This may not be my first year in Education, but it has been a year of many firsts. This was my first time getting to teach in a city school, my first time engaging in sanctions, my first time taking on-line classes, my first time letting my grades go, my first time teaching a classroom on my own.
My year has been eventful to say the least and it is a year to reflect on. This year I had my first placement in a city school. This was a west-end school which allowed me to not only encounter racial diversity in the classroom but also a socio-economic diversity. Growing up in a rural school I did not experience either of these, we were mostly all white middle class students. Being in the school was a great learning opportunity to reflect on my culturally responsive teaching, my FNMI incorporation in my class, and to see some of the less than appealing aspects of teaching. I learned more strategies to foster an inclusive environment, to deal with conflict, and how to handle students with exceptionalities. Through this placement I was not only able to build my pedagogy but also my understanding of the legal concepts of schooling, something I have not encountered explicitly yet. This includes the sanctions I experienced in my second term. I was surprised the impact this caused. One day I was helping coach our school badminton team, and the next day the students went to their first and last badminton game. It was then the next week I had to make adjustments to my preparation; I was no longer able to get to school so early to speak with my teacher about what I would teach that day.
Next came the pandemic which shut down schools. I was heart broken to have to leave my placement so early though it is what had to happen. Though I am happy to not be a teacher at this time because the adjustment to solely using technology is difficult, especially for our early years teachers. Much of my teaching philosophy does not translate to a zoom classroom but it has shown me how flexible one needs to be as a teacher.
This year I have also been working to make a mental shift; to stop worrying about my grades as much and to focus on my actual learnings and reflecting on those. Unfortunately, I am still working towards this but I have seen how the practical aspect matters much more than the number on my transcript. Lastly, I got my first position as a substitute teacher (in Manitoba). This has enabled me to utilize everything I am learning in University and the College of Education and putting it into practice. My first day in a classroom was difficult, not knowing a single students name is horrible, walking in to teach lessons that you did not plan is intimidating, and classroom management was a struggle to begin with. Luckily, I am able to take these opportunities and continue learning from them.
ECUR 165 Winter 2020 