Half Way Through!

It is both shocking and exciting that I'm already half way through PSII! What, thirteen or so days of class to go? It is unbelievable how fast time can fly when you're so engaged and focused on the day-to-day tasks of teaching. Either way, it is comforting that with every week I've gained new insight into teaching, become aware of areas to continue to improve, and had positive and rewarding experiences with my students.

As I've discussed before, I have a lot to work on, and I know that as long as I teach, I will have professional development goals. My classroom management, differentiation and questioning skills are three areas in which I hope to continue to develop as the practicum progresses. Although a seating plan is certainly an option when attempting to improve proximity to struggling students, I still want to try a few more scanning and differentiation techniques. Simple tasks like having students paraphrase instructions can go a long way in ensuring understanding. Differentiating is certainly an essential and comprehensive aspect of teaching. Learning difficulties coupled with poor attendance makes keeping on top of student needs a significant challenge that requires a great deal of organization and careful record-keeping.

I think that my pacing has certainly improved with my 10-1s. Now that I know student abilities and work habits, I can set out basic chunks of time, and specifically approach/deal with certain students while the whole class works independently. With the 10-2s, however, my pacing requires a bit more development and thought. Some students simply have trouble completing tasks, others don't use their time wisely, while others have ample time to complete tasks. Within a 70 minute period, heavy short-term differentiation can be somewhat difficult, but as I continue to practice creating resources and learning tools like graphic organizers and handouts, I feel that students are being better equipped to work productively.

As I enter into the second half of the practicum, I intend to continue to try my best and use my time wisely in planning, marking, and completing administrative tasks. Balance is such an important aspect of staying well, and as I continue teaching, I'm becoming increasingly confident and comfortable in the high school setting. When I can be relaxed as I teach, I think learning comes more naturally for the students. It was neat to watch my TA teach a lesson today in 20-1. Again, with experience, her overall presence in the class was relaxed with just enough control to keep students on task. With each lesson, as long as I am comfortable with the material, I know where I want to go, and I have confident management, I can become less and less stressed about the "mechanics" of teaching English, and focus more and more on making the learning experience come alive.

By the end of the practicum, I hope to exceed expectations in all areas, but particularly improve in questioning and management. Luckily, my 10-1s are a great group. I have a few students with behavioural issues in my 10-2 class which I am still learning to deal with effectively. The balance between escalation and ignorance is a fine one, and I am continuing to explore the gray area of "picking battles".

All in all, I think that, if nothing else, I learn something new each day. Whether it is an "Aha" moment, a "never do that again" experience, or perhaps new ideas or resources from others, I will leave PSII with a new, more refined understanding of teaching high school English and teaching as a whole.