school. The school environment is very friendly, and people say hi to anyone they see in the hall ways. We then proceeded to introduce ourselves to the students in the classroom by playing a game called two truths and one line and we all got a chance to play. They first had story time where one of the teachers’ assistants read them a story and we went to the staff room to talk more about the school and get to know are co-operating teacher. After we got back they were allowed to have free time so me and my partner played a game that I have never heard of, but the student knew a lot about the game and proceeded to help us learn the game. And it was a cool experience to have them be able to help us learn about something new. Like people say, “you learn something new everyday”.
The learning environment is very different from a regular classroom. It has lots of room to move around and had lots of different areas where they can go to do an activity or just take a mental break from work. They have this really cool thing in their room where it is just a small room with a mat and a bean bag chair in it and where they can go to take a nap/breather or just go to read in silence. The room although has to have a window on it so that the teachers are able to monitor the student.
This environment is very different from what a grew up learning in, but it is a good experience to have a diverse learning situation so that you can spend one on one time with the students and get to know how they work and what they respond to. This space makes me feel very welcome and it overall just has a very positive atmosphere.
Field Blog #2
October 18, 2018 marked my second week of being in the field. Today the class started out with reading a novel and making predictions about what may happen next. After this they had a thing called “get to it” which basically means that they get given a package of work whether its math or English they must complete at least one worksheet from the package. Today some kids did math and others did English, me and my partners were asked to help the kids that needed help finishing their math so that there were able to join in on the other afternoon activity planned. After all the kids finished their work we all walked over to a close park where they got to play on the play structure and get some fresh air, as it was super nice out today. I for got to mention before that these kids school day ends at 2:45 so after they leave we have the opportunity to be put in to another classroom to experience different learning types. Today instead of going to that classroom we set up a google account so that our co-operating teacher can send us helpful information about getting started as a teacher.
The school is very friendly and just as an overall positive attitude and are always willing to help each other out in a certain situation. The surrounding community is very peaceful and friendly. It is a quit neighbour hood and a good environment for the kids to grow up in. I see that a lot of teachers love to get their kids outside and moving and I think that’s really important for the kids to be able to experience the fresh air, but not only get a chance to be around the surrounding neighbour hood because some kids don’t always get that opportunity.
October 18, 2018 marked my second week of being in the field. Today the class started out with reading a novel and making predictions about what may happen next. After this they had a thing called “get to it” which basically means that they get given a package of work whether its math or English they must complete at least one worksheet from the package. Today some kids did math and others did English, me and my partners were asked to help the kids that needed help finishing their math so that there were able to join in on the other afternoon activity planned. After all the kids finished their work we all walked over to a close park where they got to play on the play structure and get some fresh air, as it was super nice out today. I for got to mention before that these kids school day ends at 2:45 so after they leave we have the opportunity to be put in to another classroom to experience different learning types. Today instead of going to that classroom we set up a google account so that our co-operating teacher can send us helpful information about getting started as a teacher.
The school is very friendly and just as an overall positive attitude and are always willing to help each other out in a certain situation. The surrounding community is very peaceful and friendly. It is a quit neighbour hood and a good environment for the kids to grow up in. I see that a lot of teachers love to get their kids outside and moving and I think that’s really important for the kids to be able to experience the fresh air, but not only get a chance to be around the surrounding neighbour hood because some kids don’t always get that opportunity.
Field Blog #3
October 25, 2018 marked my third field experience. When we first got into the classroom they were all watching a movie and finishing up their lunches. There were only five kids today in class which seemed small but there was always a lot going on. We then took the kids outside because there was going to be a fire drill, so it was just easier to already have them outside and ready. After that my partner activity that got the kids using their imaginations. Our art activity was to create our own monster from anything you could find outside, so leaves, sticks and acorns. They all created their own version of a monster or created something totally different like a cat. After we finished up our activity we headed on over to a grade five classroom to observe their projects they were working on with groups.
