For my first year placement I was sent to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School right across the street from Mooney’s Bay! I was grateful enough to get placed in the primary section in a grade 1 class. My associate teacher even had another student teacher, in her second year, in the class. This was amazing because she showed me where I should be by the time I reach second year. I saw my A.T. and the other student teacher work seamlessly together as though they had known each other for years and I was super excited to be a part of that team! My A.T. immediately saw that I worked better by doing not by watching so she put me to work right away letting me teach most of the advent lessons leading up to Christmas and a good amount of the math lessons as well. After the Christmas break I have even started teaching science and language lessons as well. Throughout my entire placement I have had the opportunity to not just participate but take the lead on so many projects, assessments and lessons. Being in this class has taught me more than I ever imagine I’d learn and I am blessed to have been placed here, it has truly been the perfect placement!

My placement at St. Thomas More (STM) was exactly what I been praying for! Between the students, the opportunities I got and the other staff there, my time at STM was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I got opportunities to use so many different tools like Hapara, Google Classroom, Magma Math, Prodigy, Pixel Art, and even mastered the use of Google Excel which my A.T. emphasized the importance of.

More than anything one thing I go tout of this placement that I didn’t get as much of from my first was community. During my second year I bonded with not just my students, but every student in the school. With every teacher, parent, E.A., and other staff. I got to know and work with each of them. These relationships helped me get so much from my experience. Everyone knew I was a student teacher and everyone was so eager to share their experience, advice and tools with me.

This year was also a huge learning curve for me. In grade 4 their are some topics I haven’t covered in years. It was fun to learn at the same pace as the students. Whenever I taught something I never learned myself or had forgotten I was always honest with the students about it. Unknowingly this actually helped the students be more comfortable with learning. It helped foster a safe learning environment where it’s okay to not know something and where it’s okay to ask questions.

I could talk forever about all I learned this year. But more than anything I am just truly grateful for everyone who put effort into teaching me this year. From other teachers to students, they all helped me become the teacher that I am and I cannot wait to start my career and use all that I have learned!