personal reflection - week 9

I feel like I have been writing blog posts out the wazoo lately… but I am SO close to the end, why stop now, right? Ladies and gentlemen, we have made it to week 9!  Thanks so much for staying along for the ride.  You've all been so awesome and I truly feel as though I have a cheering squad behind me as I go through this placement. 
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Il me reste encore la semaine prochaine, ainsi que 3 jours lors de la semaine d'après à mon stage. Pour moi, il est absolument nécessaire de poursuivre avec mes billets de blogue et de terminer en force. Commencer et finir une tâche ou un but, pour moi, est fondamental à ma philosophie personnelle et professionnelle. Aussi, j'ai bien hâte de retourner lire ces billets de blogues dans 2,3 ou même 10 ans! 
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taking on a full course load 

This week was my first week taking on all 3 of my English classes (4U, 3C and 2P). What a challenge it was. Thankfully, I had spent my whole weekend preparing and felt good about where I was at. The Monday I was originally supposed to start was a snow day; yes - in April. But it was a great opportunity for me to really catch up on my marking, plan my lessons more thoroughly and have some quality time with my AT's of course! That Monday night, I was utterly nervous... But it just so happened that I was watching Zootopia when this song came on (& I tweeted about it the next day): ​
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Today is day of "firsts" in my teaching journey. I am beginning to teach the essay to my 11C &Hamlet to my 12U groups! How I am feeling? Demonstrating a growth mindset & an openness to failing. This feature song from Zootopia pretty much sums it up: https://t.co/StWwdTEFs6

— Sarah Anne Lalonde (@sarahlalondee) April 17, 2018

For those who are not as big Disney fanatics as I am... This song, I believe is the perfect representation of the GROWTH MINDSET. Disney - you always know what to say...
​Some of the uplifting lyrics are:

"I still mess up but I'll just start again
I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground
I always get up now to see what's next"

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"I won't give up, no I won't give in
Til I reach the end and then I'll start again
No I won't leave, I wanna try everything
I wanna try even though I could fail"

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"I'll keep on making those new mistakes
I'll keep on making them every day
Those new mistakes"

Il y avait de quoi avec le fait de donner le cours de 4U... Est-ce que je ne me sentais pas assez confiante? Peur de ne pas assez stimuler leurs intérêts? Peur de ne pas être capable de répondre à leurs questions... I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Par contre, après que j'ai entendu cette chanson, je me suis rappelé du concept de la mentalité de croissance.  Je n'avais rien à m'inquiéter parce que c'est correct si ça ne va pas bien ou comme on l'espère la première, la deuxième ou même la septième fois. Je dois avouer que c'est beaucoup plus facile parler de la mentalité de croissance, mais véritablement le vivre chaque jour à chaque instant est un défi.  

Entre autres, je crois que le tout s'est bien passé. Le beat est tellement différent avec un cours de 12e préuniversitaire que c'était plus familier! Les élèves ont aussi été géniaux avec moi, très respectueux et à l'écoute. Heureusement, le groupe a toujours envie d'apprendre! Ce qui fait en sorte qu'on peut passer à travers beaucoup de matière et avoir de bonnes discussions! 

finally...  

Something I have been always reflecting on as these weeks progress is how comfortable I am in front of the class, in the content I am teaching and with the relationships I am creating with the students. I've noticed that I can finally, absolutely positively say that I have little hesitation, little doubt and little anxiety with (at least) the two groups that I have been with for the majority of my placement. We (my class and I) have grown so much since the beginning of my placement and I can attest that I actually feel like my student's teacher, and I think that they truly feel as though I am their teacher as well. Why has it taken this long? Well, I believe that good things take time. And, I feel as though everything I have build up these 9 weeks have finally solidified, (However, sadly there is not much time left!) So now, I am wondering how I should end my last 1-2 days with them ? Any suggestions?