Two days down

So far so good...

My teacher is lovely, my class is great... I think it's going to be a really good prac.

So far I've only really been observing...getting a feel for the class, learning the kids names and that sort of thing, but I have a list of lessons to teach next week. The class next door (also year 7) has got another prac student, and we are both being given the opportunity to do lessons with both classes. This means that we can plan, say, a maths lesson and deliver it to both classes. This is really great as a prac teacher, because it gives me a chance to reflect on what I have done in the first lesson, and make changes where necessary and try again. It's really great.

My teacher's also very understanding about the whole pregnant bladder thing (without me even saying anything) and told me that any time I need to go, she's good with it. I know it seems silly, but I was worried about that.

I am totally stuffed this afternoon. I guess it's a lot to do with the fact that we had interschool sports this afternoon, so I was standing out in the sun for about 2 hours, and that tends to take it out with you. So I'm veging in front of Better Homes & Gardents (Woohoo the olympics is OVER), eating left over spaghetti from last night and keeping my feet up. Hoping for a nice sleep in tomorrow... then some time for planning my lessons for the week, and then my lovely husband is whisking me up to Ravensbourne for a picnic at the lookout. I think he missed me today.

comment setting fixed

Just letting you know for those who were having problems posting comments on this blog that I have fixed the settings.

I still haven't started prac... Pete and I have both had a yucky tummy bug and I'm in recovery. It's been horrid, and annoying because now I'm going to have to do 3 make up days, meaning that chances are we are going to miss out on our anniversary get-away, which REALLY sucks.

Hopefully, I'll be able to start tomorrow.

Prac again

So tomorrow, I'm back on prac. This will be my first prac in a CathEd school, and I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'm not looking forward to it as much as I have previous pracs, but only because of me. I'm just so tired still, it's the only first trimester pregnancy symptom that I can't shake, I guess it doesn't help that I'm still up and down to the toilet a few times a night. Also, I'm so aware of my little bump that everytime I roll over (I tend to do so face down rather than on my back) I wake up because it feels so strange. So early nights for this little Friend family for the next three weeks! There's also a huge assignment that goes with this prac that I'm not over-confident about. I'll muddle through somehow, I guess I'm always a little nervous before a new prac. My last prac was so awesome, this one has a lot to live up to!

Anyway, tomorrow I'll be back with a prac post. If I'm not in bed, lol.

Later!

Day 6

Sorry I didn't come in yesterday - slack I know. Nothing too much really happened.. I did my black plague lesson and it went really well, the kids had some great discussion and I loved it actually.

Today I had big plans for certain lessons which all went down the drain when I got to school and was asked to go and supervise for the national year 5 testing. Fun fun fun. I swear they purposely put us on prac when these types of testing are on because then they can use us.. lol.

SO I basically just had to walk around and watch the year 5's do these tests - there were two parts, english conventions, and written. It was so tiring walking around for the few hours. I swear I feel most tired today of any day of prac so far and I did next to nothing. And my feet were so sore!

Tomorrow I have to go and supervise for the maths, and on thursday I'll be down there for the reading test. Then hopefully I'll be getting a lot more done in actual teaching!

Tomorrow I'm doing a lesson on the Village that chose to die... intriguing.. no? It should be good. And I'll also be doing an art lesson where the kids will make family crests.

So for now I should go and do some planning to show my liason tomorrow!!

Later...

Denzel

The school I'm at has a support dog (in training). His name is Denzel and he's really cool. He's a big black friendly poodle. He comes into classes and visits the kids, and also spends time with kids who have learning difficulties when they are doing one-on-one with teachers or support people. He also is available when kids are talking to the 'Life Coach' (guidance counsellor) as it has been found that a lot of kids find it easier to open up to an animal than a person.

In any case it may sound weird, but they have had great results with Denzel - the kids adore him.

MAX class gets to have him all day Wednesday, and at one stage the kids were working silently over on the carpet on the opposite side of the room from him. Well Denzel didn't think much of that - he wanted some attention. Mr R had put the kids homework on the floor under my desk to be marked later. Next thing you know, I hear this tearing noise, and I look around and there's Denzel eating the homework!!!!

I bet you've never heard of a dog eating the homework AFTER it's been handed in!!

Hehe.. I just thought it was funy.

notes..

Just thought I'd copy over the email I sent to my liason, because I think it says stuff that I haven't put in here yet..

Hi J,

My name is Zoey and I am on prac at Suncoast Christian College. I am in my third year of study and I'm majoring in special needs. I'm not sure that I want to be teaching in a special needs unit, but I believe it is a really important area to have knowledge in no matter what classroom you are in.

I am really enjoying my prac so far - I had a great first week. I am in a 5/6 class called the MAX class. It's full of kids who are gifted and talented, who have to pass a strict criteria to be a part of the class. The teacher, Mr R, is a big believer in the constructivist theory of teaching, which works really well with these kids. They are very independent learners and I am really enjoying getting to know them.

I have enjoyed watching a different teaching style than what I have seen previously. I don't think that it would work in every classroom, but because these kids are capable of working so well independently, and are also taught and encouraged to take responsibility for their learning, it's perfect for them.

On Friday I had the opportunity to teach for almost the entire day. It was a great experience, and probably the most confident that I have felt teaching so far. The class is doing a medieval unit, so I have a lot of scope for lessons and Mr R encourages me to run with any ideas that I have. He's a very encouraging mentor teacher and I have learned a lot from him even in just one week. So I'm really looking forward to the next two weeks!

Looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday.

Kind regards,

Zoey

Day 4

Friday. Mr R was away, and I had a relief teacher. It was a really interesting day. The relief teacher pretty much let me take over the whole day. I had fun and felt so confident with my teaching. I feel like I'm really getting a good rapport with the kids - I know pretty much all of their names now and they all seem to like me pretty well.

Next week I will really be getting down to business, starting my case studies and hopefully doing a whole lot more teaching. I LOVED teaching today. Mr R is the most supportive mentor teacher that I have had so far, and he's really keen to let me run with my own ideas which I appreciate so much because I think it gives me more opportunity to learn.

Really loving it...