It really is hard to believe that my final week at MacNeill school has come to an end. I can attest that the saying “Time flies when you are having fun” really does have meaning. This has been such a mind-opening experience that has solidified my belief that this is where I am supposed to be in terms of being an educator. My passion for working with youth has become very evident throughout this whole journey. It has been such a pleasure getting to know each and every one of the 27 students in the classroom and of course my cooperating teacher. Over this field placement, I was able to learn so much, from not only Mrs. O but also from all of the students. I really enjoyed being able to learn from how Mrs. O teaches her students, she is a very kind and intelligent person and it is quite obvious that each one of her students admires her. Mrs. O has many great qualities like patience, confidence, enthusiasm, motivational and many more that I want to encounter when I become an educator.
MacNeill school feels like a community. It has been quite obvious that this school was built around honesty, respect, and love for one another. MacNeill school has been such a positive environment for me to then have the opportunity to learn and observe in. Every time I walked into the classroom, I was always greeted by the students in a welcoming manner. MacNeill school motto that is resisted every morning during the announcement s says, “Be the best you can be and do the best you can.” I find that this motto helps to instill equality, acceptance, and a drive to do better. MacNeill also has values that the school follows and I think that they are constantly being shown and they include: I belong; I want to know; I am responsible and I respect. I believe that all of these values help create a link between the school and the community. They also help to remind the students that they belong here and have the right to be educated no matter the circumstances. Respect and responsibility are also being shown as each student has the responsibility to respect themselves and others. Overall, this school is a very wonderful and positive place to be in.
I will always remember when MacNeil hosted the book and bite event. I was asked to introduce two new students to the school and read with them. This activity helped to reassure them and to ease some anxieties they had about being the newcomers. Assisting the little girl in telling stories as she was unable to read was a very humbling and enlightening experience for me. It reinforced how powerful education and creating learning opportunities are for students.
Throughout this whole journey, I have created a lot of unforgettable moments. One of my most memorable ones was when I was given the opportunity to implement one of my activities towards truth and reconciliation. I believe that this lesson opened up the eyes of the students and helped to broaden their understanding of what truth and reconciliation mean. This lesson and overall assignment on my journey towards reconciliation were very special to me and I enjoyed being able to incorporate my student’s hands into it the final project on what they think truth and reconciliation means to them.
As today (December 4th, 2019) was my last day being in the field, it was a very bittersweet moment. On the one hand, I am very excited to carry on to the next step of my education. But on the other hand, it was very difficult to say goodbye to the grade 4 students at MacNeill school.