My first field placement was on for October 11th in Tisdale Elementary School with Mr. Yee. Walking into the school I had no idea what to expect from the teahers, or even the students. The moment I walked into the door I was greeted by the secretary and the principal, both ladies made me feel welcome immediately. The principal explained to me the importance of childhood education, and how elementary school would set them up for either success or failure, since it all starts from the roots. As she spoke we walked throughout the entire school as she showed me each classroom, the library, gymnasium, staff room, the breakfast counter, and a closet filled with different types of clothing for some of the children who could not afford it. As the clock ticked, it was almost nine am and Mr. Yee had just come in from cross walk. After we introduced ourselves and went our weekly focus topics an questions, it was time for me to meet his Grade four class. The moment I walked in I knew it was going to be a great growing experience, and had never felt so sure about my career choice by the time lunch had rolled around.
In my grade four class there are around twenty students, each one of them different in their own ways. There are eleven tables spread across the room, each table seating two students. Lockers line the back of the classroom where jackets, lunch boxes, and some times their toys from home are kept. Mr. Yee’s binders, textbooks, and work materials are both kept in the middle of the classroom on a rolling shelf, and also in the large shelving units located off to the side against a wall. Bulletin boards are kept neat and tidy on both sides of the rooms and five rules are printed and framed on one of them beside the teachers desk. Every student comes prepared and ready to learn, and know what duties they are expected to fulfill on which week. When students are doing well, participating, and being kind they are rewarded with a movie while they are eating during lunch, the past two weeks we have been watching Coco. While being in this class I noticed that colours, rhymes, and activities were used to keep them on their toes. For example, if we are working in partners and the noise control gets out of hand, Mr. Yee will either say “Rule One!” and they will tell him what rule number one is on the bulletin board, or he will say “waterfall!” and they will reply “shhhhh”, making them go back to being quiet.
During recess I stood with Mr. Yee out on the playground. I watched the way he spoke to students, asked them questions, and helped them to understand different situations. As the day moved forward, both me and the students started to warm up to each other, me and one of the students talked for a very long time and she explained to me her passions and abilities. Both the school and the play grounds were kept clean of garbage, and the sidewalks are kept washed. The students have many play structures and no problems arose through the fifteen minutes of free time they were given. As the weeks will continue to go by, I cannot wait to see what I will learn from both Mr. Yee and his students.
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