TEC @NUO - My Reflection on a Week of Workshops

My last week spent at Niagara University in Ontario was super informative and engaging as a primary/junior teacher candidate. It was so nice to return to campus and interact with so many familiar and new faces. Reflecting back on last week's Teacher Education Conference, I can agree with my classmates that these conferences informed us, future teachers, through educating and covering the reality and practicality of the teaching profession. I had the privilege of attending and participating in six of the insightful Teacher Education Conferences that the staff of Niagara hosted in which I felt all connected to the OCT Standard: Ongoing Professional Learning. 

The first conference that really resonated with me was Joe Pupo’s workshop on “Stand out Resume and Effective Interviewing.” As my final semester comes to an end and we are only a few weeks away from graduation it is time for us teacher candidates to start applying to school boards and begin our journeys as Ontario teachers. Joe’s workshop provided me with information and guidance that helped me prepare for my next process of becoming a teacher. In his workshop, he used his PowerPoint and experiences to guide us step by step on conducting a resume that works to each individual's areas of strengths. When I attended this workshop last week I was in the process of completing my own teaching resume but had some doubts regarding the content and format I should include. Now a week later I have used the information, tips, and strategies I have learned from this workshop and finally completed my resume. This learning was significant to me as I was able to take what I learned and apply it to my future profession.

The next conference I will be reflecting on is Luke Paolozzi’s “Parent-Teacher Interviews”. As I have had the opportunity to attend parent-teacher interviews during my practicum I somewhat know what to expect when it comes to the reality of them. However, I know that when it is time for me to host my own classroom’s interviews I will no doubt be nervous as each interview can be different. Luke conducted his workshop through PowerPoint in which he expanded on his real-life experiences and the experiences of others who attended this workshop. In addition, he gave very insightful tips and strategies that can further prepare me and fellow classmates for what some may call stressful encounters. The purpose of parent-teacher interviews is to provide an opportunity for both teachers and parents to discuss a student's progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. The main thing I took away from this workshop is to always remain professional in these interviews as these conversations can help foster a strong partnership between parents and teachers, leading to better academic outcomes and a more positive school experience for the student.

Pat Tari’s workshop conference on “Parent Engagement” relates to Mr. Palozzi’s  “Parent-Teacher Interviews” as they both had a strong framework regarding strong parent-teacher relationships. The reason I selected this workshop to attend is that in my current practicum, my Associate Teacher and I have been experiencing some difficulties with one student's parents. I have never experienced this in other placements and have already learned so much about the importance of building and maintaining relationships with parents. So when I saw this workshop was available, my interest was sparked. Mr. Tari’s workshop was very informative and discussed topics such as creating a warm welcoming environment that reaches the parent community and the different processes to deal with parent conflict. I have learned crucial information in this workshop that I will remember forever as I move forward in my teaching journey. In this workshop, many real-life experiences were provided by Mr. Tari as well as my peers which were helpful in relating to and understanding parent conflict. I have learned that it is important for us teachers to work proactively to form relationships because it helps to create a positive and supportive learning environment, fosters trust and respect between teacher and students, and can lead to improved academic outcomes and student engagement. Building strong relationships with my students, their parents, and my co-workers is something I value and look forward to developing in this profession.

Overall by the end of this week, I not only felt more prepared but also confident in officially becoming a primary/ junior teacher. These workshops did an excellent job of going above and beyond in covering a wide range of topics that relate to the OCT Standard: Ongoing Professional Learning. 

Courtesy of Sierra@NUO-491