Practicum 3100

I had the privilege to attend my first practicum at McGowan Park Elementary School. I was placed in a Grade 5/6 split with my amazing teacher mentor, Denise Underwood. The practicum included 7 days in the classroom across 7 weeks, with 4 teaching days. We were required to teach 4 mini lessons on any subject that the teacher mentor wanted, which in this case was English Language Arts. I built 4 mini lessons all on adjectives, each one becoming more in depth than the next to challenge the students learning. The way that Mrs. Underwood runs her classroom is very admirable and effective. She is always trying to ensure that each students’ needs are being met by adjusting many of her lessons for certain students to make it more beneficial for their learning.

One thing that really stood out to me is how active she keeps her classroom. The students rarely are sitting at their desks for a long period of time. Mrs. Underwood’s classroom is adjusted to be more active because she assessed her students and chose a teaching style that would best work with them. I also really appreciate the emphasis she puts on group work because the students are engaged and really enjoy working with each other. She always starts her lessons with a purposeful hook or activity to make it more interesting and intriguing for her students. I am very thankful for this experience in Denise’s classroom because it taught me many important concepts and methods that I want to carry forward into my future classroom.