A Blog about Blogging

So the end of semester is rapidly approaching and I thought I would just take a moment to blog about my blog. At the beginning of this course when I found out I had to blog I thought what a joke why would they make us do this. Now I am near the end I must say it has been rather helpful and I would highly recommend it to other people. I found it useful to discuss issues that were affecting me even if It was only me talking to me and a few random people reading it for no other reason to use my blog to link too for the purpose of the EDC3100. So all in all have a great day and blog on people blog on.

Kraig

Is it over yet???

So I am counting down the blogs till my last and as Kat says I will be glad when it is done unfortunately I still have a few to catch up on. This was by far the biggest course I have done in my entire degree. In the beginning I was keen and motivated, I joined all the groups and apps that we were told too and I read every link without giving much thought to my other subjects. Well after a while I started slipping behind and began to panic. I just couldn’t keep up and the subject I was so excited to do started becoming a nightmare. The first assessment cam and went and I finally got a mark an A this was the first A I have received for work that was entirely my own (not in a group) and I couldn’t be happier. So then prac approached out of nowhere and all uni work seemed to stop while I kept up with lesson plans, teaching, trying to fit sleep and family in there too and again I crashed. But now I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am running towards it. Just for the love of everything good and nice tell me its not a train I am so eagerly running towards…..

Kraig

IXL

While I was on my professional placement I was introduced to an awesome mathematics and English site called IXL. This site is a whole bunch of games for students to play on the inter active white board or even on the class computers. The games vary for all ability levels and provide students with an engaging supportive experience while the teacher becomes free to work one on one with the students who require a little extra help. I found success in using the games for my year six class as the more advanced students could play while I helped the low achievers. The games provide instant feedback offering praise for correct answers and if a student gets one wrong then it walks them through where they went wrong and how to fix their problem. The site is a paid site however I found you can have a free 3 month subscription and you can log in to every computer using the one free login details. All in all I think this site will be a valued part of any math or English class and I highly recommend it.

Kraig

End of Placement

Well its over and what a long 3 weeks it has been of ups and downs and sleepless nights. I am glad its over well to be honest it ended a week ago and I am just now catching up on my blog posts. But it is good to go back to regular sleeping times and no lesson plans. Every time I go on professional placement it reinforces the fact that I am on the right career path and I must say i agree with Amanda when she talks about finally getting some time to sit back and critically think about the parts of placement. There seems to be so much more to improve on. During previous placements I have felt I could walk into a classroom and just start teaching but after this one I feel I still have so much more to learn before I do. Teaching I have come to know is a career where you can never become perfect at your job as the best teachers are constantly evolving and learning to improve their pedagogies. So to sum up I will never reach perfection but I am more than sure I am looking forward to trying.

Kraig

Finding the balance

Well I am 2 weeks into prac now and I am slowly working out the kinks and the methods of getting up early and balancing life with prac. I have to agree with Amanda when she mentions how hard it is balancing prac with family and work. Well I don’t work however I am a stay at home dad to my four children and that in itself is a full time job. I am lucky enough to have a wife who loves working and is happy to support or family while I study and do the house wife thing. I remember when I first read that there is 100 days of Professional experience to do during your degree and I thought oh my why so much. Surly there is no need for 100 days but now I wonder if 100 days is enough. It is a huge commitment not just on ourselves but also on our families and all those people supporting us. Prac for me is just a window into the future and I know I am in the right profession when even after a complete fail of a day with horrible lessons and headache pounding in your temples you still manage to set the alarm and get up and do it all again the next day…

Kraig

Half way

Today marks the halfway through point for my EDC3100 prac. It has been a wild journey of early mornings and sleepless nights. Like most other students doing this placement I have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions. When it comes down to effective lesson delivery I have had a few that I thought were quite successful but I have had a few that flopped really badly as well. My very first lesson I tried to integrate an ICT component by showing a short video clip at the start. I arrived at school early to get set up and ensure all my movies and clips worked prior to the lesson beginning and I was set up great. Confidently I was handed the reigns to the class and the lesson began. I sat the students in front of the screen on the carpet, explained the video and pressed play…….Error…….Not going to work…….You are screwed……..The movie failed to work no matter what I tried and the entire lesson went the way of the movie…….ERROR…….

After reading the blogs I must say tho after the week and a half I agree with Kylie when she explains how she is enjoying her prac. Teaching is not a profession for everyone but every prac I do makes me realise just how on the right path to my goals I am and there is a rewarding career in Education out there I just have to slog through my uni days to find it…..

Kraig

First day prac

So today was my first day of prac. I started the day nervous as hell and it was extremely hard waking up from the buzz of the alarm. I couldn’t eat breakfast. I had to get there on time if it killed me. I wrote the names of the students in my book and sat back for the rollercoaster ride that was my first day. Everything was a blur and happened so quickly but before I knew it I was back home in the safety of my own home and could decompress. I am just trying to go over the papers and names and work things out for tomorrow. I don’t star teaching till Wednesday so at least I have time to gather some thoughts and prepare my lessons. Today was hard and I expect it to get harder but it will not break me. Say it with me I can do this, I got this and this can’t last forever………

Prac Closing In Around Me

Is it just me or does this particular professional experience placement seem to be a lot more daunting than the others we have done? I have done 3 previous to this one and don’t remember ever being this nervous. Perhaps its the new school or the fact I have an older mentor this time. I am not sure what it is but I just want to start already, It always seems way worse then it actually is and I know I will feel right at home once the first day is over but getting up to the first day is killing me. I went in to meet my mentor and was so nervous I had to ask the office lady the date and I don’t mean just the day I needed the day the month and I even drew a blank on the year. She laughed which made me laugh and all was good again but come on father time hurry up and let me start I am not sleeping or eating right and just want to get in to it already.

It seems my life at the moment consists of wake up, coffee, study, eat, sleep, wake up and repeat. I think I have ranted enough now thanks for listening and stay tuned to hear me complain about every little thing that comes up till then stay cool.

 

Kraig

Submitted

Last night I finally submitted my assignment 2 for the course and wow I have to say it was huge and I am so glad its over. I was reading posts of other people on the same topic and I must say I agree with leisha when she mentioned that she also finished the assignment but is concerned with how her results will turn out. I feel this same way I left the assignment too late and only got my passable work out instead of going for high achievements I will be happy for a C with this one.

So now looking forward I can resume getting excited about upcoming prac. I have my first meeting with my mentor this Friday at half past one so I am nervous but also very keen to check out the school and my students that I will have.

I need to look at the last assignment as soon as possible and not leave it to the last minute again like I did with the first 2 assignments. So cheers to this beast of an assignment submitted and I hope all my peers did great.

Kraig

Prac Placement

So after the long wait I have received my prac placement. I will be working in a year six class in a local school. The school I did my last placement at had a grand total of 63 children this one is a lot bigger so I am looking forward to the challenge and also seeing how different size schools affect the way I teach.

While I am glad that I know my placement details it seems as though the information is a double edged sword because the panic and stress have already begun. I know I will enjoy the work as there is nothing quite like teaching a class and having all those young eager eyes staring at you for answers however the wait and the unknown still haunt me.

I will keep posting throughout my placement so anyone keen enough can read along and learn my students names with me. I have never had much experience with ICT on my previous placements so this time I am going to aim to incorporate as much as possible in the lessons I teach and see if I can add some magic too.

Well fingers crossed I do ok and until next time………..

Kraig