So our observations are just one week away and I was just curious as to how prepared everyone feels? I know that for some of us this will not be our first semi-long period of time at a school but for others it will be their first. Is anyone feeling apprehensive? I know that I am feeling a little confused as to what sort of attire to wear on the first day. I was planning on wearing my "professional teacher clothes" and bringing a change of strip just in case I am required to be active in P.E. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Also, I noticed in my last practicum that many of the teachers in the school wore very casual clothes (jeans and T-shirts). Do you think it's appropriate to dress casual like this if it's how your sponsor teacher dresses or do you think that we should keep our appearances more professional?
Does anyone have a particular strategy they're going to follow heading into this observation period?
I know that I intend on asking A LOT of questions. I also plan on observing as many different classrooms as I can.
Is there anything else people are concerned about/excited for during their observation period?
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Thanks for opening up the 2-week observation dialogue Michelle! You've asked some great questions and it has gotten me thinking ahead as well.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited for the two week practicum, as I know a lot of you are. Personally, I plan to wear "professional dress" for the time I am there because of a couple reasons. 1) Apparently I look young, so if I dressed in my regular clothes I would fit right in with the students! 2) I want to look professional and 'serious' about the teaching profession to my possible future colleagues. It's always good to give good first impressions. 3) I'm not teaching PE so I won't need strip! Possibly a smock, but that just goes over top of regular clothes.
As for what I'm preparing for...a lot I guess. I am really interested in seeing how my sponsor teacher (and former Art 11 teacher) handles the students who are in art because they think it's 'easy' and therefore sit there unresponsive. I am also interested to see how Aboriginal Education is present in the school. My mom works in the district's Aboriginal Education Library (which is located in a different school) which is a resource that many teachers use in SD #82 so I am interested to find out how that resource can help me as a new teacher in incorporating Aboriginal Education into my program.
Obviously I am going to look into waivers, as I talked about in response to Izzy's last post. It would be good to see what policies are in place for the security of the students and ourselves.
The high school I am going to is only grades 11 and 12 so I'm not sure if Planning 10 will be available, but if it is I would love to see what resources the teachers are currently using.
That's just a start...anyone else?
Looking young is always a problem for me.I've been back to my old high school a few times and each time, at least one teacher approaches me and asks if I'm in Grade 11 or 12 this year. So I've already decided that I'm definitely wearing those "professional teacher clothes".
ReplyDeleteI do have one question regarding shoes. I find running shoes to be wonderfully comfortable, but they aren't very professional. What is your opinion about wearing sneakers?
As for preparedness, I am incredibly nervous about the school and the place that I'm going to. I have never been to Vernon and I'm not familiar with the area. One issue that I plan on researching is the way in which the music program is regarded either by the rest of the school or by the community. I have seen extremely strong programs here in Victoria, but I am from a weaker program in a small town. That difference was a culture shock. It would be interesting to see what the attitudes are towards music and whether or not that has to do with the community or the teacher (or both!). I also wouldn't mind asking questions about the use of Youtube or other such online resources and what the school's policy is regarding those resources.
I'm mostly just nervous because I will be in an unfamiliar environment as well as with a unfamiliar teacher. The only reason why I say that is because over the past four years we've observed many classrooms across Victoria and I would think that most people have met their sponsor teacher. I haven't met my sponsor teacher, so in that way I'm nervous, but I'm ready to take in every part of this experience.
THANKS FOR BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC
ReplyDeleteWE'LL DISCUSS PROFESSIONAL DRESS DURING
THURSDAY'S SEMINAR
PHIL
Karen you bring up so many good points! I am familiar with my sponsor teachers, and even though I know them, I'm still nervous about meeting the VP and everyone else important! Regarding what you've said about how music is regarded in the community, well, that's certainly something I've considered as well, because the school I'm going to has always had mixed reviews, musically. Given, that was all when I was in high school, but now there is a different teacher there, so maybe the attitude toward music there is different. I jut remember being in high school and we always made fun of the band uniforms of the kids at the school I'll be doing my practicum at! I think because of this, we often didn't take their music program seriously, too, so it's hard for me to know what the program was REALLY like. eep! We were so immature!
ReplyDelete