My Proposal and Plan
My inquiry this year is to experience what it is like to be an elementary school teacher. I want to know what it is like to form lesson plans and execute them, how to handle different situations that might arise, and to get a general idea of what it is like to work as an elementary school teacher. I hope to work with a second to sixth grade teacher, to try to figure out what age group I work best with, but also get experience in a classroom. I chose this inquiry because I want to study elementary education in college, and I think by starting my experience now, will give me a jump start on my college, and post college career. Everything about this inquiry is interesting to me. From working with kids, to teaching, and being able to pursue my other dreams on the side, everything about it excites me and makes me happy about my future. I hope to gain experience and more knowledge about what it is like being an elementary school teacher. Since I want to pursue this as a career, I think finding ways to expose myself before even entering college will help me excel and be more successful in the long run.
My inquiry somehow relates to all six of the portrait of a learner competencies, but the one it most aligns with is skillful collaborator. Being able to work effectively and respectfully with others, and also being flexible and take input from others is a huge part of being a teacher, especially with young children. I really think that just by being in a classroom with the next generation, and being able to listen to them and then respond back to them in a fun yet appropriate way, is something that is extremely important, and coincides with the skillful collaborator competency.
The only partnerships that will be necessary for this project are the school and teacher(s) I will be working with to get experience inside the classroom. I will be writing emails to teachers and school principals or administrators to see if we can make a plan that works for the safety of them and the students, and also that works with my limited time period. Another person that is going to help me a lot during this process is my guidance counselor, Mrs. Towne. I had a meeting with her a little while ago about college and Virtual High School, and this is when she told me that since all VHS spots were already filled, she suggested I consider becoming a teacher’s assistant, which is another program my school offers. She had said that we could probably find a way for me to work with an elementary school, or middle school, instead of in the high school. She only asked to be included in all emails, so she can change what’s on my schedule, and also just be informed.
Deadlines are very up in the air for me right now. The only strict deadline I have to follow right now is completing a plan before the second semester begins, so that I fill a block on my schedule with my project and teaching assistant period. But I have all of second term to figure this out. I really am not worried about any other deadlines right now, but I’m sure as other things pop up, more deadlines will make appearances.
Along with my website, I am still trying to figure out how to share my conclusions with others. I had come up with an idea to create a vlog or video about the days that I go into classrooms, and record my day that way, while following ethical and confidentiality guidelines, and at the end of the day sit down and go into detail about what I did and learned that day. I am still trying to think of other ideas as well, and really try to come up with an engaging final product for my project.
My inquiry somehow relates to all six of the portrait of a learner competencies, but the one it most aligns with is skillful collaborator. Being able to work effectively and respectfully with others, and also being flexible and take input from others is a huge part of being a teacher, especially with young children. I really think that just by being in a classroom with the next generation, and being able to listen to them and then respond back to them in a fun yet appropriate way, is something that is extremely important, and coincides with the skillful collaborator competency.
The only partnerships that will be necessary for this project are the school and teacher(s) I will be working with to get experience inside the classroom. I will be writing emails to teachers and school principals or administrators to see if we can make a plan that works for the safety of them and the students, and also that works with my limited time period. Another person that is going to help me a lot during this process is my guidance counselor, Mrs. Towne. I had a meeting with her a little while ago about college and Virtual High School, and this is when she told me that since all VHS spots were already filled, she suggested I consider becoming a teacher’s assistant, which is another program my school offers. She had said that we could probably find a way for me to work with an elementary school, or middle school, instead of in the high school. She only asked to be included in all emails, so she can change what’s on my schedule, and also just be informed.
Deadlines are very up in the air for me right now. The only strict deadline I have to follow right now is completing a plan before the second semester begins, so that I fill a block on my schedule with my project and teaching assistant period. But I have all of second term to figure this out. I really am not worried about any other deadlines right now, but I’m sure as other things pop up, more deadlines will make appearances.
Along with my website, I am still trying to figure out how to share my conclusions with others. I had come up with an idea to create a vlog or video about the days that I go into classrooms, and record my day that way, while following ethical and confidentiality guidelines, and at the end of the day sit down and go into detail about what I did and learned that day. I am still trying to think of other ideas as well, and really try to come up with an engaging final product for my project.