What I learned:

• I learned that kids thrive off routine. I had the experience to go into three different classrooms, and each class had a daily routine that the students followed.
• Some kids have special accommodations to help them learn. In one of my classrooms, a child struggled with loud noises, so they had noise canceling headphones. This practices inclusivity because it shows that kids who struggle are not silenced, but instead given extra support.

My Beliefs:

• One of my teaching beliefs that was validated was to support and care for each child.
• A teaching belief that emerged for me while doing my field experience was that fair doesn’t mean treating everyone equally. Fair means giving each student the support they need so that they can succeed.
• One of my beliefs that was validated was that teachers can learn just as much from the students as the students learn from the teachers. This relates to the article “Space, Place and Boundaries” in the context of power, because the teacher does not control, nor hold all the power over the students.

Interconnectedness:

• At my schools, I didn’t realize the racism and discrimination that some students faced. I noticed how the teachers at Rosemont gave every child the same chances of opportunities. If a student was struggling, they got help, no matter their race, gender, sexuality, etc. This practices diversity and decolonization because teachers are getting rid of the negative stereotypes, and treating all students with respect.

What surprised me:

• Something that surprised me was at Rosemont, there was a class called “catagorical.” It was a classroom where students that learned at a lower grade level then the grade they were in. This practices inclusivity because all students are able to learn, even if they are not at the same level as their peers.
• I got to visit the Pre-K room for just a half an hour, but what I experienced surprised me. The teacher brought out a Treaty 4 picture, and the children immediately knew what it was. They all said “that’s Treaty 4.” This is showing that teachers do indeed need to do the work.

What do I need to learn more about:

• I need to learn how to better communicate with students that are not outgoing, and need extra support.
• I need to learn more about indigenous people, and their heritage. What I learned in ECS through reading many articles and watching many videos, is that we need to do the work as teachers.
• I need to learn about other cultures then my own. This relates to the article “Teaching the Immigrant Child” since those from other cultures will feel more welcome and willing to learn if the teacher is educated.

Questions:

• How do I approach and communicate with students when they are having melt-down?
• How do I honor different cultures and religions in my classroom? This again relates to “Teaching the Immigrant Child” because each student should feel welcomed and heard in a classroom.
• What if my way of teaching works for some students, but doesn’t work for others? This relates to inclusivity because as a teacher, it’s important that all my students are learning, not just one specific group.

What I contributed:

• I talked to each student, and respected what they had to say. I listened to each student, and tried to help them as best as I could.
• I asked the teachers questions to try and further my knowledge, and get a sense of what being a teacher, all day everyday, looks like.
• I acted professional at all times, and took my duty as a pre-intern seriously. I practiced professionalism and respect, through showing up each day, using appropriate language, and not posting any pictures of my experience on social media.
• I showed up every Tuesday with a smile on my face and a positive attitude. Even if I wasn’t feeling my best, I still gave it 100%, because the students deserve that.

Conclusion:

• Ever since I was in grade two, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. This experience solidified my decision that teaching was the right career path for me. I enjoyed every classroom I was placed in, and I learned so many valuable beliefs, and I was only there for four half days!