PSIII Reflection #4

Oct. 29/21

This reflection I focused primarily on TQS #2 Engaging in Career-Long Learning. I think TQS #2 has been a
primary focus for me throughout my practicum but has recently come to light. During the Thanksgiving
PD week, we as a staff had two opportunities to participate in Indigenous learning. We participated in a
smudging ceremony as well as a teepee raising. While participating in these events we were taught by
elders, heard traditional songs, and were taught about the land around us. Participating in these events
helps bring awareness to the students in our school who are Indigenous as well as shed light on different
ways we as a staff can include Indigenous material and teachings in the classroom.

I have also been working extensively on my PIP project, which is to plan, film, edit, and produce safety
videos for each of the primary tools in the shop. Throughout this process I have collaborated with other
teachers in the school to find the best resources/technology to use when creating these videos. I have
also been continually asking different teachers throughout the year about ways they find useful to
include differentiated instructions. One answer that has continually been brought up is the use of
exemplar projects/assignments and the use of visuals. The creation of the safety videos for my PIP
project is an attempt on my part to include differentiated instruction in the classroom as well as improve
my classroom management skills. These videos will be a resource that students can refer to whenever
they have questions about the tools before they come to see me.

As a CTS cohort we recently had a generative dialogue meeting with members of the admin staff. In that
meeting we talked about the importance of CTS in teaching life skills and job-related skills in our
different areas of expertise. One topic that kept coming up was how it can be difficult at times to teach
students how to teach themselves without seeming like a teacher who doesn’t care or doesn’t want to
answer their question. I am hoping that using these safety videos in the shop will help create that
student-initiated learning that we are seeking. Students can go to these videos as a resource to teach
themselves about tool use, similar to someone going to a YouTube tutorial video to learn something. I
hope to foster an environment where students understand that their learning is dependent on their
initiation rather than just asking the teacher what’s next?

I also had an opportunity to sit in and observe a grade 10 English class. This was a new experience for
me seeing how teachers in other subjects manage their classrooms. Covid protocols restricted my ability
to observe other classrooms/teachers during PSII. After the English class I observed I was able to talk
with the teacher about different things that caught my attention. A main point of discussion was student
participation in the classroom. This teacher had great student participation in class discussion and
answering questions. The shop environment is different, we don’t have as many opportunities to have
whole group discussion about a topic because students are each working on their own projects and the
questions I get are typically more 1 on 1 instruction rather than group instruction. Observing other more
experienced teachers than myself is a great way for me to learn how to teach and manage other
classroom settings.