PSIII Experience
During my four-month teaching assignment at Nicholas Sheran School, I was provided with the opportunity to actively participate in the following: learning constantly, working collaboratively, developing meaningful relationships, and planning effectively. As a result, both my teaching capabilities and confidence have increased significantly. The time with my diverse group of grade-five students has reaffirmed that my skill set is uniquely suited to teaching students with a variety of needs, and that my passion for the profession is undeniable. I am very grateful for this opportunity to grow and develop, that the Nicholas Sheran staff/students have offered me.
Beginning with my first week at Nicholas Sheran School, I strove to become a valuable member of the Nicholas Sheran team. I was able to build relationships quickly with both colleagues and students, because of my involvement in coaching basketball, assisting with senior choir, and routinely helping with breakfast club. Thus, I was able to appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities that come with taking on additional responsibilities, in addition to teaching load. Due to my extracurricular involvement, I not only got to work with the students in my homeroom class, but also students from a variety of classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and I know that my efforts did not go unrecognized by the staff at Nicholas Sheran. For example, my Teacher Mentor and fellow colleagues, have commended me on my efforts to be as involved as possible in the spirited school atmosphere.
As much as the extra-curricular involvement helped me develop relationships outside of the classroom, where I truly excelled at cultivating strong relationships was in the small moments before, during, and after classes. For example, my Teacher Mentor gave me a lovely personalized desk space within the classroom, which meant that I could spend a great deal of time close to my students. I would frequently have students at my desk prior to class, sharing their experiences and confiding in me. One of my favorite quotes from my teacher mentor, was “these students don’t necessarily have role models or people they can trust in their lives, so the fact that they open up to you means that you have already won their trust and respect.” My group of students had very diverse backgrounds, and some had faced a great deal of hardship. Consequently, in addition to my main TPGP goals, my goal became to embody the role model position, more so than I had in shorter practicums, and I believe that I was successful in doing so.
I was responsible for creating and delivering well planned and well executed lessons in the following subjects: Social Studies, Health, Phys. Ed, Art, Computers, and Enrichment. This all began with extensive unit planning, before I even entered the classroom. I ensured that the detailed nature of my planning did not decline, as I progressed throughout my practicum. My ability to generate detailed, engaging plans for all subject areas taught was vital for my success in this practicum. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching all subjects. However, Social Studies, Art, and Phys. Ed were my favorites.
