(no subject)
It's been a while since I've done any updating. I just finished my first practicum experience and the whole thing was a great experience. I had an unusual situation first off, a 3/4 split class, but with two separate teachers. I was placed with Mrs. L. the grade 4 teacher along with Katie, another student teacher. I only learned about a week before placement that I would have a partner in my practicum experience. I liked the idea, about someone I could confide in, vent with and do the work together with. There was a meeting for all students in my situation before practicum, but believe me, they were not as accommodating as Katie and myself. We both got along from the start and were able to work well with each other. She's in another section of the program, but now that I'm back at school, I see her around the building. Anyway, we were both placed with Mrs. L. Jenny, also from my section was placed with Mr. N., the grade 3 teacher. Now that made 5 teachers in the classroom of 29 students (16 of which were grade 4s). It was an interesting start for sure.
Now the 4s were very well behaved. Mrs. L. told us she dealt with any behaviour problems first and settled them early. The 3s on the other hand had more behavioural students. Each morning they left for the library to do their lessons in math, language and social studies. During the afternoon, when we had art, drama or gym, both classes came together.
It was easier settling in than I thought. I thought I would have trouble addressing the class since I've always been pretty nervous public speaking. I felt fine though, and teaching was a little nerve-racking at first, but I quickly got into it and taught every day. Katie and I started with language. The content was fairly easy and executing lessons was the same. It wasn't until the third week that I started teaching math. Other than familiarizing myself with the material again, I didn't find it as stressful as some professors stressed it would be. Katie took the math lessons during the final week. Jenny, Katie and myself made an art lesson making posters for the Remembrance Day assembly and we always shared the responsibility of gym class. That was what I found difficult. Gym doesn't have the same structure as the classroom, nor did I know the grade 3s as well, so running the gym classes was fairly stressful.
Altogether it was a good experience. I got along with the other staff in the school and even participated in an after school Spanish class run twice a week. The Spanish teacher, L., was very enthusiastic for having me there (even though my Spanish is not so great). Mrs. L. marked both my reports well, and I did pass the course in the end. The experience felt a little weird...paying the university to go and work for free? But it's all about getting the experience, I know.
During my last week of practicum, my leg started acting up again. I felt like it was only a matter of time since I was suddenly walking 50 minutes a day plus standing all day. This time, however, it hurt more than ever, sending sharp waves of pain up my leg whenever I moved it the wrong way. For the most part it was moving around in bed or trying to get into a car seat. Otherwise, I was limping everywhere I walked. Ibuprofen didn't seem to help much with the pain, but I assured myself that if I could last the week then I could finally relax and focus on getting better.
Finally the week ended and Ryan was coming to visit. He wouldn't mind if we had a lazy weekend anyway. But...that night my leg flared up more than ever and I decided to go to the after hours clinic on campus. All the could do is recommend I see a physiotherapist and tell me to take some Aleve. It seemed like a good idea...until about an hour an a half later. I had decided to change into my pyjamas and crawl into bed, until my leg got phenomenally more painful. Walking, standing, sitting, didn't matter. It was more painful than ever. "Do you want to go to the hospital?" asked Ryan. Yes. Yes I did. I managed to shuffle myself down to the lobby and into Ryan's car (BT Dubs, Ryan has a car now). We got into the hospital quickly and waited for the doctor. She was nice and offered me nice pills that made me feel much, MUCH better. I slept for a while there until we could be sure the medicine was working. Ryan and I didn't get to bed until fairly late, but it was well worth going.
For the rest of the weekend I felt much better. I could walk again (to a point) and even went out for dinner in celebration of Ryan's birthday which was the past Wednesday. We went with Ashley and Anthony to The Works, a burger place where you can get the most delicious or the most bizarre toppings (like peanut butter and cream cheese). We came home for the night and since then I think I played Xbox until Ryan left on Sunday.
Monday I got off since our teacher moved our class to Wednesday. It was well spent resting and working on some of the practicum things I had left right to the end. Tuesday was really nice seeing everyone again and we all got to tell our stories. We head good things, strange things and down right horrible things about each other's experiences.
Wednesday DeS took us to the National Art Museum. It would have been fun if we were able to go off on our own. Instead we had a guide, which was fine, but we only looked at THREE paintings then had to leave. It was like...4 bucks a painting. I wish we had gone earlier so even when class was over we would have been able to actually see the place. Instead we went right at closing time so there was no time to explore. :( Museums are free Thursday evenings so I should go sometime.
