Before I started at OISE I worked in administration at Harbourfront Centre. I am thrilled to come back here for my internship and work with all the wonderful people in school visits. Most of my experience in education has been in museums or galleries or art schools and so it feels great to be back in my element.
This year has been an exercise in figuring out if I would rather be in a classroom or a museum. It's a question I've been thinking about this past week. I still miss the kids from my last practicum, and there really is something to be said for having your own class. But it's also really rewarding to give kids a positive, exciting, unique opportunity to make some fabulous works of art. In an hour and half there's no pressure to assess or discipline, rather I can help kids make puppets and truly enjoy themselves. As a school teacher you are teaching different lessons to the same kids, here its the same lessons to different kids. Every day is different and every day is less stressful and often more enjoyable than being in a school.
The atmosphere here is also very different from the schools I've been in. While the teachers here are very busy the environment is more relaxed than a school as people here aren't struggling with report cards, classroom management, discipline etc. People are friendly and happy. They are a joy to work with and to learn from.
Some things are similar. Lessons are established in a similar way to the 3-part lessons we worked with at OISE. Students are introduced to a concept and their prior knowledge is activated prior to the art making which is the body of the lesson. Often there is time for a debrief about the process which is a great way to validate the art that the students produced.
I've been pondering the question of school/non-school site this week but mostly I've been learning from my supervisor Anne and several of the other teachers here and just really enjoying being back in my element.
I work 8:30 to 3:30 with an informal, short lunch break.
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