Journal!

Looking back on my Coop experience, I feel that it was a great success. I met a lot of kind and intelligent people, and have created thousands of wonderful memories. The kind people, and the adorable students, are the things that I am going to miss the most. However, going through this experience, I know now more then ever, that this is exactly the career path I want to follow. Going through this experience has helped prepare me for the future, and has taken away any doubts that I had about being a teacher. I am really grateful for this opportunity, and it was something I will always remember.

On my last day at St. Andrew's, I was more upset then I thought I was going to be. Karolina and I decided to buy a little treat for the kids, and they enjoyed it so much, and I was really pleased. When we were done, I went to Mrs. McLean's class, and Mrs. T gave me a gift from all the kids I worked with throughout the term. Also Mrs. Smith, Mrs. McLean and Mrs. Slomka gave me a really kind gift, that was truly unexpected. The kids made me a beautiful card, and when I went to go say goodbye they all gave me a big hug. When I was finally done I went to thank all the teacher's I worked with, and they wished me good luck and told me that they believe I will make a great teacher. This made me feel proud and confident knowing that these teachers, who have worked in the education field for so long believe in me.

Thursday!

Karolina and I got to St. Andrew's on Thursday a little late, because we wanted to make sure we arrived just when lunch recess was over. This is because we decided to buy Freezes for the classes that we worked with this year during coop. We went to all of the classes that Karolina worked in, and then we went to Mrs. Smith's room. It was a little sad saying goodbye and thank you to all the teachers and kids. The Kid's made me goodbye cards, and they all said thank you for helping them. When we were finished giving out the treats, I went to Mrs. McLean's room and there was nothing left for me to do. So I went with Karolina to Mrs. Greer had a bunch of photocopying and a set of word wall words to do. So I decided I would help Karolina. When we were finished we said goodbye and thank you to Mrs. Slomka and all the other teachers. It was a great experience and I am really going to miss all the kids I had a pleasure working with.

Wednesday!

When I got to St. Andrew's on Wednesday, Mrs. McLean asked me to trace out twenty two ties from her wallpaper book, for the Father's Day gifts, from the children. Karolina and I did them together, and it didn't take that long. When that was finished we had to cut and paste the kids letters on the back of the tie, and then we had to but string on each tie. When we were finished, Mrs. McLean told me that she really wanted to get all the kids to do the Father's Day gifts, so I wouldn't be reading with any today. Then she asked if Karolina and I can photocopy a bunch of things, and laminate.

Tuesday!

When I got to my placement on Tuesday, Mrs. McLean asked me to read Ticki Ticki Tembo with two of her students, and then she wanted me to go through the beginning, the middle and the end. When we were finished the students had to draw the pictures that went with the storyline. When I was finished Mrs. McLean had some word wall words for me to cut out, paste and then laminate. When I was finished the word wall words, Mrs. McLean asked me to photocopy a couple of handouts that the kids were going to use for their Father's Day gifts.

Monday

I didn't go to my placement today because I had a graduation meeting during fifth period.

Journal!

Since I have started co-op I have noticed that I have been learning a lot about the field that I am hoping to be going into. I realize that being a teacher is very time consuming, and there is a lot of pressure placed on the teaching staff. I learned that each child is so different from the other, and even though one child may understand something, another child may be confused. I learned that using different strategies and techniques can help while teaching the children. Patience, I have learned is the key and the most important skill that is needed to be a teacher. Other skills like listening skills, and problem solving skills, people skills and many others are also important for teaching. Learning all of these things before hand will help in the long run, and prepare me for what might come in the future.

Hearing nice comment from other teachers is always kind. The other day, Mrs. McLean told me that she was talking to Mrs. Slomka, and they were saying how much I have improved since I have started co-op. They think that I have learned some basic skills that are needed in the teaching field. A couple of the teachers said that they could see me in this field, and that if I need to work in a classroom in university I should contact them. Hearing these amazing comments from the people who have been in the teaching field for 10 to 25 years is great. I am now a hundred percent sure that this is something I would love to do in the future, and it is nice to know that others believe in me too. :)

Friday!

