Lesson Planning
There are many important aspects to keep in mind when lesson planning. Some of the things I try to include in my practice when planning lessons are: the use of inquiry, keeping an open mind, differentiating the classroom environment, and extensions/adaptations/modifications to consider.
First, inquiry allows for students to follow their thoughts and research areas of interest. I find that students who inquire are often more engaged in the lesson as they build questions of interset and work their way towards the answers. Curiosity is a wonderful component to learning and motivates students to continue on with their studies. In addition, I believe that students who follow this path often facilitate their own learning and take control of their education, as opposed to an educator attempting to motivate the student to find success.
Second, by keeping an open mind when planning lessons, you will be more prepared. Nowadays, the way we educate our children is changing. We are moving away from testing and towards inquiry-based learning, and the presence of technology is very evident in the classroom. When creating lesson plans, I believe that keeping an open mind and being inviting to new and innovative concepts can bring new ideas and a fresh breath of air into the classroom. Experimenting with the types of lessons you produce allows you to test the waters and see what your students best respond to. By moving away from yes/no or right/wrong mindset and into a growth mindset, the students we teach will grow and feel more enabled in their educational abilities. Rather than just using the standardized testing model to assess students, playing around with various formative and summative assessments can bring new light to the education our students provide and give them a change in routine that they may very well need.
Third, paying attention to the environment you create to surround your students is a under-utilized skill that must be included when planning lessons. Nowadays, it has become apparent to me that many educators create multiple spaces within their classrooms. Examples of these spaces include a cozy corner, a hideaway, a work station for individuals and a work station for groups, as well as a classroom community corner. When I was in school, the classroom layout was very underwhelming and typically featured rows of desks or small group tables and chairs with minimal furniture scattered around the room, and a rug where the class activties would take place. Today, classrooms have hideaways where shy, anxious, or upset students can go to self-regulate themselves and calm their nerves, or go to an individual work station when they need to focus in isolation, or participate in a group setting at a group work station with other peers. Building a classroom that has these different areas can allow children to feel more comfortable at school and helps them to find what learning space is best for them depending on what type of learner they are (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, etc).
Finally, when planning lessons it is important to consider the adaptations/modifications/extensions needed. Because some students have learning difficulties or designations (or physical or mental disabilities), adaptations and modifications are often required for these students. For example, in a PHE basketball lesson plan, a student who cannot use one of their legs will be at a major disadvantage if the lesson is not adapted. By incorporating rules such as allowing that student more time to dribble/move with the ball or ensuring that all other students have to use one leg as well, the playing field is even. It is important to highlight these students’ abilities (rather than their disabilities) when planning these lessons. In addition, as all students work and learn at different paces, having extensions available for early finishers can make the most of their work time. When planning for extension assignments, it is important that those who finish early do not view these assignments as “extra work”, as this can decrease their motivation in school. Having light, fun activities such as word searches or interesting research question sheets can motivate these early finishers to continue their studies without dragging down their personal incentives to learn.
Below I have linked a Volleyball unit plan I have created for a grade 5 PHE class. This unit focuses on the basic fundamental skills like serving, bumping, and volleying progresses from the easier skills to more challenging skills as the unit develops. The final lesson in the unit features a volleyball tournament between the students to allow for them to utilize and showcase their newfound skills and strategies in a game setting.
PE Planning Assignment – Volleyball
Extra Curriculars
I have a number of hobbies and extra curricular activities that keep me busy throughout the year. Some of these activities include:
Sports: I played a number of sports during my elementary years including swimming, basketball, volleyball, track and field, field hockey, and soccer. As I developed and grew my skills in these sports, I found my passion for field hockey. I was fortunate enough to travel to Florida, California, and the Netherlands to play this sport competitively. I played field hockey at a high performance level until grade 12 and had the pleasure of playing for my provincial team and as a captain for my high school team.