Other than practicum, school has been cracking down on the assignment work, before and after practicum. It's right back to the grind again. My marks so far have all been fabulous, so I'm not worried about the following weeks. It's only another few until the Christmas break! And for the first time I have absolutely NO EXAMS! Yes!
Now the 4s were very well behaved. Mrs. L. told us she dealt with any behaviour problems first and settled them early. The 3s on the other hand had more behavioural students. Each morning they left for the library to do their lessons in math, language and social studies. During the afternoon, when we had art, drama or gym, both classes came together.
It was easier settling in than I thought. I thought I would have trouble addressing the class since I've always been pretty nervous public speaking. I felt fine though, and teaching was a little nerve-racking at first, but I quickly got into it and taught every day. Katie and I started with language. The content was fairly easy and executing lessons was the same. It wasn't until the third week that I started teaching math. Other than familiarizing myself with the material again, I didn't find it as stressful as some professors stressed it would be. Katie took the math lessons during the final week. Jenny, Katie and myself made an art lesson making posters for the Remembrance Day assembly and we always shared the responsibility of gym class. That was what I found difficult. Gym doesn't have the same structure as the classroom, nor did I know the grade 3s as well, so running the gym classes was fairly stressful.
Altogether it was a good experience. I got along with the other staff in the school and even participated in an after school Spanish class run twice a week. The Spanish teacher, L., was very enthusiastic for having me there (even though my Spanish is not so great). Mrs. L. marked both my reports well, and I did pass the course in the end. The experience felt a little weird...paying the university to go and work for free? But it's all about getting the experience, I know.
During my last week of practicum, my leg started acting up again. I felt like it was only a matter of time since I was suddenly walking 50 minutes a day plus standing all day. This time, however, it hurt more than ever, sending sharp waves of pain up my leg whenever I moved it the wrong way. For the most part it was moving around in bed or trying to get into a car seat. Otherwise, I was limping everywhere I walked. Ibuprofen didn't seem to help much with the pain, but I assured myself that if I could last the week then I could finally relax and focus on getting better.
Finally the week ended and Ryan was coming to visit. He wouldn't mind if we had a lazy weekend anyway. But...that night my leg flared up more than ever and I decided to go to the after hours clinic on campus. All the could do is recommend I see a physiotherapist and tell me to take some Aleve. It seemed like a good idea...until about an hour an a half later. I had decided to change into my pyjamas and crawl into bed, until my leg got phenomenally more painful. Walking, standing, sitting, didn't matter. It was more painful than ever. "Do you want to go to the hospital?" asked Ryan. Yes. Yes I did. I managed to shuffle myself down to the lobby and into Ryan's car (BT Dubs, Ryan has a car now). We got into the hospital quickly and waited for the doctor. She was nice and offered me nice pills that made me feel much, MUCH better. I slept for a while there until we could be sure the medicine was working. Ryan and I didn't get to bed until fairly late, but it was well worth going.
For the rest of the weekend I felt much better. I could walk again (to a point) and even went out for dinner in celebration of Ryan's birthday which was the past Wednesday. We went with Ashley and Anthony to The Works, a burger place where you can get the most delicious or the most bizarre toppings (like peanut butter and cream cheese). We came home for the night and since then I think I played Xbox until Ryan left on Sunday.
Monday I got off since our teacher moved our class to Wednesday. It was well spent resting and working on some of the practicum things I had left right to the end. Tuesday was really nice seeing everyone again and we all got to tell our stories. We head good things, strange things and down right horrible things about each other's experiences.
Wednesday DeS took us to the National Art Museum. It would have been fun if we were able to go off on our own. Instead we had a guide, which was fine, but we only looked at THREE paintings then had to leave. It was like...4 bucks a painting. I wish we had gone earlier so even when class was over we would have been able to actually see the place. Instead we went right at closing time so there was no time to explore. :( Museums are free Thursday evenings so I should go sometime.
Other than practicum, school has been cracking down on the assignment work, before and after practicum. It's right back to the grind again. My marks so far have all been fabulous, so I'm not worried about the following weeks. It's only another few until the Christmas break! And for the first time I have absolutely NO EXAMS! Yes!