Wednesday!

When I got to school yesterday, Mrs. McLean asked Karolina and I to clean out her closet, once again. Then she told me to continue reading with Firoella and Elisa. They were really energetic yesterday and I found it really frustrating to read with both girls. However I read the part of the book we already read, and they read the next part. Overall they did a good job. When we were done reading I asked them to choose three words from the book, that were their favourite. They wrote them done on a posted note. After we went through the events in the story, just for a short re-cap. Also to see if they understood what happened in the story. After that Mrs. McLean asked Karolina and me to cut and photocopy some more words for her. After we finished that, it was last recess. After recess, she asked me to make some activity centers for the kids, clean the construction paper in her closet, and help the kids get ready to go home.

Tuesday!

When I got to St. Andrew's on Tuesday, I took some more pictures for the end of the year project. When I was done, the bell rang, and I walked to Mrs. McLean's classroom. She told me that she wanted me to read with some of the kids today. Fiorella and Elisa were the first two students I had to read with. Mrs. McLean asked me to take them into the JK room and to show them the book. I had to ask them questions about what they thought the book was going to be about. Then I had to ask them to look through the book, and tell me what they saw, and what they found interesting. After that we read half the book together. Throughout the book I asked them a couple of questions to help them get a better understanding. When we were done reading, I made a T-chart to help identify the problems in the story and the solutions. When they we were finished I took them up to the computer lab, and I put all the stuff away.

After recess, I read with Antonio another similar book. I asked him various questions and we used strategies to help him read the difficult words. He really liked the book, and he was really proud that he read a level F book. I brought him back to class, and Mrs. McLean asked me to cut out some charts for her class. I didn't finish all of them but she told me I could finish them tomorrow.

Monday

When I arrived at St. Andrew's on Monday, I took some pictures for the finial culminating project. When the bell rang ending lunch recess, I went to Mrs. Smith's room. She told me that her class was starting to do grade three testing, and so I wasn't going to be working with the students. She asked me to cut out a bunch of small posters, and laminate them for her. They took me a while because there was a lot of them. When I was done she asked me to to cut them out, and post them up throughout her classroom. During recess Karolina and I took some more pictures. After recess Mrs. Smith asked me to photocopy some assignments for her class. They also took a while. When I was finished I ran into Mrs. Slomka who asked if I could photocopy a booklet for her. When I was done, Karolina and I took some more pictures and then went home.

Journal!

A lot has happened that has made me feel like I would want to do this job as a career. Some of the things that have confirmed my decision is the satisfaction I feel when I am helping a child, or when the child is improving. Also when a student gets a better understanding of what is being taught to them, and seeing the excitement on their faces. Overall everyday when I am at my placement I feel like I am really impacting the students I am with. This makes me feel like I am accomplishing something that is really great.

Additional education that I need to do to follow this career is to first go into university and then do a year or two of teachers collage. Being in grade twelve I have already applied to several universities, and have been accepted to all. I applied at each university for a sociology course. After doing the four year program, I will then apply to surrounding teachers collage. At that point I will have to be certain on what grades I would like to teach. Overall it is a long and costly process, but since I have been at coop I know that it would be worth it.

People at my placement also tell me how hard being a teacher is. They tell me that they biggest skill you need is patience. But they also tell me that they love their job, because they are truly making a difference. They have told me several times that teaching is not for everyone, but if you really love helping others, have great people’s skills, and work well with children, then teaching is for you!

Thursday!

Today, I arrived at St. Andrew's early, and Mrs. McLean asked me to finish sorting out all the books on her book shelve. When I was done, she told me to sort out a huge pile of words into rhyming categories. It took me the whole time to finish them all. However in between the sorting, Mrs. McLean asked me to read with Fiorella again. So we read a level H book. She read it really well, and so Mrs. McLean asked me to take her out again after recess, for a higher level H book. During recess, I had to cut out and photo copy some things for Mrs. Greer with Karolina. When I got back I read with Fiorella again. I found that this book was more challenging for her, and that overall, she should be reading level H. I was so proud. Fiorella was one of my all star reading kids, and the progress she has made is tremendous. When I first read with her she was at a level B, now she has improved to a level H.

