Bryson Quilliams

University of Lethbridge
Professional Semester ⅔
April 21st, 2023
Final Descriptive Report

As a student-teacher during my practicum, I had the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects and grades. This piece
reflects on my experience and how it has helped me develop as a teacher.

Instruction
Throughout my practicum, I had the opportunity to teach a range of subjects. Working closely with my Teacher Mentor,
I was able to refine and develop clear and engaging lessons that were appropriate for the age and skill level of my
students. Adapting my instruction to meet the needs of students of different ages and skill levels required creativity and
flexibility. I also had to be mindful of the resources available to me and find ways to create engaging and meaningful
lessons with the materials on hand. The experience of teaching art to students of all ages also helped me learn about the
instructional and behavioural needs of each grade level.

Classroom Organization/Management of Student Behaviour

Working closely with my Teacher Mentor and Administration staff, I was able to greatly improve my classroom
management skills. I learned the importance of having well-established routines and expectations for my students as
well as how to manage student behaviour and address any issues that arose professionally and effectively.
One of the challenges I faced was managing my Grades 1-5 art classes that I was only able to see for a small amount of
time once a week. Being mindful of the different needs and abilities of my students and finding ways to keep everyone
engaged and on task was crucial. With limited amounts of time to develop rapport and understanding of my students I
found it difficult to have a well-managed classroom early on in my practicum. However, with input from my Teacher
Mentor, I was able to overcome these difficulties and I learned how to be flexible and adapt my approach as needed
based on the behaviour and progress of my students.

Planning and Preparation

Effective planning and preparation are essential for successful teaching, and my practicum provided me with ample
opportunities to develop my skills in this area. I came into my practicum with the goal of creating better transitions and
closures for my lessons and I know that this area immensely improved throughout my time there. I learned how to plan
for transition times and closures to make them smooth and effective for me and my students. I believe that my planning
and preparation have grown into one of my greatest assets when it comes to my teaching.

Techniques of Instruction
Instruction requires a range of techniques to be effective, such as engaging activities. One of my favourite activities I
played with my students was called ‘Trashketball’, a review game where students work together to answer questions
and get a chance for extra points by shooting on a toy basketball net. My students loved these lessons and I
implemented them regularly. By varying instruction and implementing activities like trashketball, the students were
interested, engaged, and even scored higher on their spelling tests.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Knowledge Applications
Throughout my practicum, I had the opportunity to teach two units of Grade Four Social Studies: Indigenous People of
the Past, and The Impact of European Settlement in Canada. In the first unit, students created a presentation that
explored how geography impacted the lifestyle of Indigenous groups of Alberta pre-colonization. In the second unit,
students learned about how European Settlement impacted Indigenous People’s way of life by participating in multiple
activities that allowed them to gain perspective of the Indigenous people of this time and today. Incorporating
Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into these into my instruction and making connections to the curriculum was a
powerful way to engage my students and promote cross-cultural understanding.

Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning

Assessment and evaluation are crucial components of teaching and learning, as they help teachers to understand their
students' strengths, challenges, and progress. During my practicum, I used a variety of assessment tools, such as
rubrics, checklists, and observation notes to collect evidence of student learning. I also learned how to use consistent
closures in my lessons that allowed me to gather evidence of my student's understanding of the unit's key concepts and
skills, which I used to guide my teaching and to provide feedback to my students.

Personal and Professional Attributes

Being a teacher requires a variety of personal and professional attributes that help educators to build positive
relationships with students, families, and colleagues, as well as continue learning and growing throughout their careers.
During my practicum, I learned the importance of building positive relationships with my students by taking the time to
get to know them as individuals and to understand their interests, strengths, and challenges. I also learned how to
communicate effectively with colleagues, by actively listening to their perspectives and concerns. Finally, I learned the
importance of lifelong learning and professional development by seeking out opportunities to learn from my
colleagues, attend professional development workshops and conferences (SWATCA), and engage in reflective practice
daily. I believe that my greatest strength in all of my teaching practice is my self-awareness and my ability to reflect
and improve my teaching practice based on my own observations as well as the feedback I receive from colleagues and
my students. These personal and professional attributes are essential for effective teaching, and I look forward to
continuing to develop them as I embark on my teaching career.