Tuesday September 22nd

I am fast becoming frustrated with students not handing stuff in. It is frustrating as I feel I provide enough time, and thorough instruction. I have given each student a “to do list”, and am reminding them daily that their “to do lists” are expected to be due by Friday, or we will have to address these issues with sending students to the homework room. I explained that this is something I would prefer not to do as it creates more work for all of the teachers involved, and takes away from their lunch hours, as this is when the homework room meets.

 I will be attending a peer support team in their 3 day training session in mid October. I am excited for this as I feel it will be a good experience, plus a lot of fun. Although, I am sure the prep work for the substitute will not be so much fun. However, I assume it will be my co-operating teacher who will teach my classes, which is good as she will surely accomplish what my lessons set out to do.

 I can’t believe it has been a whole month already since I started my internship. Time has gone by really fast. While I still have days where I feeling highly stressed, for the most part I am enjoying it.

Wednesday September 17th

On Monday & Tuesday I had the opportunity to go out to Dallas Valley with all of the grade nine students from school. In addition to the grade nines were, a handful of senior student leaders, teachers, and of course invaluable interns! It was a great experience, and I am glad I was included to go. To be fair I did not actually do any camping, as I stayed in the “chalet.” I think it is awesome that the school had the grade nines do this as it really cements them as a group to the school, in addition to each other, and the senior students. They are lucky to have teachers who put in the effort to make it happen.  

Today back at the school I was disheartened to learn that the substitute did not really do anything of the things that he was asked to. This is one thing , that I am learning, students are great for telling on others.  More than one student, from different classes said the sub was not nice, and did not do anything. In the end it does not really matter as I just spent the time today doing what we needed to. But it does put us a bit behind, and it sets the whole school off  knowing that many teachers are gone for a couple days with subs who are not standing as authority figures. Plus, it kind of stings that he is getting paid for not completing his job. On the other hand who knows, maybe the lesson plans and sub notes I left were brutal and he could not bring himself to teach any of it.

In the end I had a smooth day and am glad to be back in the class for good now! I have also somewhat started my 2nd class, an “active” Life transitions 20 class! I had them today, as they were to do my lessons the past 2 days, and then I am back with them on Monday. We are doing a budgeting unit. It should be fun!

I still have no enthusiasm for my student society, but think I better get some soon or my lack of will soon turn into resentment.

Saturday September 12th

Wow what a busy “short” week! It was back to classes after a long weekend and Kenosee. It was also the week of the school’s open house, and the dance!

It was a week of highs and lows. I made it through the week (high)! My class did not achieve what they should have when I was away last week (low). I learned that I am sometimes moving too fast for students (high). Unfortunately I can’t trust all students when they say they know how to do something (low). I now know that I can’t take the responders to represent the whole class as some may not speak up, or understand due to language or learning ability (high). One of my students has decided to challenge me personally and academically (low).

For lack of better words, this students behaviour just sucks. I am not taking it personally because I know she is doing the same to other teachers. I just wish she felt better about herself, and did not have to unreasonably act out, when she is being treated reasonably. We will have to see where this goes. I wrote off one day as just simply a bad day for her. However, if there are more in the future I will be addressing her behaviours in class, along with her disrespect to me.

While my confidence was lacking at some points, and there were some tears shed (in private of course – I mean, I am a professional), I am liking this teaching experience more and more each day. 

On a side note, I sent an email to arrange a meeting for our student society. Unfortunately the response from students wanting to join, and members being able to participate was weak. I also feel stretched and busy, I wonder how I can inflict enthusiasm upon others to do something when I have none myself at this point? Maybe some will come next week!

Saturday September 6th

“sigh” I am back at it!

I am currently recovering from my Internship Seminar at Kenosee this past week. I am interning at Johnson in Regina, and have had the students for two full days. The class I am taking on from the start is IP 10!

The last day before I left for Kenosee was somewhat of a “set-up” day. During this day the students were to set-up Gmail email addresses, which did not work due to Gmail not being accessible. In addition to the Gmail issue the students were to set-up a blog. I posted step-by-step instructions on the class blog on how to set one up. While I felt the instructions were very clear, the students did not seem to fully understand what was required to actually set one up.

Upon reflection I realized that grade 10 students would better benefit from the apprenticeship method of instruction. Where they complete the requirements simultaneously as I demonstrate them on the projector screen. In the end I did not feel good about the lesson, and hope that I can recover from my lack of effective instruction so that we can move forward and get our blogs set-up. I guess learning is what internship is all about.

To summarize what I took away from the Internship Seminar in Kenosee:

• I will work the hardest I ever have during internship, not as though it will taper off afterwards.
• I must exceed what I thought I could do in many ways.
• My presence in the school in many ways will pave my future as a teacher.

Friday March 20th

SBTA 2009 (Saskatckewan Business Teachers Association) & OCRE (what does OCRE mean again???)

We went to Moose Jaw for our OCRE for the SBTA 2009 Annual Spring conference. It was a blast!

I got to bond with business education colleagues of all levels! And meet prospective internship co-ops! The conference sessions I attended were valuable and interesting. The keynote speaker was…………wild, to say the least! I became the co-president of our Business Education Student Society (with Kayla Hanson), and the student liaison to SBTA! Thanks to a nomination from Tessa Jordan!

My high was meeting all of the current business education teachers and speaking with them.

My low was being a little tired for the conference on Friday due to all of the student bonding the previous night!

I wouldn’t change anything.

I wonder if I will keep blogging now that it is not mandatory? Do we have to blog during internship?