Wednesday!

On Wednesday, I got to St. Andrew's late and as soon as I arrived I got the higher level books for the three students who I read with the previous day. I read with all three of them, and they did really well. All of them could more up another level. Mrs. McLean and I were beginning to notice that they are all improving in their reading. I also noticed that all three students were all star readings, so I cheeked their folders to see what levels they were in. I noticed that all three of them were in level G or higher. So we starting reading from level G. After reading with the students over again, I found that Antonio, and Elisa can read independently at a level G. Fiorella had to read with someone else, so Mrs. McLean asked me to read with her tomorrow.

After that Karolina and I helped sort out the books in Mrs. McLean's classroom, and we laminated some words for her.

Tuesday!

When I arrived at St. Andrew's school on Tuesday I really had know idea on what I was going to be doing. Mrs. Slomka told me that in Mrs. McLean's class, there was three students that needed to find out what level they can read when they read independently. To do this, I had to grab a level book (with all three students we started at level E) and then they would read it to me. While they are reading, I had the story written out on another sheet of paper. Ever word they got wrong I would circle, if they corrected themselves, then I would write self corrected on top. In the end, if they got more then twelve words wrong then the book is to challenging for them. If they get less then six wrong then the book is too easy for them. I read with the three students on Tuesday, and they all read really well. So they moved up a level, and Mrs. McLean asked me to read with them again tomorrow.

Journal!

My parents think coop is a great opportunity to figure out if I am one hundred percent committed to becoming a teacher. The think that being in a teaching workplace, will help deceiver whether this is something I can see myself doing, later done the road. I have always been determined to be a teacher, however this is the icing on the cake. After doing this I know for sure that there is nothing else I would rather do. My parents also like the idea, that I can get a grasp on what teaching is all about. Learning the different techniques, and the different strategies are useful to know before going into the filed. It allows for a small head start.

The highlight and the low light of this week has to do with the ending of all star reading. The highlight is the great feeling I have when I see how much each child has improved since I have been at St. Andrew’s. Each and everyone of my students have improved one way or another, and I am so proud of all of them. They have learned different strategies, and techniques. Also because of the activities and games, they have improved in their rhyming, vowel sounds, and other language techniques to help them read and write.The low light of it , is the fact that it all star reading had to end. I am really going to miss reading to all the kids, and listening to their stories, also playing all of the games or activities. It was a great opportunity to read with all of these wonderful children, and I am so proud of each of their improvements, and accomplishments.

Thursday!

When I arrived at St. Andrew's on Thursday I finally finished all the booklets, but Mrs. Slomka asked if I could sort them out. When I was done that I grabbed all the things I would need for my last all star reading. Thursdays I read to Lauren, Pero, Haley, and Noah. Lauren and I read a book called Fraidy Cats, it was one of the most difficult books in her level, because it was really long. Lauren had three or four hard words to overcome, however she did a great job reading it. I was so proud to see her improve so much. When I first read with Lauren she wouldn't sound out the words, or use any of the strategies, but reading this book with her I found she used at least three of the reading strategies. When reading with Pero, he read the book Take Time To Relax perfectly. He made not one mistake, and this book was also a long book. Reading with Pero, I noticed how excited reading makes him. He loves reading all kinds of books, and he has improved in his reading so much. Unfortunately when it got time to get Haley, she wasn't there, so I couldn't read with her. Instead Mrs. Greer asked if I could photocopy some things for her, then laminate.

After last recess, I read with Noah. Noah has improved, but not greatly, which is disappointing. I find that Noah gets to overwhelmed when he reads long books, whereas when he reads shorter books, he can reads them perfectly. Overall I was really impressed by all of them, and I was so proud of their accomplishments.

This is the book I read with Lauren:

Wednesday!!

