REFLECTION

 MY REFLECTION

At the beginning of this course, things were very confusing for me because I started late. Trying to catch up on everything I had missed was hectic, but eventually, I managed to get back on track. Once the assignments were released, the pressure was on. I was placed in a group for one of the assignments, along with an individual task. Both were a bit challenging, but I successfully completed them.

Starting my practicum was a mix of emotions—exciting, nerve-wracking, curious, scared, and happy. I experienced all of these feelings on the first day because I didn’t know what to expect from the children. The principal welcomed me, introduced me to the students, and allowed me to get familiar with the environment, which helped ease my nerves.

During the two weeks of my practicum, I focused on observing the daily routines and class schedules in a private school setting. I paid attention to the teaching strategies, hands-on activities, and how the teachers communicated and dealt with different situations and behaviors in the classroom.

I was given the opportunity to carry out one activity of my choice with the children, and I chose storytelling. I incorporated various teaching strategies and hands-on elements into the lesson. Overall, I believe it was a successful activity.

One of the most impactful learning moments for me was watching the principal lead a cooking activity with the children. Through that experience, I observed how effective communication played a key role. The children learned how to decorate cookies, identify ingredients like flour and icing sugar, recognize colors, and follow step-by-step instructions. They also learned through taste and sensory exploration, which made the activity engaging and educational.

In assessing my growth from this practicum, I’ve realized the importance of using different teaching strategies for each lesson I plan. This helps ensure that every child has the opportunity to understand and learn by the end of each session.

One challenge I faced during my storytelling activity was getting the children to cooperate and follow instructions during the follow-up activity. With help from the principal, who stepped in to support me, I was able to regain the children’s focus. This experience helped me improve my time management, develop techniques to capture the children’s attention, and reflect on how I can improve as an early childhood practitioner. It also taught me the importance of evaluating myself before each lesson and while in the classroom.

KEY LESSONS THAT SHAPED MY TEACHING PRACTICE.

Throughout my practicum, I gained a great deal of knowledge—not only from the principal but also from the children. Key lessons that helped shape my teaching practice include: observing how the principal gained the children’s attention, learning different strategies for planning and delivering lessons, building communication and trust with both children and parents, and seeing how effective teaching results in students understanding and engaging with the content.

EVALUATE THE EXPERIENCE THAT SHAPED MY TEACHING PHLIOSPHY AND IDENITY

My classroom experience has helped shape my teaching philosophy. I’ve learned to be more vigilant and observant with each student to identify who may need additional support or individual instruction. I now understand the importance of including hands-on activities, as children learn best when they are actively engaged. I also value allowing children to learn through their own experiences—even through making mistakes—and guiding them gently toward correction.

Shaping my identity as an early childhood practitioner means inspiring children, providing guidance, building trust and open communication, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed in their schoolwork.