Course Connection:

The first thing I noticed that connected back to our course content was educating students the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. The display for Orange Shirt Day and lessons on Indigenous languages were important reminders of recognizing Indigenous history and culture.  The school’s efforts to honor and educate about Indigenous history helped create a more inclusive community. The second aspect I was able to relate to our course content was invitation and hospitality.  The classroom at Brunskill School gave me a chance to see how important it is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students. The teacher would stand outside the class each morning and greeted each student individually, which helped set a positive tone for the day and made everyone feel noticed before walking into the class. This approach helped build trust and encouraged students to express themselves and any emotions they are feeling. It showed me how important it is to connect with students and understand their emotions to support their learning. The last thing I am able to connect to our course content from my field experience was  how space, place, and boundaries play an important  role in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. The teacher made sure there were different seating options for students, such as rocking chairs, standing desks, cushions for chairs and pedals for under their desk which helped them feel more comfortable to focus for longer periods of time. The quiet room was another example, providing a space for students to take a break. The classroom boundaries were also clear, students who repsected these boundaries where given positive reinforcement by the classroom teacher.

New Understanding:

-Each student has different needs and learning styles so it is important to adjust your learning techniques in order to give all students support

-Each student has different ways they learn based on their seating or desk area. Making sure there is a variety of things students can choose from to engage in classroom activites/lessons for longer periods of time.

-A new belief: providing positive reinforcement is a way students want to participate more and feel as if their work is being honored and looked at.

 

Contributations:

-Working one-on-one with students

-Helping run small grouop activities

-Support students in understanding the course content (math, ELA or journal)

-Morning supervision before the bell rang for classes to start

-Participate in library and math activities

-Engage with students while doing activities

-Engage with students before and after school

Areas For Personal Growth:

-Some students may need different accommodations added to their assignments in order to support their learning at another level.

-Creating ways to keep students focused through longer activites without making them leave the class for distracting others.

-Making the effort to try and create a professional relationship with all students so they feel welcomed and valued in their classroom space.

Overall Experience:

I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity as I got to learn from a very talented teacher who was able to welcome me into her classroom. I was able to learn so much that I will value in my upcoming field placements and add into my future classroom. It is an honor to be a part of the education system as you truly dont know the work teachers put in until your standing up there with them.

I am excited for my next field placement and hope for it to be successful like this one was!