Days of Observation

March 12, 2025, marked the beginning of my practicum journey at Boston Primary & Infant School. Located in the rural community of Fairy Hill, Portland. Boston Primary & Infant School serves students between the ages of 3 and 12. The school is well-regarded for its strong academic foundation and dedication to quality education. With a lively atmosphere and a diverse student population, it provides a supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to excel both academically and socially.

For the first three days, I observed two classrooms, gaining insight into the school environment and how students interacted with their teachers. On day one I observed Grade 5, where the teacher was incredibly welcoming and gave me a warm introduction to the students. The class was energetic, and although some students had a bit of difficulty staying focused, the teacher knew how to redirect them and keep them engaged in the lesson. However, things took an interesting turn when the teacher had to step out for a meeting, leaving me and my pair, who is also a student teacher in charge for the rest of the day. Initially, it felt a little overwhelming, but we eventually managed to keep things under control, and by the end of the day, we felt more confident and accomplished.

On our second day, we observed the Grade 4 class, which was quite large as it combined two different classes. The class had two teachers, one for Social Studies and Language Arts and the other for Math and Science. The students were eager to learn and full of energy. However, some struggled with behavioral issues, and found it difficult to stay focused. Despite these challenges, the teachers managed the classroom effectively, ensuring that learning remained engaging. Observing this class made us realize that we will need to develop strong classroom management strategies to maintain control and keep students engaged, especially since this is where we will be teaching for the next two weeks.