Teacher in my classroom honour different ways of knowing by always making sure the kids understand the topic and making sure that there is a visual representation of the topic they are exploring that day. The teachers are always interacting with the kids and making sure that they understand the topic and asking hem questions about the topic or what they should be doing so they can make sure the kid understands what is asked of them. I think the teachers in my classroom rely on the relationships they build with the kids and focus on connecting with them to make sure that the kids can trust the teacher and teacher’s assistance. Techers build their own professional knowledge by learning as they go everyday is a new learning experience and as a teacher I think you must be able to handle change and set backs that may occur during are careers.
October 25, 2018 marked my third field experience. When we first got into the classroom they were all watching a movie and finishing up their lunches. There were only five kids today in class which seemed small but there was always a lot going on. We then took the kids outside because there was going to be a fire drill, so it was just easier to already have them outside and ready. After that my partner activity that got the kids using their imaginations. Our art activity was to create our own monster from anything you could find outside, so leaves, sticks and acorns. They all created their own version of a monster or created something totally different like a cat. After we finished up our activity we headed on over to a grade five classroom to observe their projects they were working on with groups.
Teacher in my classroom honour different ways of knowing by always making sure the kids understand the topic and making sure that there is a visual representation of the topic they are exploring that day. The teachers are always interacting with the kids and making sure that they understand the topic and asking hem questions about the topic or what they should be doing so they can make sure the kid understands what is asked of them. I think the teachers in my classroom rely on the relationships they build with the kids and focus on connecting with them to make sure that the kids can trust the teacher and teacher’s assistance. Techers build their own professional knowledge by learning as they go everyday is a new learning experience and as a teacher I think you must be able to handle change and set backs that may occur during are careers.
Field Blog #4
Thursday November 1, 2018 marked my fourth field experience. Today when we arrived at the school the kids were finishing up lunch and just heading outside for recess. Mr. T stayed inside to help us get our lesson plan ready for todays class and basically teach us how to put together a well thought out plan and make sure it is appropriate for every kid in the classroom. This took up most of the afternoon which is okay because it takes a lot of work to put a good lesson plan together and me and my partner both learnt so much today. Our lesson today was based on outer space and the planets that orbit the sun, we first started off by asking them if they already knew any facts abut space and some were able to tell us some after this we shared a video with them that gave some interesting facts about each planet. After the video we handed out a question sheet to see how mush they listened, and most kids got all the answers right. After the questions were done we proceeded to take them in for completion marks. Owen a kid in the class loves this activity and it made us both very happy because last week he was very closed off towards me and my partner but this week he was telling us so many interesting facts about pace that I had no idea about. After the kids left we were sent to a grade 2 classroom were we went on a neighbour hood walk and played at the park with them, one little boy didn’t have a partner so he came up to me and asked if I could be his partner, it just made me feel really accepted into the school community even with it only being the first day with the grade 2’s.
There are many different forms of diversity in the classroom with the many different learning abilities brings new tasks to face every day. The learning is very different through out the classroom like, one kid doesn’t really understand how to write done the answer with letters where as other kids in the class are developing full sentences to the question. Also, some students need to be told more than once to do a task but as soon as they know that you are in charge and mean business they will complete the work that is needed to be done. The school and teachers honour diversity in the classroom because they always want to make sure that students are reaching their full potential even if that mean changing as task for them right on the spot because it may be to hard or to easy. Our co-operating teacher definitely shows diversity in the classroom because of all the different learning styles the kids have to learn how to do on their own. He provides them with what is expected and how to get the task done even of that means it takes longer than it was planned out.
