Week 3 was the best so far. I know all the students' names, know their strengths and weaknesses, and am becoming more emotionally attached. This is making me sad about the thought of leaving. I would love to work at a school like this one day, where are is incorporated into all the subjects. Even science is taught through the arts. I'm teaching an art class on surrealism, where they are keeping a dream journal, and making art based on two random words selected from a hat. I showed them a clip of one of my favourite surrealist films "Le Chien Andolou," for obvious reasons (if you know the film) I couldn't show them the whole thing. The fact that they loved the film and wanted to keep watching it made the lesson a success to me. The film is from 1929, and I would think it would be semi-boring for this age group, but they loved it. Their art is in preparation for their field trip to the AGO to see Chagall, I really wish I could be there with them to see their reactions to surrealist art, especially after the lesson I've taught them on surrealism.
Over the past 3 weeks I've learned a lot about teaching, and a lot about grade 7s. I'm having an amazing experience and learning some valuable skills through trial and error. This blog will help prepare you for grade 7s, and the challenges and rewards you will face.
