2nd Day

Even though it has only been a day, I feel like I pretty much fit in with the environment of my practicum school. The morning was pretty uneventful as I went about my daily routines. I helped a student with math and then helped set up a science experiment. For the science experiment, students were trying to learn how widespread an infection could potentially become. To demonstrate that, they had test tubes filled with water. One person had a test tube that had a mixture of water and vinegar (which was to represent the origin of the infection). Then each person had to trade droplets of their water with a couple other students in the class. After trading with four other people, they went up to the teachers to get "tested", which is essentially dropping a droplet of phenol red.

If their test tubes turn yellow, then that means they were infected with... Vinegaritis. For the morning batch of students, the lab didn't turn out so well because the vinegar solution was initially to diluted. We learnt from our mistakes and did the same experiment with the second batch of grade 8s with a test tube filled with pure vinegar. It was able to work this time since we were using a pure solution of vinegar!

After lunch, the students watched a movie for social class. It focused on Japan, since that's their unit of study.

And that was pretty much my day! After school, I got a phone call from the Catholic Division to set up an pre-screening interview! I'm quite nervous since this will be my first formal interview (the other interviews I had were pretty laid back). Luckily, I have time to practice! Good thing I already bought a suit!

First Day of Final Practicum

It's nice that the school is quite close to my house and that it starts at around 8:50! I can avoid rush hour traffic, which is pretty sweet!

Once I got to school, I got to my classroom and sat at the teacher's desk, since my partner teachers don't use that desk at all. There was a lot of space for me to put my stuff! Soon after, the students started pouring into the classroom. I went over a customary introduction, though this time students also introduced themselves personally to me. It helped me with knowing names, but I wished I wrote down a seating plan! I think I can only remember about half of those names. =/

Math followed soon after, in which they went over surface area of triangular prisms. I actually learnt a formula for figuring out surface area. Essentially, it's taking the way I learnt in junior high, but just simplifying some steps.

During science class, I got the chance to show students my demonstration: elephant toothpaste. I was surprised that most students have never heard or seen of this experiment. Nevertheless, we had the chance to have a mini lesson on observations through the use of the demonstration (which was facilitated with the help of one of my partner teachers). After the demo, students continued working on the labs that were previously assigned.

And then the cycle repeated with another batch of grade 8s, except they had lunch and reading period between math and science. During their introduction, I made a seating plan, which really helped with memorizing their names! I think I have 90% of the names downpat! =)

During reading period, I helped one of my partner teachers with students who needed help with reading. During this time, I learnt how to use the text-to-speech function on macs. Having used a mac for the past 3 years, I never knew a function existed! I would say it's a useful tool and even I see some use for it in my own personal life. Instead of having to edit my work through silent reading, I can easily turn on the function and listen to the computer speak to me.

Finally, after science, was options. I worked with an individual on an graffiti-themed image for our science homeroom class. It was interesting to see how students were motivated to get work done when they had an interesting in the activity they were doing.

And that's that! I forgot to take a picture of the school. =/ Maybe tomorrow if I remember!

Today marks my last day as an undergrad at the UofC

It's a bit bittersweet that today is my last day as an "undergraduate" (technically I do have a degree already) student at the UofC. I have met a lot of wonderful people throughout these two years which helped guide me as I changed my perspective on teaching. I won't say good-bye because I'm sure that I will try and keep in touch with these individuals!

I still remember my very first day in the Education program and how I made a stop at the MBA Admission's office (or whatever it's called), since I wasn't so set into teaching. To be honest, I was thinking of dropping out of the degree on the first day and go get some work experience to come back and pursue a MBA. The admission's lady told me that I should finish my education degree and come back after a couple years once I have some teaching under my belt. And so, I trudged towards my first class, which was EDUC 402 seminar, with a somewhat apprehensive feeling.

***

And look at me now. After the last two practicums I had, I'm set on teaching! It's like, but so unlike my previous teaching experiences as a karate/piano instructor. Sure, I have classes with more than one student, but there's some kind of inner joy I got from teaching in a school that is similar to my previous experiences, but so much more rewarding.

 A sense of satisfaction that students are actually able to learn something from me, and that I was able to inspire some kind of fire in some of them (or so they told me... or maybe they were sucking up to me, but I'll pretend that I inspired them some how!).

I guess that's the joy of teaching!

And now, to my last practicum. Eight weeks at a school environment that I grew up in, but never really had the chance to teach. I'm not going to lie and say that all schools are the same, for I have experienced the higher SES schools and realized that they had the chance and experiences that students in the lower SES don't have. I'll be lying if I said I am not feeling nervous, but I'm always up for a challenge! And this will be the first time where I will have to deal with a large number of exceptionalities. As of course, it will be a marvellous journey as I complete my last practicum in the Bachelor's of Education program at the UofC!

I'll be sure to post daily (for the first couple of weeks for sure) about my experiences!

I'm thinking of using this demonstration to introduce myself tomorrow. It's quite simple to make elephant toothpaste!

Happy Lunar New Years

Tis the time again! The year of the Water Snake if I'm not mistaken.

My day was pretty quiet today. I finished my application for the Catholic Board and started a new anime series!

Kotoura-san is a series about a girl who can read the minds of others. The intro was a good hook, as it goes through the first couple years of the main heroine. Since she was young and couldn't understand the implications of her power, she blurts out the most intimate thoughts of those around her. Eventually she becomes shunned by those people closest to her and thus isolates herself from the rest of the world.

I'm three episodes in and I'm really impressed with what the show has to offer!

Potential Food Coma

In my last 509 class, we had a pot luck and a guest speaker. Since there were around 30 of us bringing in different types of food, there were certainly a lot to go around. Somehow, we managed to cover the four food groups and have a whole bunch of dessert as well. I only went through one plate of food and desert but I was quite full after the meal that I was starting to feel a bit sleepy.

Fortunately, the guest speaker was good at keeping us interested throughout his presentation. There were a couple tips that I got out of his lecture today.

1) Keep changing things up. Don't do an activity for more than 10 minutes at at time.
Seems common sense to me, but I knew that I have gone over 10 minutes at my last practicum. An easy fix would be to add different modalities between notes!

2) Storytelling
Something I'm working on, since I don't feel like I have a lot of relevant experiences that I can relate to the topics I teach at hand. =/ I guess I could go find some interesting daily events to hook students in!

3) Moving around
I do this quite often when I teach, though I could always do it more efficiently, and expand the range that I usually roam.

4) Smart Board
Smartboard, SMART Board or however it's spelt... I could use more of that. Good thing I got a free software key today!

And that's it for today!

A beautiful ending to the Courtesan Arc in Gintama! It was quite an excellent arc and may be my favorite yet!

Papers Papers Papers

The past couple of days have been papers, papers and more papers!

However, they're going a lot better than I thought they would. I guess blog writing and using the 25 mins- 5 min break method works really well! Anyways, two papers are done in terms of the first draft. Just one more rough to do (tomorrow morning) and edits!

And I'm done in terms of assignments for my courses! Just to plan for practicum! =) Which I'm actually looking forward too...

Which is indeed

Now what...

I was stoked since I "finished" (technically I'm not done all my assignments/presentations till Friday, but I'm not worried about Friday) all my papers today. I handed them in, and after handing in my last one... I was extremely happy! For at least a couple minutes till lecture started.

Anyways, now what... I decided to take the day off so I can recover a bit before diving into practicum stuff, but I feel raring to go... yet not at the same time.

Thus, my conflicting emotions is making me somewhat bored. I played some LoL, but that didn't really help with my boredom.

Maybe I should go find a nice drama to watch...