Lesson 1: What is my role?

Attention

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able

  • Understand their responsibilities of a practicum student
  • Explain how to “be present” and “connect” at their practicum sites. 
  • Determine what is appropriate attire for their practicum
  • Discuss confidentiality and ethical boundaries that may present in a practicum

Teaching

Welcome to the world of practicum!  This course is set up to challenge you in your new adventure of becoming a successful practicum student!  But what does that even mean?  What exactly is your role? The answer is……. Whatever you are ready for!  Of course there are some basic guidelines of what to do and what not to do, but within your sites, your mentor will be great at determining what exactly you can and are capable of doing.  The guidelines below are some of the basics when considering what a practicum student can and cannot do.  Please keep in mind that this is not a full list and individual sites have their own policies and procedures that will need to be paid great attention to.
For this class you WILL:

  • Be present with the children
  • Master the art of purposeful connections with children, staff and families
  • Asking questions related to your experiences
  • Observing staff and try new techniques
  • Being friendly and useful
  • Be open and honest
  • Communicate with your mentor and instructor
  • Be reflective in your practice
  • Dress appropriately
  • Respect confidentiality
  • Participate in all class requirements

You MIGHT

  • Be asked to feed an infant
  • Put a child to sleep
  • Participate in emergency procedures or be the one to soothe a child after a fall
  • Run an activity that was not planned by you
  • Relay important information to staff from other staff or parents

You WILL NOT

  • Be left alone with the children
  • Diaper children
  • Transport children

This is not the full list of course and there obviously was more information during your initial meeting.  A large chunk of this lesson and figuring out your role as a practicum student comes from Powerful Interactions.  Because this is your first site, the expectations are really based around creating those meaningful, intentional interactions.  It is about intentionality and teachable moments.  To prepare for your assignment, read pages vi-66 in Powerful Interactions – How to Connect with Children to Extend their Learning

Assessment

Lesson 1 Quiz

After reading Powerful Interactions,

  1. In your own words, what does it mean to be present?  Provide three examples of how you can be “present” in your role as a practicum student.
  2. In your own words, what does it mean to connect?  Provide examples for each strategy in Step Two that you can meet in your role as a practicum student. 

Possible Class Discussion A

https://shoeshirtsandothersht.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/7.jpg
I get it, shoes are amazing….. but are these appropriate for outside play with children.  Can you really run in them?  Why or why not are these appropriate for your practicum?

 

http://morgridge.du.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SG-12-14-15-NAEYC-Accreditation-FINAL-1024x576.jpg
Okay, spring time is coming….we can wear white again.  However, even assuming these are shorts and not a SKIRT….. Why or why not would this be appropriate for your practicum?



https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e8/f5/6c/e8f56cc09de695a9fd41debfc0baf1b6.jpg
I get it… you attend a super awesome college but this “college” shirt…… appropriate or not appropriate for practicum? Why?

 

 

Possible Class Discussion B

Scenario 1:
You begin at your site and you discover that your best friends’ niece attends daycare there.  You:

  1. Immediately call your best friend and say, “OH MY GOSH!  Why didn’t you tell me your neice went to daycare there?!?!?!?!?!”
  2. Talk to the practicum site all about how you know her and your family.  You just can’t believe she is there!  Too cool!
  3. Say nothing

What answer did you pick and WHY?

Scenario 2:

You have been at this practicum site for several weeks now and a parent in the program starts to flirt with you.  You remember them from high school and had a small crush on them.  What do you do and WHY?

Possible Class Discussion C

You have been at your site for about a month now and you are really beginning to despise what you see and hear.  You are not sure this is still a good fit for you and you are frustrated. You:

  1. Stop going – who cares?….. you just can’t deal with it anymore
  2. Talk with your instructor about your concerns
  3. Talk with your mentor about your concerns
  4. Make a plan to make the best of it….at least you are learning what you DON’T want to be doing when you are a teacher.

What option(s) did you chose and why?