Adaptation To New Students In A New Classroom

Identify one skill you practiced this week at placement:

One skill I have been practicing at placement this week was adaptation to new environments. I’ve been recently asked to work with a new grade 6 class, with a new teacher and new students in a new classroom.

Describe how you implemented this and what the outcome was:

I implemented this skill by reflecting on my first few weeks in placement in my first class with Mme. Mathieu. I used similar strategies that I used previously such as communicating with the teacher and the students, using humour, displaying an eagerness to learn about the class and a willingness to help wherever needed. The outcome of the application of this was quite fruitful, as I was able to build new bonds with an older group of students who I had seen previously in the halls but never had the chance to sit and speak with them. I believe that the final couple of weeks in placement will be interesting as I build a new relationship while working on the closure

Firstly, I was able to observe the difference in the way grade 6 classes function compared to grades 4 and 5. I learned how different the maturity levels of grade 6 students were compared to the younger grades I work with. I was also able to sit down and speak with most of the students, which gave me the opportunity to learn about who they are and their interests. I found myself more comfortable and at ease building therapeutic relationships with the older students compared to the younger students, which I had previously presumed and now with this experience, I am more confident in my self-judgement. Lastly, I learned new strategies with regards to behaviour regulation and organization in a classroom from a new teacher, such as regulating class behaviour by grouping students and rewarding students for collaborating together and following instructions in