Practicum Reflection

In my classroom, I demonstrate collaboration by attending the Kinder PLC meeting every Tuesday. These meetings help the grade level teachers to collaborate. For example, to come up with ideas on how to teach a specific concept, talk about any updates, student assistance team (SAT) , and data analysis. I demonstrate collaboration by working with my colleagues to come up with writing prompts and writing rubrics. By doing this we make sure the expectations in each classroom are the same.

This chapter in The Skillful Teacher on classroom climate talks about a lot of different thing that fall under three categories: Community and Mutual Support, Confidence and Risk taking, and Influence and Control. I will speak about how my mentor teacher creates one aspect from each category in her classroom. The first category community and mutual support describes “the degree of inclusion, affiliation and mutual support students feel with one another” (330). I feel that Ms. Curran does good job at creating a classroom climate that values “Group identity and responsibility and interdependence”. Students are working with partner every day during class. Ms. Curran often reminds students that they must work with their partner and to ask their partner questions before they ask her. One example is that during a class I have seen her check in on a partner group and see that one student know the answer and the other is asking about that same question. She will walk away and tell them to ask their partner. This is also very clear during activities like discovery where students are figuring thing out for themselves before it is taught to them in formal way. They only have their partner to ask question and figure things out with Ms. Curran and myself purposefully try to not be very helpful. So like the jigsaw, discovery’s “structure forces interdependence because students must rely on their peers to learn certain material” (334)

I approach collaboration as a team player, and I believe students need more than one person to guide them to their full educational potential. Also, active and prepared participation of weekly PLC meetings with the teachers of my special education students to plan collaborative curriculum have increased results in math and reading substantially. Participating in co-teaching furthers my repertoire of knowledge to assist my students. I have learned a vast amount from sharing and consulting with colleagues regarding students, observing mentoring teachers, and planning activities to ensure growth in students.

Collaboration within groups allows individuals to use their own specific ideas and own talents to succeed when they needed it the most. When succeeding in a collaborative environment an individual gains the ability of communication that is growing in the world today. The school system used to be completely individual based with little to no feel of a collaborative environment. However, schools are now beginning to understand the benefits of losing the standard approach to school and is now leading the world to a collaborative environment. While working in a collaborative environment the members of these groups usually gain insight on what they are effective at and what they are no effective at.

Participating in a third-year practicum placement has been very effective in increasing my knowledge surrounding Ontario’s context of youth services. Now, in my last few months of my time at Alternative Learning Styles and Outlooks (ALSO), I have continued to relate my in-class knowledge to a practical setting. I recently experienced the struggle of maintaining social work principals while trying to balance support of the Reading and Parents Program (RAPP) and maintain self-determination. Building from this, I learnt the importance of continual advocacy, through prosperous and difficult times. I learnt that a slight change in a slightly related subject might completely cut funding for essential programs to non-profit organizations. I also took place in a community consultation regarding the

During the course of my field experience at Laster High School, I had the opportunity to discuss in great lengths about how to successfully collaborate with fellow teachers, respond to student issues, and gather data to effectively conduct assessment and teach within the classroom environment. At Laster High School, each teacher is given a planning and lunch period that allows them the opportunity to connect with others within their workspace and seek feedback over programs and requirements taking place in the school. In order to foster this collaborating environment that history department had one planning period as whole where they had the ability to meet and as a team discuses relevant issues and challenges they were facing throughout the

At my practicum site I have always seen my supervisor and the other councilors go to treatment team meeting but I was never invited to go, so I was interesting and exciting for me to experience that. I also notice how the mental health level six facility I was at have a more in depth group therapy session, however the patients there are younger and they conduct therapy for six hours a day for their Intensive Outpatient Program, so there was more time to cover things. I also noticed how knowledgeable nurse case managers can be about insurance, so that explains why in some positions RNs can apply for some social work or case management

The chapter exhibited that it is important to build partnerships to create students’ individualized education programs due to the fact that collaboration decreases the likelihood of incorrect placement recommendations for students; additionally, collaborative partnerships increase the likelihood that the assessments completed will be nondiscriminatory and more appropriate educational plans and goals are created. Personally, the collaborative skills that I have that will benefit me in this collaborative type of teamwork include my ability to work in a team; I exhibit a high degree of cooperation with other individuals. Moreover, I display accountability for mistakes and work hard; I voluntary participation and parity in the relationship with mutual respect for others. Finally, the skill that I need to improve on, in order to work in an effective collaborated team, is my trust of others work.

DuFour (2005) defined “powerful collaboration” as a “systematic process in which teachers work together to analyze and improve their classroom practice” (p. 36). This kind of collaboration describes teachers who work together to normally established learning objectives, focusing on common research inquiries, and deciding if the education is leading to the learner's

A positive learning environment encourages student motivation, participation, and interaction because students feel comfortable to share their ideas. I personally believe that learning from peers is a great way to understand material. Moreover, this interaction also allows the instructor to discern a student's understanding of the content. To create and maintain this positive learning atmosphere, I have found it is essential to have appropriate responses to student comments and questions, and to create frequent opportunities for peer collaboration.

I decided to focus on three areas that I am passionate about for my practicum reflection; AdvancED continuous improvement, multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) and relationships. All three of these areas have an emphasis on the importance of a positive culture, building strong relationships with colleagues and students and implementing best practices that foster growth in our school. I am grateful to be able to continue learning with and from colleagues from around our state as well as within my own school system and look forward to every opportunity to have great conversations to benefit our kiddos. I will continue to be involved in each of these three areas and work to apply what I have learned daily with my colleagues and students.

The role of the nurse is becoming more difficult nowadays, especially when dealing with patient safety. Patient safety risks can lead to several adverse effects. According to Van Rosse, de Bruijne, Suurmond, Essink-Bot, and Wagner (2016) there is a connection between a language barrier and patient safety that is affecting the health and improvement of the patient. During my practicum I have experienced many different situations where the difference in language has been an issue from both parts. The following situation made me realize the importance of patient safety and how language barrier can affect or delay the positive outcome of the patient.

Rachel Lotan talks about five specific design features that can help students’ academic and social growth close the achievement gap while working in group settings. There can be so many problems while working in groups, so in order for them to work and be effective, teachers must fully understand how to create learning tasks that are “group-worthy.”

My practicum experience at Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center has been very helpful in me gaining a better understanding of what takes place when there are allegations of abuse in a home. I have had the opportunity to sit in on interviews with parents/guardians to discuss the allegations and their thoughts on what has taken place. I have had the opportunity to watch a forensic interview from a previous case. That was a chance for me to see how the interview was formatted and the questions that could be asked. This part of the case is very important because this is the discussion of what took place from the child’s perspective. Working within a field that revolves around abuse within families there are many moments where things can be very stressful and draining. I’ve learned that it is fine to be human. Emotions are a part of being human so it is important to ensure that you are healthy mentally and physically. It is important to understand the world can be harsh and cruel place but it is wise to think of the greater good and the light at the end of the tunnel. I learned effective communication and problem-solving skills quickly. Some parents were not too happy with the processes that took place with the allegations that were stated and they become confrontational in some cases. In my practicum site I have learned that many of my colleagues work differently with families. Some are blunt and more honest with the parents when discussing the case and then there are some that chose

Through my experiences observing in a school during my block one practicum combined with my knowledge of course concepts and thorough reflection, I am beginning to see how schools perpetuate and maintain oppression and injustice. My practicum took place in Edwards Elementary School which is in the Ames Public School District. I worked in a second grade classroom, but was able to observe more than just that as I got to follow the students to their specials such as art, music, and media. I had a wide variety of opportunities to consider my surroundings.