Practicum
 Class outdoor photo | Aug 2019 |  Music & movement lesson | Aug 2019 |
|---|
Year 2: Cherie Hearts @ Bedok Reservoir
Aug - Sep 2019
What I did:
I was attached to the Kindergarten 1s and was tasked to help with daily routines such as bathing, lunch and much more.​ I also conducted lessons when there was a lack of teachers or I would be tasked to care for the class while the main teacher left to get certain materials.
In this practicum experience, I planned multiple lesson plans and conducted them successfully.
​
Challenges I faced and how I overcame them:
One challenge I faced was trying to maintain the attention of children throughout lessons. Some of them would run out, start talking to their peers or talk to me about unrelated topics.
Remembering attention redirection techniques learned during my course of study in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, I prepared the materials needed to redirect their attention such as a puppet.
​
Result:
The children had their attention on the materials I prepared, helping them to focus on the lesson. Many of them even came up to me during routine time after lessons to tell me that they loved my lesson and wanted me to teach them more often.
​
What I learned:
I learned that it is good to always expect the unexpected and to always be prepared for different scenarios or situations. I also learned and got the opportunity to apply my knowledge learned in school into my work, allowing me to take a theory or study and apply it in real life.
 Farewell photo with teachers | July 2018 |  Trying out end-of-year performance costu |
|---|
Year 1: Brighton Montessori @ Frankel
May - July 2018
What I did:
During this attachment, I was attached to the morning session Nursery-2 class and the afternoon session playgroup. I would help with routines such as nap time, lunch, snack time and bringing children to the toilet. When the teachers are busy, I would help the teachers by engaging the children in a storytelling session.
​
Challenges I faced and how I overcame them:
1. As this was my first time working in a preschool setting, I felt nervous and was unsure of what to expect. However, whenever I felt unsure, I would ask the teachers around me what the different procedures to tackle an issue were or what I should expect. For example, when I was unsure how to get a child to write the number 15 well, I called my host teacher for help. My host teacher then explained to her every step in teaching the child.
2. Another challenge I faced due to my inexperience in the field was the ability to multi-task. However, as time went by, I started to get used to and was able to provide children with the attention each of them needed. One such example was during lesson time when children were doing their assigned worksheets. On this particular day, my host teacher was absent. Thus, I had to teach on her behalf. At first, I had trouble multitasking and had trouble providing all the children with the attention and guidance that they needed. However, after asking for help from another teacher, I got to understand and observe how to properly manage the children. ​
Result:
I was able to learn through observation, how to handle and to teach children the right way. From then on, I managed to handle and teach the children without much trouble as well as manage to provide them with equal attention.
​
What I learned:
Through my questioning and observation, I was able to learn and pick up many valuable skills and experiences. With that, I was able to understand and learn from the different ways each teacher handles each child when teaching. I also understood how to properly manage myself and how important multi-tasking in a preschool setting is.