A reflection through poems

The important thing about practicum is that it helped prepare me to become a better teacher
It is an opportunity to teach for the first time in a real classroom setting
It is like teaching in your own classroom, but with people there to support you on your way.
It has students and teachers that are welcoming and thankful
You do lessons and get to know a variety of students
It has helped me feel more comfortable and more confident as a teacher
It’s not as scary as I thought it was going to be
It does prepare me for next semester when I will be doing my internship
But the important thing about practicum is that it helped prepare me to become a better teacher.



The important thing about guided reading is that it is meaningful to the readers.
It is important to use background knowledge prior to reading your book
It is like reading, but with activities incorporated in the text
It has no beginning, middle, and end to the stories you read
You do KWL charts with guided reading lessons
It has a choral reading, echo reading, shared reading, and among many others
It’s not a direct instruction lesson
It does involve interaction and it is a lesson that challenges students
But the important thing about guided reading is that it is meaningful to the readers.



The important things about my classmates are the friendships we share
It is a common bond that we share in block
It is like a family who share their days with each other
It has been wonderful getting to know them and I know we will never lose touch
You do group work, stress about assignments, and watch movies on the way down the mountain
It has been a wonderful semester getting to know these girls and sharing one common interest, becoming future educators
It’s not comforting to know that I will be leaving these girls in block I
It does seem like just yesterday that I first met them and it is sadly enough the end of our semester
But the important things about classmates are the friendships we share




The important thing about Block I is that it prepares you to become successful educators.
It is taught by educators/supporters, Dr. Koppenhaver, Dr. Goodson Espy, and Dr. Clark
It is like a home away from home
It has helped prepare me for Block II, and student teaching
You do lessons, assignments, and have discussions with it.
It has been an educational experience
It’s not direct lecturing
It does help you learn how to teach reading, math, and become more aware of diversity within a classroom
But the important thing about Block I is that it prepares you to become a successful educator.


The important thing about struggling readers is to keep them motivated through engaging books and lessons
It is essential to have a wide variety of books in your classroom that will benefit all struggling readers
It is like learning to ride a bike when your legs are too short
It has been a struggle to motivate struggling readers
You do guided reading lessons using books that interest them.
It has been rewarding to see struggling readers take their next step
It’s not easy to read books that do not interest struggling readers
It does take time and patience
But the important thing about struggling readers is to keep them motivated through engaging books and lessons.


Through creating these poems, I was really able to reflect on the semester. I formed so many relationships through my experience in my Block I classes and Practicum. I became close with professors, my peers, my third grade students, and my cooperating teachers at W.A. Young Elementary. Each person has taught me a little something to help prepare me as a future teacher, and for that, I am eternally greatful. My professors have taught me effective teaching strategies, engaging lessons, how to incorporate diversity into my classroom and lessons, etc. My peers have provided me with their own personal experiences through teaching at W.A. Young, the sharing of ideas, and their passion towards becoming an educator. My cooperating teacher has taught me the appropriate ways to direct a parent teacher conference, personal teaching experiences of his own, strategies for teaching effective lessons to children with behvioral problems, to laugh and not sweat the small stuff, and to appreciate the oppurtunity I have been given. Block I and practicum has been an enlightening experience that I will never forget. I am appreciative to be able to take that I have learned in Block I and practicum, and carry it with me into my teaching career.