On Wednesday, I got to St. Andrew's and I grabbed all the things I would need for all star reading. Today was my last day to read with Filip, who was my most difficult student. When we got back to the classroom to read, Filip was really excited. I told him to go get a book off the book shelve, and he grabbed two. One he wanted to read, and another we were going to read together. He read the one book by himself, and he read it perfectly. Then we read a book that I brought him, and he read that one perfectly. When we were done that, we read the other book he got off the book shelve. It was the night before Christmas, and we read it together. Filip did a great job, he read practically three whole books. I was so proud of him.

Tuesday!

On Tuesday, Mrs. Slomka asked me if I could re-copy the names of the students on their assignments in black marker. When I was finished, I got all the things I would need for all star reading. Today would be my last day reading with one of my students, and so I grabbed a really fun game for us to play. I went and I got Lauren, and when I was finished with her, she told me that her class was practising a song for their mass, and she had to go to the forum. Unfortunately the all the grade ones were in the forum practising, and so I was able to get the remaining three students. When they were finished I read with Pero, but didn't get time to read with the Firolla, and she was upset. After recess, I tried to get her and Noah in, but Noah was having trouble with his reading, so I was unable to read with Firolla. When I was done, I put everything away, and signed out.

Monday

When I got to St. Andrew's school on Monday, I went to Mrs. Slomka's room and I tried to finish the booklets. Mrs. Slomka and I talked about what was going to be happening next week, since all star is over, and she told me that I will be working with a few of the all star students, but in their classroom, twenty five minutes each. After that I went to Mrs. Smith's room, and I waited for her to come back from her lunch break. Unfortunately, she wasn't there, she was sick and she had a supply teacher take over her class. With the supply teacher there, instead of Mrs. Smith, she did not know I was coming, and I had nothing to do. However, Melissa asked me to read with her, and I told the supply teacher and she said that was fine. After reading with Melissa, the class was doing their math review sheet, and I sat beside one of the students to help her. I also answered any questions, any of the other students had for me. This lasted until last recess, and after recess, the supply had nothing for me to do. I went to find Karolina and she told me that she needed help with the JKs and the art work they were going to do. So I helped Karolina and the students in Mrs. Skillton's class. They were so cute, and really good at painting.

Journal!

Since starting coop, I feel different about teaching. Teaching is something I really want to get into, and since starting coop, I realized that it takes a lot of time and effort to teach. Each child is so different then the other, and some children understand things more quickly then others, however the ones that have difficulties are the most challenging. As a teacher you want a student to grow and to learn, however if that student doesn’t understand, or is having problems, it takes that extra time and effort to help them out; which isn’t always easy. Also since starting coop, I have been a lot more comfortable working with children one on one. Since the beginning of the all star program, I have learned to use techniques and strategies that best suit one each student.

What I remember most about this week was the certain medical incidents that have occurred. Starting with last Friday and the peanut reaction that Thomas had, in Mrs. Smith’s class, was really scary. Thomas is deathly allergic to peanuts, and he was fortune to only be itchy and not break out with a bad rash, or any other worse symptom. However this Friday, since it was so hot out, five kids in Mrs. Smith’s class had headaches are were feeling sick. It is really hard to take care of one student but taking care of five who are sick is worse. As a assistant to the teacher, you feel helpless, and really can’t do much. After last recess, a boy in Mrs. Smith’s class also had a sudden noes bleed, and Mrs. Smith asked me to cover the class so she could walk him down to the office. The class was in shock, they are so young, so the sight of blood can be scary. They were asking me so many questions, and I answered them as best as possible, but I was pretty shocked by the whole thing myself. Overall the boy was okay, and he was back into class about ten minutes later. As a teacher there is so much more to just teaching. These incidents are things that I need to prepare myself for, if I want to be a teacher.

Friday!