Thursday November 1, 2018 marked my fourth field experience. Today when we arrived at the school the kids were finishing up lunch and just heading outside for recess. Mr. T stayed inside to help us get our lesson plan ready for todays class and basically teach us how to put together a well thought out plan and make sure it is appropriate for every kid in the classroom. This took up most of the afternoon which is okay because it takes a lot of work to put a good lesson plan together and me and my partner both learnt so much today. Our lesson today was based on outer space and the planets that orbit the sun, we first started off by asking them if they already knew any facts abut space and some were able to tell us some after this we shared a video with them that gave some interesting facts about each planet. After the video we handed out a question sheet to see how mush they listened, and most kids got all the answers right. After the questions were done we proceeded to take them in for completion marks. Owen a kid in the class loves this activity and it made us both very happy because last week he was very closed off towards me and my partner but this week he was telling us so many interesting facts about pace that I had no idea about. After the kids left we were sent to a grade 2 classroom were we went on a neighbour hood walk and played at the park with them, one little boy didn’t have a partner so he came up to me and asked if I could be his partner, it just made me feel really accepted into the school community even with it only being the first day with the grade 2’s.
There are many different forms of diversity in the classroom with the many different learning abilities brings new tasks to face every day. The learning is very different through out the classroom like, one kid doesn’t really understand how to write done the answer with letters where as other kids in the class are developing full sentences to the question. Also, some students need to be told more than once to do a task but as soon as they know that you are in charge and mean business they will complete the work that is needed to be done. The school and teachers honour diversity in the classroom because they always want to make sure that students are reaching their full potential even if that mean changing as task for them right on the spot because it may be to hard or to easy. Our co-operating teacher definitely shows diversity in the classroom because of all the different learning styles the kids have to learn how to do on their own. He provides them with what is expected and how to get the task done even of that means it takes longer than it was planned out.
Field Blog #5
Thursday November 15th marked week five at Henry Braun school. Today when we walked into the classroom it was set up different because they had received a new student in the classroom so now there are nine kids, also there was another year 3 ECS student in the classroom that came to volunteer today and to help the kids if need be. The new student is talkative which was good because me and my partner got a chance to have a conversation with him, even though it was just him testing us on our bird knowledge. At the beginning of class, me and my partner read them two chapters from their novel they have been reading and let them predict what would happen next in the book. After that we began to work on an assignment about Canada and naming all the provinces and territories and for the older kids even the capital cities. After that was over it was home time fore the kids, so they got ready and we headed outside with them to play for a bit then walked them to their cabs and said see you next week.
The school doesn’t really show much of honouring diversity around the school but there are many different cultures and if you see kids playing everyone is usually included. Today after the kids left we sat in on the boy’s volleyball game that was going on and there were many different classes there from grade 1 to grade 8. They all came together and cheered for the boy’s team and were chanting chants for everyone to hear and making sure the boys felt the support of their school community. This should that the school is inclusive and supports each other even if they lost they were still supporting them in any way they could find.
Thursday November 15th marked week five at Henry Braun school. Today when we walked into the classroom it was set up different because they had received a new student in the classroom so now there are nine kids, also there was another year 3 ECS student in the classroom that came to volunteer today and to help the kids if need be. The new student is talkative which was good because me and my partner got a chance to have a conversation with him, even though it was just him testing us on our bird knowledge. At the beginning of class, me and my partner read them two chapters from their novel they have been reading and let them predict what would happen next in the book. After that we began to work on an assignment about Canada and naming all the provinces and territories and for the older kids even the capital cities. After that was over it was home time fore the kids, so they got ready and we headed outside with them to play for a bit then walked them to their cabs and said see you next week.
The school doesn’t really show much of honouring diversity around the school but there are many different cultures and if you see kids playing everyone is usually included. Today after the kids left we sat in on the boy’s volleyball game that was going on and there were many different classes there from grade 1 to grade 8. They all came together and cheered for the boy’s team and were chanting chants for everyone to hear and making sure the boys felt the support of their school community. This should that the school is inclusive and supports each other even if they lost they were still supporting them in any way they could find.
Field Blog #6
Thursday 22nd 2018 marked my 6th field experience. Today we went earlier so that we had time to talk to the teacher about what was going on in the classroom today. They first started of by reading the novel the have been reading this week and making predictions about what’s to come next. After that we did a science activity with them that continued off from what we did last class with them. All the kids were getting involved this time and up at the board telling us about each planet and drawing the solar system. They then provided us with what they knew, what they wanted to know and what they learnt today from the lesson. We ended our day in the grade 1 classroom and helped the students complete their sentences they have been working on and sounding out words.
