Although I cut out all the buckets, the students personalized them by writing their own names on the front. Each bucket had an envelope attached for easy water droplet distribution!
The students could choose from 3 water drop templates to write on, or they could make their own. Once they were written, I would collect them and distribute them myself so that the water droplets were anonymous.
Although I cut out all the buckets, the students personalized them by writing their own names on the front. Each bucket had an envelope attached for easy water droplet distribution!
"You are Special" Bulletin Board
This is a bulletin board that I created, based on the book You are Special. This book and my accompanying lesson emphasized that each child is a unique gift of God with different talents. The students learned to appreciate their worth in God. Each student shared a picture and one or two things that made them special. Abby (Grade 3) wrote, “I am special because I love to spend time with little kids and love to help them. And I am good at doing that! God loves me and made me the way that I am!” Together, the students and I explored what it means to respect one another for each other's differences.
Bucket Filling Activities
In my first teaching placement at Ancaster Meadow Elementary School, I learned about bucket-filling. The idea behind it is that when you do nice things to others, it makes them feel good, and you feel better, too! Each kind thing said or done for someone adds a drop to their imaginary bucket. It is a fun and simple way to encourage students to be kind to one another and to build a positive classroom atmosphere. I emphasized that we are kind to others not just because of how it makes us feel, but because God tells us this in His Word. I linked the buckets to Bible verses that encourage the same idea. The students in Grade 3 at Heritage Christian School loved it!
View the lesson plan here:
Commitment to Students and Student Learning
"Members are dedicated in their care and commitment to students. They treat students equitably and with respect and are sensitive to factors that influence individual student learning. Members facilitate the development of students as contributing citizens of Canadian society." -OCT website
One of my professors said, "First, ask: 'How are my students doing?' Then, ask: 'How am I doing?" He was emphasizing that the teaching profession is a selfless job in many ways. Teachers should put their students' best interests before their own. This is not always easy to do, but it results in a loving atmosphere and a rewarding profession. Students thrive when a teacher cares about them and their learning. Commitment to students means knowing your students and recognizing their strengths and their weakness so that you are best able to help them in their learning.
Below are artifacts that showcase adherance to this standard in my occupation, studies, and teaching placements.
Unit: Who are you? Who is your neighbour?
While learning about the backwards design model presented by Wiggins and McTighe, I created this unit entitled, "Who are you? Who is your neighbour?" The unit's aim is to help student discover an identity in Christ and to guide students to bring Christ's love to everyone around them. In this unit, each student will set challenges for himself or herself and they will reflect on their growth as an individual, a unique person of God with individual experiences and characteristics. By searching God's Word, the class will unfold what it means to be a disciple of Christ in the classroom and outside of the classroom. This unit will help students grow as a community of loving classmates and will also challenge the students to develop personal reflection, memorization, critical reflection, organization, and group work skills. I loved creating this unit and I hope that some day I will be able to use it in a classroom. My professor, Sean Schat, kindly commented, "[Y]ou certainly have a unit that is on the edge of publishable. More importantly, you will have created space for God to work in the hearts of your students. Beautiful. Like I said, I wish my kids were in your class!"
View the planning behind the unit here:
"You are Special" Bulletin Board
This is a bulletin board that I created, based on the book You are Special. This book and my accompanying lesson emphasized that each child is a unique gift of God with different talents. The students learned to appreciate their worth in God. Each student shared a picture and one or two things that made them special. Abby (Grade 3) wrote, “I am special because I love to spend time with little kids and love to help them. And I am good at doing that! God loves me and made me the way that I am!” Together, the students and I explored what it means to respect one another for each other's differences.
"You are Special" Bulletin Board
This is a bulletin board that I created, based on the book You are Special. This book and my accompanying lesson emphasized that each child is a unique gift of God with different talents. The students learned to appreciate their worth in God. Each student shared a picture and one or two things that made them special. Abby (Grade 3) wrote, “I am special because I love to spend time with little kids and love to help them. And I am good at doing that! God loves me and made me the way that I am!” Together, the students and I explored what it means to respect one another for each other's differences.
Senior Elementary Volleyball Team
Although I teach 9-year-olds, I love being able to spend time with this team of Grade 8 girls. I develop and lead the girls in skill development and perseverance. Their hard work in practice pays off when we get on the court and play and win games! As head coach, I try to get these girls to recognize their worth in God and to bring a Christian attitude to the court. It is important for pre-teens to have positive role models and I aim to be one for this group. We pray together, challenge each other, encourage one another, and play for God together.