For my 4 week practicum, I was placed at Ron Brent Elementary School in a grade 2/3 class. I knew it would be an amazing and memorable experience, but I couldn’t have predicted how fulfilled and connected I would feel to the kids and the school. Ron Brent is a Tier 1 school, so there are many challenges that come along with that. What I noticed was the most important thing at that school was to give students love and provide structure and consistency. In my class, having a positive and supportive community was a very important goal. Every student in that class had respect for one another no matter how different they were. It was so beautiful to witness and to be a part of. I found this experience to be emotionally challenging. As many students in my class had a difficult life at home, I found I held onto that personally. With that being said, I am still drawn to Tier 1 schools especially Ron Brent, as I feel like I am capable of connecting with the kids and making a difference in their lives. Every Thursday, students spend the whole afternoon after lunch outside. This is so students have the opportunity to explore and involve themselves in “risky play” if they so wish. I think having this was important for students and allowed them to try new things and to challenge themselves if they were feeling inclined to. Making school a safe place for students to come was something I really cared about and had at the forefront of y mind throughout this practicum. We made learning hands on and experiential and I think it benefitted the students greatly, especially with the various learning styles. Being involved in this school was amazing. My coaching teacher always told me that working at a Tier 1 school like Ron Brent requires “heart work” and I truly do believe that.
9 September 2024