Science & Water Lesson: What I Learnt.

If you give students a map to plot the points water is found around the school AND an iPad to take photos of some of them the maps will get ignored in favour of taking photos of the toilets.

Water is more fun if someone is getting wet.

If you are not very specific students will run with a concept, but not necessarily in the direction you would have chosen.  

Just because you are told the iPads are synced and ready to go does not mean they are.  This added an extra element of 'fun' to the beginning of the lesson.



PREX901: Week 1

 

 

I have just finished my first week of prac at a small Catholic school in rural New South Wales.  My class is a combined year 1 and 2 class with 23 students.  There are a range of students in the class, some with learning difficulties. 

 

They are a rowdy bunch of students and at times the class is loud and active which does require a range of various strategies to get their attention.  Counting down works well; the count gets their attention and they know at the end there will be a 'shhh' or a 'zip it' which they then attend to.  Sometimes the teacher claps a rhythm and the students listening repeat it, after 2 or 3 quick repeats of this the whole class is usually joining in and quiet.

 

I have taught some of the small groups in both reading and maths and I have read to the class and organised them for various activities.  I did a book review with each reading group using their PM readers which was a great activity as using the same template it was suitable for all the levels depending on their abilities.  My maths group was working with numbers 1-20.  We played 'teen memory', 'number before bingo', 'floor walking' and 'dot patterns'.  All pretty simple stuff, but challenging for this group of students.  I did plenty of marking to help my ST.

 

We had two WET and COLD days.  The children were stuck inside and it was CHAOS.  There is no multi-purpose hall so we split the children between two of the classrooms and watched them inside.  The noise level was frightening and the mess was mega to say the least.  That first wet day was the only time I have questioned my abilities to be in charge of a classroom!  Thankfully the next day was not wet, just very cold so we did get out to run and play tee-ball and things were much better.  Maybe everyone was too busy shivering to be rowdy!  We also had school photos on one day which did add to the confusion.  Next week will be a normal week, and hopefully without rain; I feel guilty wishing for no rain as the crops around here need it badly.

 

They are such wonderful children, if a bit of a handful at times.  I am ready for next Monday when I have more reading and maths activities as well as the whole class for science.  I have organised a 'water walk' where we talk about how water is used and then walk around the school with a map and plot the areas where water is found.  We are taking the iPads so we can take photos for the water word wall and their science journals.  The principal (my supervising teacher) looked over my lesson plan and said it was great. I can't wait!!

 

Changing my Degree?

When I chose to do a Bachelor of Education (Primary) in 2011 the thought of University study was daunting, exciting and unknown.  I looked at my options and choose Primary for a number of reasons.  I love small children, I have small children so I can relate to that stage of learning and also because it was new and I lacked confidence in my own ability; Primary seemed like the best fit for me at the time.

Fast forward to now.  In 2013 UNE have a new degree; Bachelor of Education (K-12).  I thought about this, looked at the units, thought about it.  I would lose 6 units by changing my focus now but I have changed since I started this process.

Our local school is a K-12 school.  Losing 6 units now is a lot easier to absorb than adding a post-grad study option down the track.  I am increasing my options and while those 6 units would not count towards the K-12 option I have the benefit of the experience and knowledge from having completed those units.

I applied to transfer and accepted the offer when confirmation came in that my scholarship would not be affected.  I have elected to major in English and Minor in History.  I am really excited!

Trimester 2, 2012

EDCX246	Society and Education
EDSS223	Teaching HSIE/SOSE in Primary School 1
EDEE212	English Teaching 2: Reading and Viewing
EDME369	Primary Math 2B - Stats, algebra and number

Four units again this Trimester, and all very different in terms of both content and teaching style.  Some units have video lectures, some only have topic notes and some only have a list of required readings and seemingly strange assignments.  I am trying to think about the different teaching styles and how I feel about them as a student in the hopes I remember what it feels like to be on the receiving end once I am a teacher.  It is all a learning opportunity and I am trying to get the most out of the experience that I can; it is not always easy.

I have had a very slow start to this Trimester and am only just now finding my feet.  Assignments are due in a few weeks and things are starting to get busy.  I need to get organised and tick the jobs off the list each day. Small steps are still progress.

UNE Awards Presentation

This year, I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship by UNE.  This is such an honour and one I am determined to live up to by being the best student I can, and as a result, the best teacher I can in years to come.

I travelled to UNE for the awards ceremony.  Armidale is so beautiful in Autumn and I had a wonderful day wandering around the UNE campus.  I bought text books for my Trimester 2 units from the United Campus Bookshop; such a novelty to do this in person.  I also spent some time in the gift shop buying a UNE hoody style jumper and then did a little work in The Dixon library.  I was determined to make the most of my time on campus.

I managed to have lunch with a friend who lectures at UNE and I then met Ed from Student Support who has been an important part of my UNE study and support network to date.  UNE excels at offering support for their external students and it makes such a big difference to us as it is easy to feel left out when you study from home.

That evening was the official ceremony.  It was a wonderful experience that I am very grateful for.  I don't have any of the official photos that actually have me in them; I should try to get a copy for my records.

Thank you UNE.

Trimester 1, 2012

Changes at UNE this year.  They have moved into Trimesters instead of Semesters.  This means each teaching period is a little shorter as are the breaks in between, but also that there is now scope to further fast track your studies by doing more over what used to be the even shorter Summer Semester.  Right now I am very pro fast tracking and have organised my units so that I may be able to do 12 full units this year alone along with my first prac placement.  I do not know if this is sustainable, but I will try while keeping an eye on census date each Trimester.

I am currently studying the units:

EDIT124	ICT Across the Curriculum
EDAE124	Creative Arts Curriculum
EDLT115	Learners and Learning
EDEE112	English Pedagogy in Primary Curriculum

Slowly but surely ticking all the boxes.  At the end of the last year I had a 'credit' study average across my units.  I would like to move this into a 'distinction' average but I do not know if this is a realistic expectation given I am also running around after children and their activities as well as the various committees that go along with these activities.  I am trying to be a reflective practitioner who looks for ways of improvement while looking to balance the study/family/farm commitments I have; it isn't always easy.

Summer Semester, 2011

I decided to fast track my studies and keep working over Summer Semester.

TEEC02	ENGL001
RELS181	World Religions: An Introduction

Again, ENGL001 is the second part of my Band 4 requirements so does not count towards my degree, but this is the last unit I have to do to that end.  It feels very good to know that after this point every unit I do is credit points towards my final qualification.

I am also studying a Religion unit which is a key learning area (KLA), or elective.  It belongs to KLA group 6 for HSIE.  The Principal of our local Catholic School recommended this unit to me and so far I am enjoying it.

I am having fun trying to pick my electives but it is proving challenging.  I have so many interests: science, English, history, PDHPE.  I hope having many and varied interests is an asset when I enter the classroom as a teacher; perhaps my enthusiasm across the curriculum will stand me in good stead.