I just finished Teacher school and one thing they taught us, that all of us do anyway without realizing it is, reflection. In today’s post I’m going to reflect on and blog to you about my experiences with University over the past 7 years and focus more on the past year.
In grade 4 I told my English teacher that I would like to also be a teacher… that was probably the first and last night I ever said that. In grade 10, I realized I would like to be a massage therapist. My parents recommended, that since massage is not all that well known (aka doesn’t make a lot of money) that I should explore the realm of physio therapy. “Ok,” I thought, “I’ll go to University, study biology and kinesiology and get into physio. Good idea parents!” Long story short, I was better at chemistry and French and did that with no goal in mind. About my 3rd year at school I ran into my grade 4 English teacher at a coffee shop, she asked what my brother and I were up to now, I told her my brother aspired to be an astronaut and I planned on staying on the planet, but that was my only plan… I needed a goal… grade 4 English teacher… I’ll be a teacher.
So here I am reflecting on my experience in an Education Program. Unfortunately, teaching is a “learn-by-doing” type education and of the 12 months it takes to get certified, 4 of those months is your practicum. I could cut into the program, say it’s a waste of time, the classes are useless and the instructors have not been actual teachers in such a long time that they are giving meaningless information… most of these statements are only half true. I found about 1/2 our/my time was wasted daily, about 1/3 of the classes to be very useful, the majority of the teachers were awesome (65%). Oh and it is HORRENDOUSLY expensive. This comedian pretty well sums up my education to be an educator. (FYI while writing this I was apprehensive about being completely honest in fear of hurting feelings, another thing the Education Program taught me, sensitivity).
From here on out I’m going to list my reflections;
1. The best thing the University did was let my do the French Immersion/FSL methods as well as the Math/Science methods. This is one of the reasons I have a job right now. MAKE YOURSELF MARKETABLE!
2. Future Practicum Students: Seek out what you want to teach, DO NOT just go with what you were given. If I did that I would have been teaching Biology 11 and Chem 11… do what is comfortable and what will get you ahead. I went and found the only French Immersion Science Teacher in the school and asked if he would have me as a student teacher, he did and I have a job because of that.
3. Get involved! I was in Homework Club every afternoon after school and it was awesome! You build trust with even the most difficult students and that’s the most rewarding. Plus, the only sport I know is baseball so that doesn’t help when there’s no baseball team at the school.
4. See and get involved in classes that are outside of your specialty. One of the french immersion student teachers also taught cooking and is that much more ahead because of it.
5. Work hard and be noticed. Fortunately for me, I’m a morning person. I was at the school everymorning at 7 or earlier and my lonely car in the parking lot got me noticed. The principal would poke her head in when she arrived to say good morning.
6. Do what you’re told. Your sponsor teacher will make suggestions on how to improve, this is a teacher’s way of telling you what to do! Do them, you won’t regret it.
7. Sharing is caring. I’m a firm believer in karma and collaboration. Collaboration to me is working together, not necessarily sitting down and making lesson plans together but sharing materials and making them you’re own. If other teachers take and don’t reciprocate, don’t worry, karma’s waiting.
8. See other schools, a couple of student teachers actually TOC’d for each other one day, arranged with their sponsor teachers and the principals to switch places and see how it would be to go off someone else’s lesson plan. Good learning experience.
9. I did my practicum in a high school so I had no middle school experience, I arranged with the middle school to spend a week there after practicum where I observed and taught one lesson to a group of grade 7s. This also helped when it came to job hunting.
As for finding a job;
1. Make sure you know how to apply and what you need. Writing a resume and cover letter is a long process so get started early.
2. Get business cards. I recommend moo.com the website is easy to use, all materials used at 100% recycled and the designs are endless to suit your personality.
3. contacts contacts contacts. I personally send my cover letter and resume with a short email to the HR manager of the district I was applying for. When postings came up on the website, I would apply and also send and email to say that I had applied.
4. When it came time for my interview, it was more like a “Here’s what you’ll do” instead of a “Show and Tell session”. They’d basically already decided they were hiring me and that made the interview much easier.
5. Do what you’re told. The HR manager told me to go to the ProD days the week before school starts and hand out business cards. He also told me to contact the principals of the school, ask if you could participate in some of their school’s activities the week before. I did both of these things and they were incredibly influential at getting my name out there. (I was called to TOC the fist week of school)
6. Be friendly, flexible and get involved. Even if you’re TOCing for a day, hang out in the staff room. Talk to other teachers, CEAs and maintenance workers. It makes the day much easier.
7. Don’t sell yourself short, on interview day, verbal diarrhea (with a filter) is best.
I hope some of you found this post useful. If not, I apologize for wasting your time but ultimately you could have stopped reading. You always have choices, remember that.
I’ll keep reflecting and see if I can add to the lists. If you have questions contact me through the comments. Thanks and have a great day!
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