On Friday, I got to St. Andrew's and Karolina and I tried to finish up the booklets, again we didn't get to finish, however we are almost done them.
When the bell rang, I went to Mrs. Smith's room, and she asked me to read with Melissa in the hallway. After about fifteen minutes of reading, the class was reviewing their math, and Mrs. Smith asked if I could staple the review sheets for them. When I was finished, Mrs. Smith asked me to organize the Scholastic book orders, and date them, with the return date. By the time I was finished all that it was last recess. Some kids stayed inside because of the heat, some the kids weren't feeling that well. Mrs. Smith needed to get somethings done, and she asked if I could watch them.

After recess, Mrs. Smith needed a whole bunch of photocopying done. When I was finished the class was practising there music, and it was really cute watching them sing.

Thursday!

On Thursday, I got to St. Andrew's and Mrs. Slomka asked me to reorganize the booklets for her, because she wanted to send some home with some of her students for the summer break. When the bell rang, I got ready quickly for all star, and proceeded to the other room. Thursday's I read with Lauren, Pero, Haley and Noah. Haley is a new student, and I have only read with her once. When I read with Haley on Thursday, I realized that she is a really good readier, however she makes silly mistakes, for example she mistakes "d" and "b."

After last recess, I went to go get Noah. Mrs. Greer asked me if he could not go to all star because he needed to finish his mother's day card. I understood, and so I helped Karoline make activity folders for Mrs. Greer's class. We coloured and cut them out, and then we had to laminate them. When we were done Mrs. Greer thanked us, and we signed out to go home.

Wednesday!

On Wednesday I got to St. Andrews and Karolina and I tried to finish all the booklets. Unfortunately we couldn't get them all done. However we accomplished a lot. When the bell rang, ending lunch recess, I was prepared and ready for my first student Filip. Filip has been my mos difficult student and because I was only going to have him two more times, I wanted to make sure I could that at least he knew the strategy words. We went through them all and he had some difficulties, however I was really pleased.

Lauren and Pero who are my most improved students, read really well, and I think they may even be ready to move up a level. I realized that I had a impact on these students, and in a small way I taught them how to read better, and overall they enjoyed it.

Tuesday!

On Tuesday I arrived at St. Andrew's a little late. Mrs Slomka and I talked about the all star reading, and who was improving and who was not making any progress. After I grabbed all the things I would need for the day. Since last week there was no all star reading, I had to refresh my memory of the books each student read, and the games.

I read with all four students, and we played a fun activity which helps the children learn knew strategies for uncovering difficult words. When I was down I put all my things back, and put all the chairs up.

Monday

On Monday I arrived at St. Andrews and went to Mrs. Slomka's room. She told me to continue working on the booklets, and then to put them in order. After she told me that there is only going to be two more weeks of all star reading. She asked me what I would like to do when it ends. I told her wherever she needed me, I could go. She told me that she would like me to work with some students who need extra help, in their classrooms, one on one. I told her that it sounded great, and I was fine with that decision. She said that next week she will give me an update.

After lunch recess, I went to Mrs. Smith's room. She wanted me to read out in the hall with one of her students. After that I helped the students with there math work, and answering any questions they had. After last recess, Mrs. Smith asked me to go get the bibles form the grade eight classroom. When I brought down a class set, Mrs. Smith told me that the class was going to look up bible passages. The class had difficulties doing it, but Mrs. Smith and myself helped as much as we could.

Journal!

Overall, this week was one of my best weeks at my coop because I was in a different environment. Most of the week I am usually doing the all star reading program, however this week was different. Two days I was with Mrs. Smith and her class, two days I was with Mrs. Greer and her class, and on Thursday I was watching the musical. It was really interesting doing something new. Mrs. Greer is a really kind and friendly teacher. She always explains what needs to be done, and she always asks me if I am comfortable doing it. This makes me feel like I can be honest and confronting with her, if I don't feel comfortable about how to do something. Watching the musical, however was the highlight of the week. Each week I saw all the kids at St. Andrew's preparing for the musical, by practising and rehearsing, and doing all they can to make it great. Overall it was great, it was a big success!