Thursday March 19th

Today is the last day of pre-internship! (sigh)  The morning was spent finishing up all my marking to be passed on to the class teachers so they can enter the marks. The school had a gym blast in motion session today. This is where an outside group comes to the school to facilitate various physical activities. The school participated in two groups grades 11 & 12, and 9 &10. The students were divided into their tag groups, and were to wear their designated colour. Each group had two hours of activities in the gym. It was hilarious! The two activities I saw were wild! The kids loved it and were highly pumped up!

 

At lunch I assisted my co-op with counting money for the SRC. It took almost the entire lunch hour. Not as though I am complaining but this goes to show that teachers typically are working all of the time. Not many other professions would have people working during their lunch break, or after hours without overtime pay, as teachers do with extra curricular activities.

 

Both my high and low is the fact that this was the last day! High because it feels good to have successfully completed my pre-internship, and feeling adequately prepared for my full internship. Low because I am now comfortable in the classroom as a teacher, and just getting to know the students and now I have to leave.

 

Another high would be the fact that we are heading to Moose Jawfor the SBTA after school!

 

I would not change anything today!

Wednesday March 18th

Today was a PD and staff meeting day. We began the morning by going to SIAST to receive a tour and program orientation. This was very valuable, as I have never been to SIAST. It really broadened my perspective of the programs, and opportunities at SIAST. Additionally it gave me an idea of the prerequisites, and grades high school students would need to be admitted into the programs.  

My high for the day was the visit to SIAST. I really enjoyed seeing what they had to offer to my future students.

My low was the feeling that the day was so short, and while the three business education teachers spent some time setting up wikis together they were rushed as they had to attend the staff meeting.

I wouldn’t change anything.

Tuesday March 17th

So I started class with some stellar St. Patrick’s Day jokes………………

 

What is out on the lawn all summer in Ireland?

            Paddy O’ Furniture

 

What do you call a fake stone in Ireland?

                                           A Sham Rock

 

                             What do you call a diseased Irish Criminal?

                                            A Leper Con

 

Oh, so good! I have more but don’t want to spoil all of my material for later in the day! LOL

 

Enthusiasm is one thing a teacher will have to work on continuously! As the teenaged students typically come to class unenthusiastic we need to wake them up!

 

We finished some database work in IP 10.

 

My high was my fantastic jokes, and remembering when I was in Dublin on St. Patrick’s day in 2004.

 

I had no lows.

 

If I could change anything it would have been to bring small edible prizes to IP 10. I think the class would have been much more participatory in my jokes, and quiz questions!

 

 

 

 

Monday March 16th

I became an Aunty to a UK born niece today.  Her name is Ffion (pronounced Fee On) it is Welsh for Rose. I have seen a picture and she is adorable!

 

Today in IP 10 I had a small set where we read and article about Twitter! The article was courtesy of Tracy! Most of the students had not heard about it. Which I found surprising. DARN! I just thought I should have showed cased our current Bus Ed., past WKC student Jordan by showing his news interview about Twitter. That is one thing I am learning about teaching you could work forever at something and always find ways to improve it! Following that they completed the database assignment I had given them.

 

The rest of the day was PAA, and a couple work experience placements. In one of the work experience placements it was great to see the student open up as the teacher asked how things were he honestly answered, not so good as he was having some disruption at home. The teacher knew of the situation and addressed it by asking him how he was coping. She then suggested he talk to his tag teacher if he needs anything else, or come back to her too!

 

OH AND…………..we saw a crocodile. YES a real live crocodile! At the Cow Town CWE stop! It was crazy! Did any of you see a crocodile during your pre-internship? Thought not!

 

My high was witnessing the teacher address the students home issues, with ease and prior knowledge. It’s inspiring to see students addressed as people too, not just students.

 

My low was nothing!

 

If I could change anything it would have been my sweater as I was cold.

 

Friday March 13th

Today was “Scary Pie Day!” Which typically happens on March 14^th (get it? Pie = 3.14) but happened today as tomorrow is Saturday. What this entails is: period 3, SRC representatives come around with a pie (a plate of whip cream) to “pie” you in the face unless you pay the required amount. Once paid the pie moves on to the next chosen person, and the amount required to pay doubles. So you either pay or get pied! Now I am not sure I have all the details right and I don’t know if there is more than one pie going around. But I did see my brother at lunch who informed me he heard of a pie getting up to a value of $160.00! The money of course is donated to a charity. My brother also informed me that I was lucky he forgot I was here, otherwise he would have sent one my way! I am truly glad he forgot about me, as per usual! Lol

 

In IP 10 we began the database assignment which started out scattered as I just assumed they would know to open a NEW database as opposed adding on to the one we were creating together in class! (BOO) I did not even think to bring this up as a point. The majority of the class seemed fine with my roaming around addressing their questions. I will have to come back to this on Monday to provide clearer instructions of how to complete the assignment.

 

In period 4 we went to visit a few CWE placements, which is always enjoyable and I feel as though I am getting to know the kids as I witness their quick debriefing. On the way to the last one Tracy asked if I would like to do it. I was nervous and hesitant, but she encouraged and reminded me that in our first week she called upon me to jump in and do a keyboarding drill, which I did not do, and later regretted. So we role played it on the way there, and with the key areas noted at the top of the monitoring sheet it wasn’t too difficult to accomplish. The visit went well, and I feel the student is experiencing a variety of tasks in that specific field. 

 

My high for the day was the opportunity to be able to do the workplace evaluation with the student and employer. As I thoroughly enjoy watching Tracy do this, I am glad I got to test one out for myself. Also not getting pied in the face!

 

My low was feeling as though I did not fully prepare my students for the database assignment.

 

If I could change anything it would be to refresh the students’ memory on how to complete databases, and start them off on the beginning steps of their assignment.