It is pretty common listening to your classmates about their preferences when teaching: some of them prefer to teach children and some of them prefer teenagers.
Related to this issue, two main questions arise:
2-) Has your perception of teaching, learning and age-affinity changed during this short period at school?
Yes, my opinion about the grade I wanted was important because I got preschoolers! Maybe it changed, but I still love teaching kids, they have some details in their process of learninig that I prefer, how they changed from pre-k, to kinder, to transition. It's amazing how they improve in months and...well we as adults take years to improve one aspect completely. Their energy, how they are mirros that depend on us.
ResponderEliminarIt's amazing how language learning works in this ages, and how different it is of what we were taught. Maybe it changed, but I'm still in love with kids more than with teens.
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ResponderEliminarMy preference was considered. However I did not have any marked preferences before my practicum so I also was assingned pre school students.
After the experience I totally change my mind about teaching young learners. I used to believe that the possibilities for accomplishing some learning objectives with them was impossible due to my lack of experience but it was the guide and his emphasis on the importance of objectives that I could realize that I could actually accomplish great things with the children.
On one hand, the school took into account my desire of teaching to kids during my observation, but things changed when my practicum started, because I had to work with seventh grades.
ResponderEliminarThough I cannot deny it was hard to teach seventh graders, it was very fruitful for my teaching experience. I learned thousands and thousands of things with those teenagers, who I love deeply.
When my practicum got to its end, I realised that I don't want to work at a Highschool. I feel that my path has to take a different route. I do not have anything against those institutions, but I consider that my mission in life does not fit with they way they see education.
Answering to the first question, I was not able to decide the grade my students but if I had to, I would pick students in early ages because I think they can be controlled better than a teenager, not only for their rebel attitude but also because I find more connection with children. I have 3 nieces and 4 nephews and I learnt how to “deal” with them. Actually I was so lucky that the school where I’m doing my practicum chose me kindergarten, and I have been putting all my practice on those children. I think that I have been doing my practicum very well.
ResponderEliminarConcerning the first question, the answer is partially yes since the options where only in primary school (1st - 5th grade), but I did was able to choose the grade, which is the 4th. Nevertheless, I have to say that may decision was greatly influenced not by the age of the kids, but by the head teacher that I would to get. I was informed that the 4th grade teacher was from Pakistan and I had already received some good references from here. Therefore, taking that into account, but specially, feeling greatly curious about her teaching probably influenced by her background I decided to go with her.
ResponderEliminarRegarding the second question, the answer is also partially yes. More than having changed my age-affinity and my perception of teaching and learning, I have reaffirmed my beliefs. Now, I more strongly affirm that teaching kids is a very complex and privileged labor. But also, a very scary one. I cannot get out of my mind the huge responsibility that I carry by being in charge of the kids learning process, but also their well-being and their education. I believe that teaching kids is something that I would better embark on after having studied more about Psychology and Theater.
When I was going to start my practicum I did not know what school I wanted to go to, I only knew that I wanted to have my first teaching experience with preschoolers, so my preferences were taken into account when the coordinator assigned me to the school because I taught in ´transition´ grade. I have always liked being with kids so I thought that I was going to enjoy this period of time, and I actually did. It was the best decision because I learned a lot and I now think that I will keep on working in pre school.
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