Today I was called in for an afternoon of occasional teaching in a grade 7/8 class. It was the best day yet. The teacher I replaced was the "teacher in charge" for the afternoon and, instead of spending her time in the office, she opted to continue her regular program and use me as an extra pair of hands. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to see just what is happening in the classrooms of Ontario over the past five years.
The focus of my half-day was to be math and Remembrance Day research. However, half-way through lunch it was discovered that Buster Bus was on hand for a bus safety presentation and these students would be involved during their math class.
At the end of the day, this teacher asks her students to write down three things they learned during the day. These are the lessons I learned or had reinforced:
- Excellent teaching and learning involves respect
- High expectations lead to excellence in achievement
- Each student is an individual with a unique personality and learning style
Until then,
Bee Rich
