Hey! So since we’ve been back at school I’ve had to adjust to a few changes in my schedule, such as new classes and shifts at work, however I’ve also had to adjust to a few changes at my placement.
Since I have a lighter course load this semester, I am able to go to my placement longer and get to spend more time in the classroom and working with my placement teacher. One of the new changes for me, is that I get to work with the kindergarteners for period each placement. Since the teacher I work with only teaches French to grades 4,5 &6, she also teaches gym to the kindergarten classes at the school.
At my placement, they actually refer to kindergarten now as ELP (Early Learning Program) since the kids are now there for a full day of classes, also there is an ECE (Early Childhood Educator) in each of the kindergarten classes to help the teacher. So it definitely took a little getting used to for me since I hadn’t worked with kindergarteners since co-op in high school, but I actually really enjoy working with them so far, they’re always so excited for gym, and are especially excited when there is someone new (like me) there working with them.
Another new thing at my placement this semester, is I get to stay there for lunch or nutrition break as it’s called and I get to eat in the staff room with the rest of the teachers. It’s great having the opportunity to sit with most of them during lunch and hear about issues or funny things that came up in their classes they were teaching. It’s strange now to look back and think how when I was younger, I was always interested to see what the staff room looked like or sometimes intimidated by the teachers since they were older and the authority figures, but now I’m an authority figure to the students at my placement.
I’ll be sure to keep you posted on more of my adventures at placement this semester!:)
