While I've been in my classroom this week the students have spent the majority of their time completing their country projects. This consists of researching the United States and Canada and talking about each as well as comparing and contrasting them. They have been creating posters with fun facts about each. I have found myself walking around and assisting the groups that the teacher asks me to, guiding them and making sure they are on task. I know that this doesn't relate to literacy as much as other student's placements, but I am enjoying the spin mine has taken. I keep thinking back to my degree in Speech Pathology and realizing that if I were to take a position as a Speech Pathologist in a school one my jobs could be to push in to a classroom and work with a student. I would work with them on speech, obviously, but I believe that I would also simply help them go through the motions of the classroom, quite like a teacher's aide.. which is what I sort of feel like now.
I understand that it's not 100% literacy based, but I truly am enjoying the way my placement has worked out. I am learning a lot about being in a classroom setting and a lot about what it takes to be a teacher and have the weight of the world on your shoulders. While I can't implement literacy techniques that I have learned, the truth is I haven't really learned a lot being a non-education major. I feel as though my undergraduate career has been based a lot around language benchmarks that children should be meeting and how to determine if they are at the appropriate language level based on their age. I have also been learning about assessment for those who need speech services. The NEXT step in my education is implementation, unlike education majors who get to experience that in their senior year.
With that said, plain and simple, I feel that my placement suits me and I am content with how it is going!
-Ashley
It's so good that you're enjoying your placement! You really do learn so much about kids just from being in the classroom. As an education major, I will tell you; honestly, I have learned a lot in all my education classes, but I have never learned as much than when I am actually in a classroom setting. You can actually see everything that goes on, so you can kind of get an idea of what to expect in some way.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are spot on with your job as a speech pathologist. In my placement, there is a speech teacher that actually does push in to help a specific student that has difficulty with language. Therefore, I think it's great that you are able to start trying this out already! I'm really glad that you are happy with it!
ReplyDeleteReally?! You have a speech pathologist push in to your classroom? That's so nice to hear because although I have been told what a speech pathologist does when pushing in to a classroom, I have never actually seen it. It is nice to hear that I am spot on and prepared and know what to expect! Yay! Thanks.
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