Blogs I Responded to...

1) Alyssa
2) Sai
3) Cameron
4) YiLin

Week 4: Wrapping it Up!!

My unit did not go the way I planned it to be but I think it was a success. With the help of my AT and Alison I managed to incorporate different subjects, such as drama and art into Canadian history. I had students create tableau presentations for significant groups of people living in New France and I taught students to fold origami animals that early explorers and settlers would see when they arrived in Canada to decorate the classroom with. Students also managed to complete their newspaper article (culminating actively) for me to mark this week. 

Overall, I had a wonderful practicum and after being with two grade 7 classes with a majority of them being boys, my classroom management skills has definitely gone up to the next level. I also feel a lot more comfortable teaching subjects I have no/little experience in.

Week 3: ... Back to School

Students were very excited for history this week because I started incorporating technology into my lessons and we were slowly moving away from just using the textbook. Several students even asked my AT if we could have two history periods from now on instead of one on certain days. Even my AT and I were surprised when we heard their request. I also gave my students their first history test this week and I learned that before giving a test I have to make sure students are prepared and students who missed class before the March Break are caught up. To help students remember and review important history facts I played a jeopardy game with them as the test review. I also provided students a list of study topics and review worksheets to help them prepare for the test. 

After I marked the tests, around 25 out of 80 students scored lower than 60%. At first, I panicked about it but my AT told me that this was normal and that I should not be surprised.

Week 2: Presentations!!!

This week's major focus was to have all the grade 7 students present their independent author study projects before they go on break; therefore a majority of the history periods switched to presentation periods. Enough though I did not get a lot of time to teach this week I learned how to help students prepare for oral presentations and how to evaluate them as well.

Week 1 @ GLENVIEW!

For my second practicum, I am paired with a grade 7 homeroom teacher who teaches rotary English and history. History is mainly the subject I will be teaching and designing a learning wall/unit plan for. So far, I taught two history lessons on European explorers and have started posting the major themes of the New France unit on my learning wall.

And as for English, the grade 7s are finishing up their independent author study unit and will be doing a presentation on one out of three novels by the same author they have chosen to read. I particularly like how my AT designed this unit because she gave her students a lot of "options". For example, students have the option to work with a partner and can choose to use the first 10mins of each English class to silent read /work on the writing component for their independent author study project. Students also have the option to choose their own presentation method (i.e. movie trailer and talk show) to share with the class information about one of the novels they have read and about author. Presentations will be starting next week and I just can't wait to see them!