Coaching and Teaching: I coached a girl’s field hockey team from 2015-2017. This experience was one of my first coaching and teaching opportunities, where I was able to further my communication and relationship-building skills. This opportunity was light-hearted and fun and allowed me to play around with what teaching methods and styles I used and observe how well they worked. It was such a pleasure to watch my team of girls grow and develop their skills as athletes and individuals. In addition, I also participated as a grade 9 PE class teaching assistant where I worked closely alongside a classroom PE teacher and picked up on many tips and tricks for managing and differentiating a classroom.
Community Building and Work Experience: From a young age, I loved to socialize and build relationships within my community. I began babysitting at a very young age and became quite comfortable with young children early on. I loved to hear stories from adults in my community and picked up a part-time job at a local family-run toy store as a result of these conversations. In this position, I worked closely alongside parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, school teachers and counsellors, and children of a variety of ages. I loved the community I was able to interact with through this job and got to develop many extensive, life-long relationships with families in my community through my interactions.
Health and Wellness: Developing a healthy mindset and finding my balance in life is a large part of how I live everyday. I aspire to nourish my body with wholesome foods (while also indulging in a delicious treat every now and then!) and I love to keep my body moving and being active whether I go on a brisk walk or hike a mountain. For me, creating nutritious meals that are kind to my body help me be kind to myself and as a result I am kind to those around me. I believe that health and wellness play a tremendously large role in building a well-rounded citizen and I aspire to share my knowledge and the benefits of this topic with those around me. As the new BC PHE curriculum includes health and wellness, I think all educators should harness the power that comes from building a strong foundation of health to further develop happy and healthy students in the future.
Academics
Introduction to my Blog
Introduction
Hello! Welcome to my ePortfolio. My name is Anika Walker and I am currently finishing up my second year at the University of Victoria in the Elementary Education program. Since I was young, I knew I had a passion for teaching. At an early age, I loved to share my understanding of knowledge with others, and loved to explain concepts and strategies to my peers. During my intermediate age, I began coaching junior field hockey teams and loved to put together fun drills and teach skills to younger children. It is so inspiring to watch young people grow and master new tasks as a result of one’s hard work and dedication. During my final year of high school, I was fortunate enough to secure a position as a PE teaching assistant for a grade 9 class. In this role, I developed extensive skills to contribute to my teaching toolbox, and became very familiar with taking attendance, setting up lessons, and running drills and tasks. I also was immersed with student diversity and understanding that all students learn in different ways and progress at different speeds. Through these positions, I decided to pursue my passion for teaching.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy revolves around being a role model for everyone around me, and not just the students in my class. When teaching, I believe that students pick up on behaviours, beliefs, and react in similar ways to those of their instructor. Because of this, it is important to set a proper example and work alongside students to help them find themselves, develop, and grow as unique individuals. It is our job as educators to teach our students how to use critical and creative thinking skills, be able to self-regulate and manage their emotions, as well as allow them to thrive and be the best versions of themselves. I have a firm belief that all educators should be motivating through even the toughest of times, create engaging and energetic lessons, as well as accept all students and be willing to work alongside them despite their appearances, disabilities, or beliefs.
Personally, teaching is a gift that everyone should be able to experience. All students should be given the opportunity to learn and receive the same opportunities to follow their passions and do what they want to do. Without educators, this goal is not possible. Without educators, students will not further their academic development, there will be unequal opportunities in society, and the future of our civilization will be at risk due to uneducated youth. Educators have the ability to make a difference to the lives of young individuals, whether they view school as an escape from a rough home life, a chance for themselves to shine at school, or a social scene for them feel comfortable, schools and educators are critical roles that are constantly present during the physical and mental developmental stages in the lives of children everywhere.
What is the Goal of Education?
Schools are designed to create students who will become responsible and socially-equipped citizens. Through core classes such as English, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies students are expected to learn about the world around them and the beings which occupy the society we live in. As educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that the needs of all students are met to equip them to meet these standards of society.
Anika Walker 