Final Teaching Placement
Grade 5/ 6 Split Classroom, Alexander School, Alexander, MB.
Formal Evaluations:
"Katelyn really strives to keep this active group of students engaged. Her creative lessons, use of smart board and inquiry based learning strategies were effective in ensuring engagement and variety in her lessons."
"Katelyn circulated well during work time. Students were totally engaged and focused."
"Katelyn quickly established rapport with this age group and used her positive attitude to manage the class. She used a wide range of classroom management techniques with this very large and active group of students."
"Katelyn's smart board lessons are always attractive and engaging."
"Katelyn is confident and comfortable with this age group. She remains very calm and patient with this large group of active students."
"Katelyn quickly identifies students needing help or redirection. She provides clarification or support as needed."
"Katelyn successfully integrates technology into her lessons and is becoming very adept at planning for individual differences (differentiated instruction)."
"Katelyn uses exemplars to make her expectations clear and utilizes modelling to help promote students understanding."
"Katelyn is very organized and comes up with creative hands on lessons that keep students engaged."
Brandon School Division, Alexander School, Alexander Manitoba.
(7 Weeks)
Grade 5/6 Classroom:
Subjects Taught:
Social Studies
Mathematics
ELA
Health
Art
French
Units Taught:
Mathematics- Fractions & Decimals
Social Studies- Shaping Contemporary
Canada & Government
- Canada Today
ELA- Traditions & Relations (cross curricular with Social Studies and Health)
Art- Aboriginal Peoples of the World
Extra Curricular:
Study Hall- Grades 5-8 (twice a week or more as needed)
Grade 5/6
I enjoyed working with the grade 5/6 class at Alexander School. We had so much fun together during our 7 weeks together. During this placement the focus was on creating cross-curricular units that used inquiry and project-based learning.
Mathematics
Teaching mathematics was incredibly fun! While learning fractions, students participated in station work, direct instruction, and games outside. Students inquired into the real world application of fractions through examining musical practices and notation as well as baking. Students participated in a wide range of activities to become fully immersed in how fractions are and can be used in their own lives.
Art (Cross-Curricular with Social Studies, Health, and ELA)
In art students created a wide range of traditional art that linked to different people groups around the world. Specifically, students focused on different Aboriginal art forms including yarn art, painting, and creating a paper star quilt. All art created had a specific purpose that helped students deepen their understanding of information being learned in other subjects.
Social Studies (Cross-Curricular with Music, Art, Aboriginal Perspectives, and ELA)
In social studies students participated in a full unit simulation that combined inquiry and project-based learning with play based learning. The unit consisted of students solving a series of problems in the mystical world of Canadia (which resembled Canada in every way) to learn the Canadian justice system, government, and human rights. Students had to work together to solve riddles, complete research, learn their rights, and discover the cultural diversity of Canada through a digital scavenger hunt. Throughout the unit the classroom was transformed into different locations within Canadia for students to explore such as the Musical Library, The Beautiful Music Library, The Court House, and The Canadia Museum. Students enjoyed exploring each destination within their classroom to discover clues and learn about their rights as citizens. Students worked hard to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to catch a spy in their country. The unit was completed with a full mock trial that involved other school staff. I had so much fun creating this unit and students did not want the unit to end!
English Language Arts (Cross-Curricular with Social Studies, Aboriginal Perspectives, and Art)
As a way to begin getting to know students, I started ELA with reading students a traditional Aboriginal story on the giving of names. Students became fascinated with the tradition of name giving- how different cultures bestowed names on people, how they were giving their own name, why they were given a name. I asked students to inquiry into their name what it meant and how it was given to them. The questions that came out of this experience were filled with such wonder, curiosity, and awe. Through students questions a unit began to emerge on traditions and relations between different people. Students investigated the traditions found within their own lives and began to look at the similarities and differences of different peoples traditions. The most rewarding part of this unit was watching students discover how having a name and traditions has shaped their individual and collective identities!