To say that I have immensely enjoyed my EDUC 491 practicum would be an understatement. In two words, it was AMAZING and it will be MEMORABLE!
Once again, my bucket has been filled, to the point of being over filled! I feel extremely blessed to have been able to stay with my class and my coaching teacher since November of 2020. This means that I was at the same school with the same coaching teacher for practicums 490 and 491. Wow!
My coaching teacher has had a tremendous impact on myself, both as an individual and as a future teacher. She and I were truly the ‘dream team.’ Right from the onset, we connected on a level that every learner would dream of. Not only did we connect professionally, but we also share many aspects of ourselves that enriched the experience. I will forever be thankful for her time, patience, guidance, and resources she provided me. My coaching teacher made me realize very early on *to not reinvent the wheel.* Her motto: always gather things from star teachers and always ask questions. She provided me with lots of meaningful feedback and constructive criticism, which strengthened my awareness and appreciation of being a lifelong learner. This experience for me was absolutely heartwarming and rewarding – we learned from each other and worked as a team to best support our students during the darkest times of this global pandemic. Throughout my years at UNBC and in life in general, I have always valued receiving feedback. Providing feedback takes time and patience – something that I have, and will always be thankful for.
Despite the many heartwarming and rewarding events/things that occurred each day, I find it necessary to mention several highlights that made this practicum ‘over the top.’ First of all, I will forever cherish the relationships and connections that I created with the school community, including the teaching, administrative, and support staff, students and their families, and our Elders. I describe those connections as something that was unimaginable. Never did I dream of building such relationships that I know will last for a very long time and that will have a lasting impact on myself as an individual and as a teacher. I fully immersed myself into the school community by attending the art club, being an assistant coach for ice and floor hockey as well as basketball, and being part of the drumming and foods clubs. Further, not only did I simply connect with my students; I ensured I connected with all students from K-7. On a more professional nature, I enriched my journey as a lifelong learner by attending workshops and seminars, which validated my passion to always welcome opportunities for personal and professional growth. Throughout the practicum, I also heavily relied on my school-based resources and my district resources which made learning even more enjoyable. I connected extensively with my practicum evaluator as well as the district numeracy and literacy teachers. This assisted me in building my skills, knowledge, and confidence in areas I felt I needed to improve – for example teaching math. I also relished in the opportunity to practice pacing and slowing down my lessons, which, in my opinion, is an area that can always be enhanced. Given the demographics of this practicum school and of my students, I knew from the onset that it was crucial for me to incorporate a social-emotional learning block twice a day via a soft start first thing in the morning and a soft start at the end of each day.
Throughout the days and weeks ahead, I always continued to gain a deeper appreciation and awareness on how diverse each of my learners were by assessing where they were at. This gave me such a realistic and ‘just in the moment’ picture on what I needed to do to ensure success and how I needed to adapt each lesson. I used the car metaphor of the medicine wheel to represent the center of my teaching practice. In order for students to be at the center of their own learning, their four quadrants (their four tires) need to be pumped up. I always paid special attention to the wellbeing of the whole child by providing my students with the basic life necessities such as love, care, food, and water).
I leave this practicum with a bucket that is completely and satisfyingly full. In today’s trying and unprecedented times, it may not always be easy to accomplish something that an individual can be most proud and grateful for. I depart this practicum feeling very proud and grateful to my dearest coaching teacher, my dedicated practicum evaluator, my enduring and devoted school community, our caring families, and our knowledgeable Elders who enrich the lives of every child in countless ways. May you always embrace a culture of learning that is always connected to people, land, and place where every individual, regardless of history or background, is celebrated and acknowledged in the most holistic and authentic ways.
