My 2nd year practical took place in a primary school in Willoughby, St Thomas Catholic Primary School. 

 

Starting date:  6th October 2014 

 

End date 20th October 2014

 

Reflection after completion of the two week practicum (2014):

 

 

After conducting a two week program, incorporating music with general classroom subjects, I have had the chance to improve and develop on my teaching skills and goals. Throughout the two week professional experience, I have implemented my own lesson plans which have been very successful. I am pleased on how well I went, having no past experience of an Australian Primary School. This was an exciting and interesting experience. Being in the role of a teacher for two weeks, opened my eyes to see what it was like, and experiencing the professional environment as a primary school teacher.

 

I was placed with a general classroom teacher, who taught  many different, diverse subjects and was skilled in each subject area. Upon examination of my experience in the primary school practicum, I have learnt some valuable things that are relevant to me and my future teaching career. Building rapport with the students is one crucial part of teaching I have experienced. Learning the children's names and getting to know them is one of the points I highly value. Learning how each individual child learns and their ability in a classroom environment is crucial. I found in the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) teaching standards, a standard and focus point which emphasises this.  Standard 1, Knowing students and how they learn.  Focus point 1.1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning. This focus point stood out for me, as in the class I was placed with, I had a wide range of students and a wide range of learning capabilities. I worked closely with all students, and found that we have many different learners. During my lessons, I catered to this as I presented information to the students in many different ways.

 

Throughout the year I have been taught how children learn and how how different children's learning experiences and preferences are. In my lessons I presented students with visual stimuli which grabbed attention of those who learn through looking, and listening. I incorporated visual, aural, discovery and peer based learning in each of my lessons. This was very successful as it catered for all of the students which caught their attention. Another standard which I implemented throughout my teaching practicum was Standard 2, Know the content and how to teach it. Focus point: 2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

 

Through my lesson plans, teacher observation sheets and mentor observation sheet, you can see the wide range of technology I have used. White board, interactive white board, iPads, cameras and recording devises were used in my lessons throughout the two week block.  I carefully introduced the activity in which we would be using the technology, and students cooperated with the rules and enjoyed working with the technology to create presentations, compositions, mind maps and drawings. Throughout the two week professional experience, I have gained a valuable amount of knowledge in the classroom, and teaching strategies. I hope to further my experience in the years to come.

 

After making such an impression at the school, I was asked back to become the flute teacher for 2015. I have absolutely loved being pasrt of the professinal teaching team. 

 

 

 

2015