I arrived at Co-op on Friday and Mrs. Smith had a bunch of things for me to do. She asked me to title a large amount of books for her next year class. Then she asked me to photocopy a couple of books for her. When that was done, she asked me to organize word groups into plastic bags and label them. When that was done she asked me to laminate some poster for her, and then post them. When I was finally finished she told me that she was not going to be there on Monday, and because of the graduation meeting, I told her that I might not make it either. She then told me she would leave somethings just in case.

Thursday!

When I got to St. Andrew's on Thursday Mrs. McLean asked me to take the first group of kids that I had on Tuesday, and instead of drawing what happened in the book, they had to write what happened. This didn't take very long. When they were finished she asked me to take about 8 students and play a CD that recorded different sounds. The kids had to identify the sounds and circle the appropriate answers. When I was finished Mrs. McLean gave me somethings to photocopy, and game centers to organize.

Wednesday!

I didn't go to co-op on Wednesday due to the graduation lunch!

Tuesday!

When I got to St. Andrew's on Tuesday Mrs. McLean already figured out what I was going to be doing for the day. First she asked me to take a group of kids into the all star classroom to read a book. They had to read the book by themselves and when they were finished we talked about what happened in the beginning, middle and the end. After we talked about it, the kids had to draw what happened. This took a long time, and when we were finished Mrs. McLean was really happy about the completed work. After that Mrs. McLean asked me to photocopy some things for her. After last recess, she gave me another group of kids, and we read a book called Birthday Dinner. The group that I had, read the book really fast, but they kept going off task when drawing the pictures. When we were finally finished it was time for the kids to go home.

Monday

When I got to St. Andrew's on Monday Mrs. Smith asked me to go out into the hallway, and read with Melissa. When we were finished reading, Mrs. Smith gave me a book called Making Words. Inside the book was little word groups for each month of the year. She asked me to find the words (and if I couldn't find the words make them) and group them according to the word groups. This book was fairly large so it took me a while to finish all the words. After last recess she asked me to put the word groups in a plastic bag and label them.

Journal!

No matter what classroom I am in and what teacher I am working with, the staff at St. Andrew’s always makes me feel like I am welcomed, and part of the team. I am asked my opinion most of the time when teachers need help with certain activities for the students or books to read. This helps me feel like I am involved with the class, and helping the teachers at the same time. Overall the teacher’s can always use some help, and they are always looking for new ideas and opinions. Each day I am asked questions like, would this look better bigger? Or what if we did it like this? Or how should we do this? I feel really proud that I can help the teacher’s I work with by contributing my own ideas, and opinions. The teachers always love the extra input and help they are receive.

I always feel confident whenever I put in any idea or whenever I state any opinions. The teachers always compliment my ideas, and this makes me feel like I am really contributing. When asked my Mrs. Smith to laminate pictures for her media studies project, I asked her if I should laminate them on construction paper so they come out more. She agreed and she was really impressed on how they turned out. She asked me to do some more the next time I was with her. Overall, inputting ideas and opinions are important when you are a teacher. A creative mind and original imagination helps make the simplest thing into the most amazing. For children, creative and originality is vital, in helping them enjoy what is being done at school.

Friday!

When I got to St. Andrew's on Friday I took a couple more pictures with Karolina. When I was finished I went to Mrs. Smith's room. Mrs. Smith asked me to photocopy some words for her, then laminate it. When I was finished I organized her books in order of level. Then she told me to write the subjects in each of the new notebooks for next year. When I was done it was the end of last recess. After recess, she told me that she had a meeting. So I went to Mrs. Slomka's room and she asked me to read the same book with three of her kids. When I was done, I cleaned up and went home.

Thursday!

When I arrived at St. Andrew's on Thursday I went to Mrs. McLean's room. She asked me to read with a couple of students in her class, then she asked me to photocopy a bunch of things for her. When I was done, Karolina and I went to the classrooms we have worked with throughout the semester, and took the pictures we needed. After last recess, Mrs. McLean asked me to correct the journals of the students in the class, and to give each of them a cheek mark, and a sticker.