Oh My!

My first day at Gordon Bell was interesting to say the least! I am teaching Art to all grades (7-12), and my CT is a great lady. I started the day off pretty excited about teaching my major and getting my hands in the paint again, but learned quickly that there is going to be little time for that. My day was mainly spent catching up kids that had missed the last week of classes and reminding them that "f*#@" is not proper English! Needless to say they are a rough crowd but thankfully they decided to go easy on me on my first day. Let's hope it stays that way!

The staff is friendly enough but it was pretty obvious that they were not prepared for us. At this point the only person I have met is my CT, the lead teacher and the computer guy. Pretty sad! At least they showed me where the bathroom and the lunchroom were!?!(no sarcasm intended) I'm trying to stay positive about it and will take next week to venture out and find out more about what kinds of things are going on in the school.

Wish me luck, I think i'm going to need it!

Springfield Middle School

Hey gang,

I had a fantastic day at Springfield middle school in Oakbank yesterday. My CT teaches Grade 7 Science and Math. I was a bit bummed at first because I was initially told I would be teaching grade 8 and because my CT teaches 3:1 math:science (I'm BIO/CHEM). As it works out, she's fantastic, and has really opened up her classroom to me. Besides, I'll have the chance to grow a bit in terms of teachables by venturing into the math curriculum. The most nerve-wracking part of the day was introducing myself to the students (since I hadn't really rehearsed that at all).

It was really interesting to realize that students at this grade level have home rooms, but rotate through various classrooms to get their exposure to the various subjects. Like Mitch, it was strange having students call me Mr. Puff, and the kids got a kick out of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. I got a bit of a boost from the collective energy of the teaching staff, the personalities of the individual students, and the realization that my teachable (science) makes up exactly 25% of my CT's courseload.

My day was subsequently improved when I was told I could pop in and teach lessons in other teacher's classrooms when I felt compelled to do so. Things got even better when the principal met my suggestion about coaching with great enthusiasm.

All things considered, I think I'm really going to enjoy the kids at this age. They seem inquisitive, energetic, and entertaining. See everyone on Friday in T&T!! Exam time!

The first day

Yippee! I am only doing my major teachable this fall! had a great day yesterday, took out kids to work with (flutes, obviously), and chose my piece that I will conduct in the concert on November 24th. Lots of prep to do on that. Jazz band begins next week for me, should be nerve wracking, but a TON of fun. I'm being thrown to the wolves, but that's what I asked for.

Keep on Keepin on.

Joanne

Day One

Hey Everyone

Not too much to report today. Westgate wasn't as prepared for me as I was told. They didn't have a schedule for me nor did they have a science teacher ready for me today so I was introduced to one that I might be working with. It looks like out of 6 periods, I'll have 3 in which I'll be in class and have 3 to myself to prep, observe another class, nap, etc. One of my assistant coaches teaches social studies so I might observe and teach in that class as well just for fun (without having to deal with yatta work muahahaha). My CT's are 2 people who I know from last year from my coaching. One coaches the varisty boys team and the other coaches the varisty girls team.

One of my CT's told me to take off my tie today cuz I was making everyone else in the school look bad. She always jokes about me wearing a tie in the school from last year coaching. Most teacher dress pretty casually and I actually saw one of them in shorts and sandals (also sporting a nice handle bar stash for movember). Many teachers came up to me asking if I was coaching basketball again this year and are excited to see how we can compete this year as we've moved up to AAAA this year.

Here's my funny story for the day: every since we did our tableau in P & P, I've been more aware of that type of situation. So this morning some girls asked me if I had a girl friend so I said yes (even though I don't) and they asked me what her name was so I said that her name was Victoria (sounds kinda sexy no?). So the girls giggled and I went on my way. Later on that day another group of girls caught me in the hallway and asked me if I had a girlfriend. Once again I had said yes and they asked me what her name was. At the time I couldn't remember what I had said in the morning so I had said that her name was Susan. One of the girls then yelled out: "this morning you said that her name was Victoria!". She had called my bluff. I then tried to explain that it was a nickname that I had for her and they asked how I got Susan from Victoria. At that point, I saw one of my players that I coached last year up the hallway so I yelled at him and ran over to him. It was kind of funny afterwards b/c they probably weren't hitting on me but I just wanted to try and keep my distance by saying that I had a girlfriend. I'll have to come up with a good story incase they ask me again next week.

It looks like I'll be starting my bball team sometime next week as they should be done playoffs this week or the latest on Monday. Many players did double takes when they saw me in the hallways today. Like myself, they were happy to see a familiar face.

For the most part, today was kind of boring. I didn't really like being called "Mr Catacutan". I think that I would be rather called Coach Catacutan but I'll try it out. Mr Catacutan just sounds like my dad just entered the room. See y'all on Wednesday.

Peace

Day one!

So I also got both of my teachables. I am teaching Phys Ed every day from next week until christmas at St. James, coaching a soccer team in the spring, and I am observing Social Studies with the option to teach if I choose. Sadly the unit plan actually helped me for social studies as our next unit is Diversity and Pluralism! sweeeet.... and the soccer team I am coaching plays only 5 games a season... and has never won before. haha wish me luck! By time I am done with them they will have won 5/5 of their games and be going to provincials. no big deal. My school is pretty tiny as it has a population of about 500 but the school looks massive because it is attached to a middle school.... I think my graduating class was near 500 at river east!
Hope everyone had fun today!

Day One

Hey folks,

Hope everyone had a good start to the practicum. I got both my teachables and my CT's are pretty cool. Word.

Hey guys I thought I would get this blog started but David beat me to it. As I expect you all are, I'm getting nervous about my first day at school. I'm at least ten years older than any students there so I don't think that I will be mistaken for one of them. But it will be my first day at a new career and the students impressions of me will most likely have a larger effect on my future than I would like to think. Just so you all know I'm at TCI (transcona collegiate institute) with Joanne. I think we should all post where we are going so that we have a point of reference on all of the complaining we are likely to do on this blog. I miss you guys already, what a great last edu psy class today. I'm sad that we are not going to be together for a few months but I'm looking forwards to all of the great experiences you will bring to our next set of classes together. so go out there and get some. You will all be great teachers because you all care. just remember making mistakes is part of learning. so please make lots of small ones and learn from them. Just avoid the really big ones that will prevent you from coming back to us next semester.

Thanks for all of your time and effort in class this semester, you are the best class I have had in 9 years of university

you guys are the awesome and good luck at your schools!

K.