I usually try my best to get every task done on time, but if I don't get it done in time, I tell the teacher that I couldn't finish it and I will continue it the next time I am worker with her. The teachers at St. Andrew's are really understandable and are never mad or upset, if the task is not completely done. Most of the time, if they see that you have tried and worked the best that you can to finish it, they are satisfied. The only task that I couldn't finish on time was during my first week of coop. Mrs. Smith asked me to cut a bunch of pictures of the stations of the cross, and she asked me to sort them out and place them into plastic bags. I finished most of them, however I didn't finish all of them. The bell rang ending the school day, and I had to go because I had to baby sit after school. So I told Mrs. Smith that I didn't finish them all, and she thanked me for what I did accomplish.

Friday!

Today when I got to St. Andrew's Mrs. Slomka asked me to cut out some paper shaped flower pots for her SK's. When the bell rang ending lunch recess, I went to Mrs. Smith's room. She asked me to read with Melissa, and we read a book called boy soup. It was really cute, and Melissa loved it.

After reading, I helped Melissa with her math work, and then Mrs. Smith asked me to do an activity for her. She wanted me to paste a bunch of pictures on construction paper, giving the pictures a small border.After she wanted me to laminate the pictures.

In Mrs. Smith's class there is one boy who is allergic to peanuts, and today was my first experience with someone having an allergic reaction to peanuts. When I first arrived Thomas, a boy in Mrs. Smith's class was really itchy, and he wouldn't stop scratching. Mrs. Smith asked the class if anyone had peanuts, and everyone said no. However Thomas was not feeling well. Mrs. Smith had to call down to the office, and Thomas was just getting worse. He then called home, and his mom picked him up. It is really sad to see a child react to something like peanuts, however it is really scary to see Thomas' reaction. Fortunately he was okay, however I to be a teacher, and peanut allergies are something I have to deal with.

Thursday!

On Thursday, when Karolina and I got to St. Andrew's we went to Mrs. Slomka's room to try and finish the booklets. When the announcements called for all the students who were watching the musical to go to the gym, we headed in that direction. We ran into Mrs. Greer and she told us to sit in the front with her, but Karolina and I felt bad, because we were so tall, and we didn't want to block the little kids. So we decided to sit in the vary back. The play was amazing! The kids were so energetic, and talented! Overall it was a very cute performance, and it was great to see all our hard work put into play.

Wednesday!

On Wednesday I arrived at St. Andrew's and I met up with Karolina, and we helped Mrs. Slomka with the booklets. After the bell rang, I went to Mrs. Greer's class and she told me I had to make these activity folders. I had to colour in thirty space ships, then cut them all out, then glue them onto the folder, then laminate the whole thing. It took a really long time, although Karolina came and helped me half way through, so we got two done.

After that Karolina and I ran into Mrs. Slomka, she told us that on Thursday, there was going to be a dress rehearsal for the play and Mrs. Greer's class and Mrs. Slomka's class was going to be going to the gym to watch it. She invited Karolina and I to watch it with them. Since we helped so much with the decorations, and the preparations, she wanted us to see it all in action.

Tuesday!

Today was a really fun day. I arrived at St. Andrew's early because I was unsure on the classroom I was going to be in. Mrs. Slomka told me that I was going to be in Mrs. Greer's room this week, and I was really pleased. Mrs. Greer always has stuff for me to do, and she is really kind, and caring. When the bell rang ending lunch recess, I went to Mrs. Greer's room. There was a supply teacher in her classroom, because the social science teacher was away. She asked me to play Simon says with the students until she was ready. The kids were having so much fun. They really enjoyed the game.

When Mrs. Greer came she asked me to do a bunch of things. She asked me to cut out three circles, two triangles, three rectangles and three squares. She wanted me to cut t one of the circles, the rectangles and squares into halves, one into quarters and one leave whole. She then asked me to help with the mother's day gifts. She wanted me to draw a picture of my mother, write why I love my mother, and colour in a poster of a poem she is going to give to the kids for mother's day. She wanted mine to be an example. Then after I was done, she asked me and Karolina to sharpen all the pencils and pencil crayons in the classroom, with the electric sharpener.