TeachlivE - session was completed on 10th August 2017 Initially when I was preparing for my unit and reading through what will be required and the assessments I was really nervous and apprehensive about having to do the TeachlivE component. I was unsure what was required and what would actually happen in the lesson. I have never done anything like this before and for me the whole reason why I love teaching is the students and getting that connection but I was not sure how I would build that when the students I am teaching are avatars. I talked to a lot of people about it my family, friends and even went to my daughters teacher and discussed it with her, which she said "oh wow things sure have changed since I was getting my degree, I am sure am glad I didn't have to that". I thought talking to people would reassure me that I was stressing about nothing but it only made me even more nervous. So I looked all the information that was provided and did internet searchers on TeachlivE. I was still unsure but thought this is a great opportunity to get into a classroom and practice before I am in a 'real' classroom with 'real' young people.
I decided that I would do my lesson to Year 1's and my lesson objective would be how to do a Recount. I had just been to the Perth Zoo and feed the Giraffe with my daughter and thought that would be a great way to get the students (Avatars) attention. I was so unsure of what would happen and was just waiting for all the avatar students to start all doing different things. But they didn't and I started to feel more relaxed. I tried to ensure I spoke and asked every avatar a question to ensure everyone was included and therefore did not keep track of time.
The whole experience at first I found very daunting as it was an unknown but I am a pre-service teacher and everything is an unknown. I learnt a lot from the TeachlivE experience and it was great as it was in a controlled environment which meant I didn't have all these little people staring at me and getting restless I could learn in an environment that meant if I didn't achieve something, then I learn from it and can change the way I approach that lesson and my teaching strategies.
If you would like to know more about my TeachlivE experience including my video of my lesson and also my lesson plans please click here
First Year Professional Practical - 5 day Practical (28/08/2017 - 01/09/2017) Wednesday 23rd August 2017 : I logged onto Sonia today and was able to confirm that I was allocated to my Primary School for my first year professional practical for 5 days. I then sent a email to the contact which was provided. In the email I introduced myself and asked if there was anything I was required to do before Monday and that I was excited to be doing my placement at their school.
Friday 25th August 2017: As I had not heard anything from my contact for my school I decided to call just to make sure and introduced myself. I was able to speak to the schools placement coordinator and introduced myself. I was advised to come at 8.15am and make sure I drive to the school so I know where it is. (Which I did on Sunday 27th August 2017).
Monday 28th August 2017: Today was my first day of my Professional Practical Experience. I was extremely nervous and arrived at 7.45am for a 8.30am start. I didn't want to be rushing or late. I waited till my contact was at school and was then introduced to my mentor teacher. Everyone was very welcoming and made me feel at easy. The day started and my mentor teacher gave me my first task to swap all the students readers they take home and get them to read a few pages of their current book they had taken home. I found it a great way to introduce myself to the students and start to build a rapport with them. My mentor students was amazing and was giving us as much information as she could on the students, the way she ran her classroom and where the class was in regards to their educational goals. We got to go to sport with the students and they were all training for the sport carnival which is being held next week. All the students were extremely excited and eager to learn, which was great to see. At lunch time my mentor teacher was on lunch duty so we went with her to see what it was about. We had lunch duty in the Pre-Primary area. During lunch time one of the students in our class had no lunch, so I offered to make him some lunch which the teacher said that would be great and to use the bread, butter and vegemite in the staff fridge. We ended the day with the students working in their Grammar books. After the students all left the teacher sat down with us to discuss out lesson plans and what she wanted our lesson to be about. I was really nervous about the lesson plan but after sitting down with the mentor teacher I felt confident that I had the support their to deliver a great lesson to the students.
Tuesday 29th August 2017 Second day of my professional experience. I was able to hand my lesson plan that I completed for both my micro lesson and also my whole class lesson. My mentor teacher had a look at my lesson plans during her dot time and provided feedback after lunch. Today the students completed work on patterns which they have been working on in class over the last few weeks. The students are starting to be more open now that it is my second day and I am stating to get to know them a lot more. At the end of the day I stayed back for an hour just to go over everything for my micro and whole lesson tomorrow and my mentor teacher was very helpful and supportive.
Wednesday 30th August 2017 Today I got to class about 45 minutes before the start of the day. I was very nervous as in the morning I was completing my micro lesson and then after lunch I was completing my whole class lesson. I felt good about what I was teaching but just wanted to make sure I had all the resources and to go over the lesson before the students got to school. When the students arrived I did my morning routine of swapping their readers and also getting them to read a few pages of their current book. We then got into the rotations and I set up my micro lesson on a table towards the back of the class. The first group came over of about 6 students and I introduced my game. The students really engaged with the activity and didn't want to leave when the timer had expired and they were to move on. After the rotations were completed it was then recess. After recess the students had computer which we went to it was interesting to see a specialist class and how the students engaged with the teacher. After computer it was lunch. I made sure during the lunch break that I set up for my whole class lesson which I was completing after lunch. The lesson started well and the students all seemed engaged. As the lesson continued I relaxed more and started to really enjoy being in front of the students teaching. I finished 15 minutes before the end of the day allowing for the students to pack and be ready for the siren. After school I stayed back and my mentor teacher provided me with my lesson critique forms and verbal feedback on my lessons.
Thursday 31st August 2017 When I arrived at the classroom today there was a relief teacher there who was going to be taking the class for the next 2 days. Today the students had Music as their specialist class which was completed before recess. After recess the students had a writing lesson where they had to write about what they were going to wear or wanted to wear for book week the next day. It was great to read about what the students were dressing up with and asking them more questions about it. After lunch all classes had to do a walk through, which is when everyone does a walk through of everyone's classrooms. This took up the whole afternoon so when we got back to the classroom the students who had news on Thursdays completed it before the siren went.
Friday 01st September 2017 Today was my last day of my professional experience, I have to admit I was really sad and didn't want it to end. It was book week today so we were told if we can to dress up. I was dressed as Snow White which all the students loved. As it was book week their was a book week assembly where all the teachers put on a performance. The performance went right up to recess. I have to say it was one of the funniest plays I have seen and the students loved seeing their teachers up on stage having fun.
After recess the students went to Science and then after lunch we completed an art lesson which the students had to build the start of the project which was buildings. It was then the end of the day and me and the other girl I did y professional experience with decided to get the students a thank you gift which was stickers, pencil and a rubber. I absolutely loved my time in the classroom and feel that I have learnt more in the 5 days then I could have ever imagined.