Internship is over!!

Wow, time has flown!!  Can't believe the four weeks of my last prac ever are up already!  Had a great internship overall, culminating with the class presenting their assembly on the last day.  The children did really well, prepared the whole thing, with only guidance regarding costumes and props and tightening up the script.  I ran the powerpoint presentation which provided the backdrops during the performance, so couldn't see the final show, but knew that from their buzz afterwards and the audience reaction they did it well!!

I have really enjoyed teaching numeracy, I think I was able to use a lot of what I learned during my summer numeracy subject to help.  It was amazing as well, from the constructivist approach applied in that subject how that really flows through into other subjects too.  I liked having the freedom to run through a couple of topics in numeracy, at my pace, and my way.  I recognise that I need to plan for homework a bit more.

I also took on a few classes in literacy, although this was really in conjunction with my mentor's planning, as she had already organised the sequences for what has needed to be covered until now.

During the internship, I have also had the opportunity to experiment with a few things on the school moodle site, although I wasn't able to do much besides add things like spelling words, as format was largely predetermined.

I also attended a parent teacher night, and I enjoyed meeting the parents and observing the techniques used in discussing behaviour and performance of each child. I have also reviewed reports which have been written over the last few weeks and will be sent home next week.

My mentor starts her maternity leave this week, and so I will continue with the class as teacher.  The school have given me a fantastic opportunity to get this experience, as I finish my last assignments and then get ready to start my new career as a teacher!

Last prac....

Started my last prac, or internship this week, back in the same class as for my prac in August 2010.  Truly in the downhill run now, with just the one course to complete for my Grad Dip!  

Monday was mainly observation and just getting to know the kids again, with a little bit of small group teaching in numeracy. 

Tuesday we went on an excursion to the 'Children's Technology Workshop' where the kids built bridges reinforcing what they'd done in Science recently on forces.  So nice gentle introduction back into school life. 

From Wednesday I taught numeracy, and will be teaching this every day, and Science, which although only twice a week I am responsible for the new topic 'Seeing Things'. In their Topic (History / Geography) slot at the moment the class is working on their presentation for their assembly.  Each class is responsible for one assembly a year and ours in on my last day of prac.  Being Year 6, they are expected to work quite independently on this, and ask for specific assistance with props, costumes or scripting. 

It's been nice being back in the class, and I am amazed that the kids have grown so much since the beginning of the school year back in August.