Chinook School Division

In high school, I knew I wanted to attend post-secondary school, but I could not decide between taking Dental Hygiene or Education. Since I had trouble picking a field of study for my future, I enrolled in a Career and Work Exploration class offered at my high school. This class prepared me for the workforce by reviewing how to create a resume, how to prepare for a job interview, examined employment standards and prepared me to take the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course. I enjoyed and learned a bunch from this class, so I decided to take them all:

• Career and Work Exploration 10
• Career and Work Exploration 20
• Career and Work Exploration A 30
• Career and Work Exploration B 30

In Career and Work Exploration 20 and A 30 students complete a semester (roughly 3.5 months) of fieldwork. Since I struggled to decide between two different programs, I requested a dental office (hygienist) as my first choice and an elementary classroom as my second choice. I had experience working with students but none within the area of dental, so I thought this would be a good start for my future decision. Unfortunately, all dental offices my teacher contacted said they could not allow students to shadow a hygienist, so I went with my second choice of being in an elementary classroom. In Career and Work Exploration 20, I was placed with a kindergarten to grade eight arts education (art, drama, music, dance) teacher at Ecole Centennial School. My tasks for the class were to take notes about my observations, comments and experiences within the classroom. My co-op teacher allowed me to assist her with lesson preparations, teach some lessons and work one-on-one with students. She also allowed me to visit other classrooms in the building to observe how other teachers teach.

 

 

School Art Gallery – Family Engagment 

In Career and Work Exploration A 30 I chose to complete my field work in an elementary classroom again. I was placed at Ecole Centennial School again, but in a part-time kindergarten classroom this time. On days when kindergartens did not have school, I joined other teachers in varying grades. My co-op teacher shared tons of insight on the daily duties of a teacher and what preparation goes into lesson planning and instruction. I often worked with students one-on-one, shadowed my co-op administering reading assessments and instructed physical education and literacy. I also frequently joined a grade 4/5 classroom where I marked spelling tests and assignments with an answer sheet, read books aloud, reviewed the daily word wall with students and worked one-on-one with various students.

Volunteering at Ecole Centennial School during high school ultimately helped me discover something I am passionate about and motivated me to enrol in the elementary education (BEd) program at the University of Regina.