The students in the classroom are all learning differently and at different level since its grades 4 to 8. Mr. T usually teaches to the majority of the classrooms interests and begins each class with asking how they are doing for the day. It is hard to tell if the kids know the meaning and relevance of what is being taught that day because some are very verbal and other are not so much verbal which makes it difficult at times, but from seeing the excitement on their faces with the solar system you can tell that they really enjoy learning about it.
Thursday 22nd 2018 marked my 6th field experience. Today we went earlier so that we had time to talk to the teacher about what was going on in the classroom today. They first started of by reading the novel the have been reading this week and making predictions about what’s to come next. After that we did a science activity with them that continued off from what we did last class with them. All the kids were getting involved this time and up at the board telling us about each planet and drawing the solar system. They then provided us with what they knew, what they wanted to know and what they learnt today from the lesson. We ended our day in the grade 1 classroom and helped the students complete their sentences they have been working on and sounding out words.
The students in the classroom are all learning differently and at different level since its grades 4 to 8. Mr. T usually teaches to the majority of the classrooms interests and begins each class with asking how they are doing for the day. It is hard to tell if the kids know the meaning and relevance of what is being taught that day because some are very verbal and other are not so much verbal which makes it difficult at times, but from seeing the excitement on their faces with the solar system you can tell that they really enjoy learning about it.
Field Blog #7
Thursday 29th marked my last day of field experience. On this last day it was a kid’s birthday in the classroom, so they wanted most of the afternoon to be fun. They first started off by reading a novel like always but this time when Mr. T read they were working on other homework they needed to finish to participate in the fun activities. When all the kids were working me, and my partner took one kids to his own space so that he wouldn’t distract the other students from their work. He was working with go-noodle and was dancing for us and would tell us to get up he kept telling us that we were doing a great job and saying to keep up the good work. When we got back to the classroom we played a bunch of minute to win it games and enjoyed some cookies my partner and I brought and then some cupcakes that one of the teacher assistants brought. We then just went over are whole experience at the school and collected all our stuff that the students had done for us and went on our way.
The experience as a whole was a great one it really opened my eyes to see that every child is unique in their own ways and bring a new way of learning to the classroom. I really enjoyed seeing the kids interact and finish assignments in a diverse way and communicate with others if they needed help. Overall, I believe that this was a great opportunity because it helped me further understand the kids learning and helped build my patience if they were struggling or having a bad day. I would go back to visit the kids because they were all good an wanted us to be there and never was upset when we were teaching or walking around the classroom helping. Overall, these kids will always hold a special place in my heart because they were my first classroom experience in my future teaching career.
Thursday 29th marked my last day of field experience. On this last day it was a kid’s birthday in the classroom, so they wanted most of the afternoon to be fun. They first started off by reading a novel like always but this time when Mr. T read they were working on other homework they needed to finish to participate in the fun activities. When all the kids were working me, and my partner took one kids to his own space so that he wouldn’t distract the other students from their work. He was working with go-noodle and was dancing for us and would tell us to get up he kept telling us that we were doing a great job and saying to keep up the good work. When we got back to the classroom we played a bunch of minute to win it games and enjoyed some cookies my partner and I brought and then some cupcakes that one of the teacher assistants brought. We then just went over are whole experience at the school and collected all our stuff that the students had done for us and went on our way.
The experience as a whole was a great one it really opened my eyes to see that every child is unique in their own ways and bring a new way of learning to the classroom. I really enjoyed seeing the kids interact and finish assignments in a diverse way and communicate with others if they needed help. Overall, I believe that this was a great opportunity because it helped me further understand the kids learning and helped build my patience if they were struggling or having a bad day. I would go back to visit the kids because they were all good an wanted us to be there and never was upset when we were teaching or walking around the classroom helping. Overall, these kids will always hold a special place in my heart because they were my first classroom experience in my future teaching career.