chapter 5 6 and practicum thoughts

I think that the space that he is talking about is also what we talked about in Research methods class. Getting the student to learn to ask questions, its about open ended questions, things that make us wanting to know more and having the space to do this. Two of the smartest people I know (no not me, but the type of people you want to have on your trival persiut team) were home schooled. The way they were taught was to ask questions and find it out yourself. So they looked into things that interested them and things that didn't but thought they should know. They learned how to learn, which is what I think a great teacher does and what this practicum/year is about. The environment is very different in Southern Manitoba but I have the skills and confidence to learn about the trees, plants, animals there because I was given practice and the knowledge to do so.

Another important point is that the subject is important. I love history and can sit through or listen to podcasts about history because the subject is interesting to me. When the stories take over the class and I can laugh in my head about people being so silly or thinking that it was a good idea. My sister on the other hand is a math major. Again the subject was so interesting to her. Her and her math friends would dream about their solutions, they would talk about things and there teachers taught them how to learn and how to figure things out. THey loved it, me the subject was so far from my train of thought I have no idea what they are talking about (I have also learned not to ask because I am so lost.)

I know that there are limations to evaluations that are done on the last day of class, but I have seen productive and positive change from them. At CMU there was an aweful professor and after 3 years of consitently poor evaluations he was encouraged and maybe forced to take teaching classes.

Practicum thoughts. I don't mind the work of practicum. Its fun and I get to hang out with kids. I just don't completely understand why it is like this, and am wanting to challenge Merry Lea to think outside the box about how it can be better. Teaching experience is great, but with my masters I am hoping to not only work and teach with adults and kids, but get to think creatively and practise implementing my own work. And I have been told that the project is for this but I would like to see more of it.