Transition

One thing that this teaching course is giving me practice at doing is transitioning between study and work. It is surprisingly difficult. I am the kind that gets into routines and changing from one set of routines to another is an awkward time. Shifting from holiday to study/work was difficult, but from study to practicum represents a challenging. You need to go through one set of specialised skills (listening, note taking etc) to proficiently actively demonstrating skills (teaching, riot control etc.). You need to jump from academic language to simplified language. Writing cursively to printing (depending on the level). Casual to authoritarian. One focus to multitasking with multiply awarenesses. Room to wing it versus no latitude for error.

Maybe most importantly, the first week of a practicum is where you set the precedent for the children, so they can have correct expectations for you. This is what I need practice at. It needs a whole mental plan of how to handle different phases of classroom management and introspection about every interaction.

Ah, if only my next practicum didn't start on Monday.