WEEK 10 (FINAL REFLECTION) 30 things i learnt during my 2nd year placement

As of, May 2nd, I have officially COMPLETED my B.ED!!  (Cue the CELEBRATION SONG!)
​This blog post comes a couple week later because I truly wanted to let the experience sink in before I shared my reflection. I also took a quick vacation at the most magical place on earth to celebrate! 
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For those who haven’t been following my journey but are tuning in now. I have just recently completed my 2nd year placement of 10 weeks at a high school in Cornwall, Ontario.  (You can read about it in the previous 9 blog posts)!! Et si vous avez tenu compte de mes blogues précédents, merci d'être de retour! 

What better way to end off this placement than create a list of the 30 things I learnt during my placement? Why 30? Well, it just seemed like well rounded number… I could have written 100 things but time did not allow it. I had created this (before the blog) to hand back to my associate teacher, but then I thought: Why not share it? 

​​This is what it looked like: 

1. It is so important to know your students and show you CARE in order to help build positive relationships
2. Patience is always key (in any situation)
3. You do not always have to use the “Atelier” to make a rubric
4. *Sometimes* just winging it works wonders
5. It is important to know yourself (strengths and weaknesses) in order to be a better teacher
6. Being vulnerable and open with the students is very valuable (and will be reciprocal)
7. Your lesson plan might not go as planned and that’s OK!
8. Connecting with other teachers helps you in so many ways
9. Coffee is a necessity...☕ 
10. ​A calm demeanour helps the overall feel of the classroom
11. Always have your curriculum handy!!!
12. Respect is the answer to most of your problems in teaching
13. Positive and authentic reinforcement goes a long way
14. Letting the students be the experts is exciting!
15. Your attitude in the classroom reflects the student’s attitude. So smile, be happy and spread the joy.
16. Being on top of your game with marking is SO IMPORTANT (especially in English)
17. You should always let the students surprise you (not hold grudges)
18. Questioning and reflecting on your practice helps you grow as an educator
19. You have to be adaptable to change (at all times!)
20. Il ne faut pas toujours réinventer la roue...
21. Reward the students and giving them a break (sometimes with a good Kahoot is FUN!)
22. making the students be accountable for their learning is I M P O R T A N T
23. You can’t say yes to everything in your first few years of teaching….. Oops
24. Teaching is a full time job that you end up bringing home with you every night
25. Finding balance is absolutely positively important - but not easy.
26. Technology will not always work and / or be on your side (prepare for a PLAN B,C,D…)
27. Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. x100
28. Being passionate about what you teach will always shine through
29. Taking the time to eat is beneficial (Still learning this one)
30. TEACHING IS A LOT OF WORK BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT

Overall, I think that this placement taught me more than words can describe. Having the opportunity to live a real and true placement by building units from the ground up, creating different types of evaluations, dealing with different types of behaviours, staying late after school and working during lunch really showed me the beauty, along with the blood sweat and tears of teaching.  I have reflected a lot and grown throughout this journey (and luckily have documented it all here!!) 

​ce que j'ai adoré de l'école secondaire 

Au début, je dois avouer que je n'étais pas trop certaine si l'école secondaire était véritablement faite pour moi. Étant quelqu'un qui a toujours adoré être avec les petits, les "plus grands" m'intimidaient, par contre, j'ai rapidement grandi avec eu et nous avons créés de relations de confiances. Ces élèves avaient non seulement de la confiance en moi, mais aussi de l'empathie et du respect. Et puis, gagner le respect des adolescents n'est pas toujours facile. Mais à la fin de mon stage, il va sans dire que ces liens étaient très forts, car ils étaient tristes de me voir partir. Bref, j'ai travaillé très fort à  les connaitre, à parler souvent avec eu, les récompenser et leur montrer que j'avais à coeur leur développement en English, leur succès et leur bien-être. En fin de compte, j'ai essayé très fort pour toujours TOUT faire ce que je pouvais afin de garantir leur réussite et leur bonheur. 

J'ai aussi adoré le contenu. Ce n'est pas toujours facile enseigner les langues, mais cette matière est très flexible. J'ai capoté sur le fait que j’étais capable de faire les choses autrement en English et incorporer plein de nouvelles idées, technologies et stratégies d’enseignement. J'ai beaucoup appris de moi-même (points forts et faibles) de mes connaissances dans la matière elle-même. Les élèves m'ont aidé à apprendre des nouveaux mots, concepts, principes historiques, etc. Ceci m'inspire à apprendre davantage chaque jour afin de continuer mon développement en tant que nouvelle enseignante. 
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what i am still working on... 

Finding balance. Finding balance. Finding balance. Finding balance. Finding balance. 

Almost every teacher I spoke with told me that the first 1-3 years of teaching are always the most difficult. Don't get me wrong, teaching is already super energy draining and exhausting if you are a veteran teacher, let alone having to build units from the ground up, get to know your curriculum, build your resources and teach a full course load in your first years. That being said, since you spend a lot more time planning and prepping (and figuring your life out) in the first few years of teaching you can't necessarily take on 101 other projects (sigh). I know that this is going to be difficult for me (who is someone always looking to get involved!!). However, I know the importance of knowing your limits, taking time for yourself and not burning yourself out - because that is the LAST thing I want. So, I can admit that I am still working on finding that balance in my life (professional and personal). 

I am also still trying to figure out if I am suited for elementary, intermediate or secondary. ​I JUST LOVE THEM ALL, HELP! What level do you teach at and what do you love  about it? Let me know in the comments below... 
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Ultimately, I can say that this placement really made me excited to have my OWN classroom one day! It is never the same when you come into someone else's classroom, start teaching someone else's students and someone is watching you; it is never 100% natural. I look forward to the day I can say I have my ​everything! (This may be sooner than later, but who knows.. I am simply excited for this new journey!) 

Finally being able to say that I am wrapping up my 2nd degree.. But not only that, my teaching degree is exciting but nerve wracking and a huge relief but still overwhelming. I would have a very long list of people to thank who have mentored me, helped me, spoken with me and shaped me into the educator I have become and continue to grow into. You all know who you are - so finally - Thank You. 

​Sarah Anne Lalonde

via GIPHY