Week 2 of Practicum #2

What a welcome relief it is see the arrival of March Break! It is like a little gift: time to regroup, make reflections, ponder lessons learned and make plans of initiative for the future. It is truly astonishing how much preparation is involved in teaching junior students. With so many subjects and the need to make constant evaluations, I find that every second of my time (including prep, lunch, after school and at home in the wee hours) is spent preparing and designing lessons and assessment opportunities.

In looking back upon my week, I can only think of the many huge challenges I faced. There are continuing to be incredible functionality issues in my classroom. I am dealing with very subtle bullying (requiring phone calls to parents and after school talks), physical injuries resulting from disputes (ending with the writing of lines and counselling), moments of confrontation when students will simply argue with me over very simple things and a general blatant disregard for figures of authority. I don't enjoy having to constantly justify my statements and saying everything three times. "James, sit on the carpet. James, please come and sit on the carpet. James, I am asking you, come sit on the carpet."

When I don't let the frustration get to me, I think carefully and slowly and try to implement the suggestions given to me by my supervisor. From the core of my being, I can honestly say that one very simple modification has saved me countless hours of unhappiness. I try to point out the students who are behaving well. "I like how Suzie is sitting quietly. "

Since all children love to volunteer and have their hands constantly raised, I try to select the most quiet students to partake in activities. This works amazingly well. "Today, I need three volunteers to conduct a wind test on the bridges". Everyone wanted to blow on the bridges. In announcing that after recess, I would select the three students who were at their desk the fastest, remaining silent in waiting for my selection, I had the best behaved class in the whole wide world. It was like I was teleported onto a different planet!

Positive reinforcement is an incredibly powerful tool. It is certainly no fun asking the same student ten times to take their seat. This is redundant and useless. I'm trying to hone my various tactics and attempt to spin the class moral in the right direction. Who wants to get down on people all the time? Neither a teacher nor a student grows emotionally from such an exchange. I'm on a mission to try as many different methods of positive reinforcement as possible.

I am pleased to note that one particular student who displayed a constant defeatist attitude in her attempts to complete work left school today with a smile on her face. I really tried to pursue a rapport with her and encourage her with lots of attention, positive reinforcement and understanding. Even my AT notice a remarkable change in her attitude. I am excited to see her again after March Break and find out if I truly have had a lasting affect on her learning.

A challenge, yes. But what better way to experience a dynamic classroom with so many scary and thrilling dimensions? Had I the perfect class, I would never know what it would be like to address bullying. This concept was practically abstract to me until now and as a result, I feel passionate about bringing this horrible, sometimes insidious abuse to light. It is unbelievably cruel and can be very easily overlooked by busy teachers in large classrooms.

March Break, I love you, but I also miss my students already. Ho Hum. I am such a complex person!