Practicum Stories

Role of Gender

For 2 days of the first week, we were given a typical schedule of a student.  I was a Grade 10 girl.  It was eye-opening to really follow a schedule of an actual student.  I attended a Math, Science, Theatre, Art, English, French and Gym class.  The Aha moment came to me when I was sitting in the gym class.  It was the first class of the day where it was an all female class.  Walking through the locker room, I saw pictures of inspiring women sports figures and notices specifically targeted toward females.  As I was observing the class, I saw the same girls who were quiet in previous classes become more social as they played the team sport of volleyball.  From watching this, I decided it would be interesting to be part of a forum/club that has only girls.  As I played tennis in high school, I decided it may be a great opportunity to help out with the Girls' Tennis team.

Grade 8 Students

Everyone warns you before going into the classroom that it is classroom management that requires the most energy, focus, strategy.  Unconvinced, I spent many hours learning to multiply fraction 10 different ways.  Who'd thought you could use a number line for this?  Nonetheless, I learned the models, worked the homework, bought a tablet and put together my lesson plan and notes.  Armed with candy bar and pizza examples, and a game, I felt ready .... However, as predicted my many before me, it was the classroom management where I was not really mentally prepared to handle.  The grade 8's like to talk.  They listen, maybe try it, and then move on to their own conversations.  Although I tried circling the room many, many times, I found myself resorting to raising my voice.  This was slightly effective until they started getting louder ....  After two back to back classes of 30+ grade 8's, I almost had no voice left.  I was proud that I did not lose my temper and was no longer nervous, but I knew that when I come back in January to teach this class, I will need to find and use a more sustainable, sane-keeping strategy!