A lot of my students' parents did not want to sign the media consent forms so I had to work with what I was given. Couldn't take much pictures but I sure do have a LOT of memories with the kids....Here are just a few pictures that I could take while doing the practicum =]

My OVERALL reflection on my practicum experience

When I first started my practicum, I really did not know what to expect. I kept thinking to myself, "Man, Ms. Bobbi is really challenging me with FIRST GRADE!" I also kept thinking about how much of a challenge Ms. Bobbi had told us that teaching first grade was. But I kept reminding myself that if teaching is really my passion, then the grade level should not make a difference. The observations really helped me because it let me see what type of students I would be working with and it let me look at some of the skills they had and I how I could work with that in my lessons.

The first few days were a little nerve wracking but as the days went on, I learned to love it more and more. My students had to learn to adjust and so did I but we managed and they got comfortable with me. In the beginning, it was tough because the students weren't too sure about me. As they got comfortable, it got easier. Just like any other classroom, my students had their days. Some days seemed tougher than others but for the most part the days with my students were great.

Into my second week of practicum, I had to leave island for a while. My mentor teacher had told the class that I had an emergency and I had to leave island for a few days. The students thought they had done something wrong to make me not want to come back. When I got back and my mentor teacher was sharing this with me, I was so saddened so I made it a point to clear that up before our lesson began. I assured them that it wasn't their fault I had left for a while but it was for something that needed to be taken care of.

Towards the end of my practicum, my students started to ask questions about how long I'd be there and if I was going to follow them on to the second grade. This was hard for me because when I told them that I only had a few days left, they seemed really sad. I explained to them that this was a training for when I became a real teacher and had a classroom of my own. I also told them that I enjoyed my experience with them and would miss them very much!

With the cullminating activity the kids were very anxious to write the letters. I told them to write it to someone who they were thankful for like a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister or any other relative. I was surprised to get notes from my students but I was also very touched!

Over all, the experience was an amazing one! I enjoyed every practicum day, and yes even the tough and stressful ones! I truly do miss my students and I will always miss them.

After the practicum...

This part of the practicum was a little hard. Not in terms of teaching but in terms of not being able to be with my students anymore. We did a cullminating activity in which students wrote "thank you" letters and that was touching for me because my students wrote notes to me that I know I will keep close to heart always.

In the end, my students were saddened that I was leaving and so was I but I had a great experience with my students and my mentor teacher. This experience has prepared me for what is to come and I am only MORE excited now than I ever was about having my OWN classroom. A great experience indeed =]

Administering Final Exams

With this experience during my practicum, I got to see first hand what it would be like to test first graders and what are some types of formats to be used during examination. This was a fun experience and I learned so much. Before we started the testing, we did a quick review and then we went over the test. During the testing, I went around to help students read the questions and help with spelling. I got some ideas on what would be helpful during this process and I also got some ideas on how I could alter the test to maybe fit other needs.

Overall, I really enjoyed assisting my mentor teacher administer the final exam because it gave me ideas for when it comes to my own classroom. Its all a learning experience in itself and I'm glad that are could take part in such an activity.

Observation # 2...

This observation I was a little nervous about but figured I got through one so the next one shouldn't be too bad. It was on a Thursday, and usually on the last two days of the week, my students are a little more rowdy than usual. Indeed they were and it was a bumpy ride the whole morning. I managed to keep things together and under control and again, I was given good remarks by Ms. Pam. The whole day after she had left, I had to ask myself over and over, "what could have been done differently to control the behavior better? What did I do wrong?" I knew I was beating myself up but I knew I had to catch these things now before starting my student teaching. I'm proud to say today that I managed to figure things out and practice them in the remaining days of my practicum and they have been very effective. I used different approaches and took advice that Ms. Bobbi had given and lord knows that i am ever so thankful for her and the advice she gives. It is always nice to have advice from others because your ideas and theirs combined can make an even better and more effective plan. =]

My First Observation...

I don't even have the words to tell how NERVOUS I was to know that my supervisor would be watching me. I was so nervous and worried that I would screw it all up and be told that I just was NOT ready to be a classroom teacher. Before my observation, I let my kids know that we would be visited by my supervisor and she would be there to watch me and how I work with them. They were excited and that just made me more nervous because I kept thinking, "oh dear, we are gonna have some behavioral issues!" To my surprise the kids were great and very cooperative. I was nervous when I first started, but just like the first day, I just acted as though my supervisor was not in the room and things just fell into place. I did really good according to Ms. Pam so I was REALLY excited to hear that. I was looking forward to the next observation and having her see my activity that I had planned out for the kids. =]

...and the practicum begins

I remember the first day of my practicum as though it was just yesterday. I did our morning routine with my students and they all just stared at me with bright eyes. I was nervous but knew that I had to pull through and get the routine done. Once I started going, I felt like I was on a role! I proceeded with confidence and the days after that seemed to go with a breeze.