Week 3? well... mostly week 4

Week 3??  Spring Break!

Well…. I have failed my most dedicated “followers” and skipped a week. Frankly, spring break was NOT a break what-so-ever!  The first half of the week, I dedicated to my transcribing job (so I got sort of caught up) and the last half, I spent planning 2 of my 3 units that I am now currently teaching!  Oh, ya… and I did manage to spend a bit of time running my kids around – of course!  Darren had a couple Steel practices and dryland, so I ran him there the first weekend. The second weekend he played hockey in Ochapawace, SK so we got to see the team for the first time this year in action.  They did very well, with 2/2 wins!  Just exhibition games, but nice to have them try out games to see where they need to improve for “important” tournaments! 

Trevor was in Thompson for a D-cup tourney, so Neil went with him on the bus up there! (win for me!) Then Trev went to Souris for an overnight with a friend that lasted 3 days…. Ya… and he’s only 13… I think I’m in trouble!!  On the “fun” side of my life, I finished up my last two hours in the archives.  With any luck, I will get the job again next year and MAYBE manage to finish “organizing” the past issues of The Quill (BU’s student newspaper since 1908), but who knows… I am sure it will be a never-ending task!  I also got to run away for a day with my friend Vicki and her mom.  We hit the big city of Winnipeg for the day and hit it we did!  It was a funtastic day to say the least!

Week 4 – hehehe

So I started my teaching units this week.  SO MUCH FUN!  I am doing Canada and 2D/3D shapes right now. Canada will last my entire placement and 2D/3D shapes I am just doing 4 lessons then switching up to measurement!  Being with young kids and teaching them is exactly where I need to be. My soul feels complete. Kindergarten is almost exactly like my day care days, and I LOVED that.  My first two weeks of student teaching, other than my 1 lesson, was mostly just getting to know the kids and routine.  I really appreciated that as getting to know the kids really helps now when I want to get them to pay attention to my “lesson.”  I found that this week I did have trouble a couple days with a couple kids not wanting to join my lesson, but when they realized I didn’t care that they sat out, they did join us after a bit.  I knew that they were looking for attention and when they didn’t get the attention they wanted, they joined the group and were super good listeners!  I have been away from young kids for so long, I wasn’t sure that I still “had it,” but I do!  Whew. 

So Canada!  I introduced them to Canada is our country and Manitoba is our province.  I had videos that I saved to my YouTube channel… and yes, Mike… I listened to you once again (so often you have been right… hmmm lol)…  Being able to save the videos for future use, is very helpful, so having a channel really helps!  The kids really liked the Provinces and Territories of Canada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-UTq0i5so&list=PL063KLrkE-Z1ViY2hsOBqRYEP1h-lbInX&index=2) that I found.  Incorporating videos/songs through ICT sure inhibits my willingness to sing to the kids!  Even though I do it, I probably shouldn’t! lol  We spent some time finding Canada in North America on a large floor map, worked on being “proud Canadians” and practiced singing O Canada and we actually learned some French!!  The kids were pretty excited and listened super well to the French videos and we will continue to say “bonjour,” “merci,” and “au revoir” to our friends!

2D/3D shapes

This week we got through the 2D shapes and one group started 3D shapes.  During center time at the end of the day, I was very pleased that some of the kids actually got out the academic centers that I created and played with those instead of choosing the other centers.  I wished I had my phone with me to take some pictures of their 3D creations – perhaps I need to take it with me to the classroom for that reason… hmm… something to think about.  As 2D shapes are “quite boring” as I told the kids, the introduction of the trapezoid, hexagon, and parallelogram interested some of them for sure!  I think I have successfully taught one of the groups that a hexagon is a 6 sided shape.  One step towards differentiation!  Whoop whoop! So next week we will finish up with the 3D shape world and move towards measurement.  So many fun things to teach the kids!  With any luck, I will find a kindergarten job…. but time will tell – maybe my “old” body wouldn’t be able to handle kindergarten for very long… something to think about! Lol

Ok! I think that is enough dribble from me for the time being!  I will try to take some pics to add to the blog so you can see what exactly I have attempted to do with “my” students.

TTFN

Connie