During the first week at the children's academy, I felt both excited and eager to learn. On the first day, I met the academy director and other staff members, toured the facility, and learned about the academy’s mission and routines. I helped set up classrooms and prepare materials, which improved my organizational skills. I also shadowed other teachers so I can have a better understanding of how to interact with the children and lead the classroom. As the week went on, I focused on getting to know the children and understanding their needs. I worked with all ages from infant all the way up to pre-k. Watching how they behaved and interacted during different activities gave me useful insights into their learning styles. Assisting with storytime, arts and crafts, and snack times helped me become more adaptable.
By the end of the week, I started leading activities. This included managing small groups which helped me develop leadership skills. Talking with parents during drop-off and pick-up also improved my communication skills. In the second week I assisted with weekly plans, provided one-on-one support, and tracked the children's progress, which improved my skills in teaching and assessment.
Midway through the second week, I took on more responsibility in managing the classroom. I introduced new activities to keep the children engaged and developed ways to maintain a positive environment, which improved my classroom management skills. Talking more deeply with the children helped me understand their interests better. Overall, these first two weeks at the academy were a great learning experience, helping me improve in areas like communication, leadership, classroom management, and empathy. I look forward to continuing to develop these skills in the coming weeks.
In the third week, I completed my CPR training and received certification, which was a significant part of my journey with working with children. This certification increased my confidence in handling emergencies and allowed me to take on more responsibilities. I started teaching classes independently, without a co-teacher, which was both challenging and rewarding. This experience significantly developed my leadership and instructional skills, as I had to manage the classroom entirely on my own.
During this time, I also began working with older children, ages 7 to 11. This shift required a different approach compared to working with younger kids. The older children were more independent and had different interests and learning needs. I adapted by planning more advanced and engaging activities that catered to their age group. Leading these activities helped me grow my teaching techniques and adapt my communication style to suit older children. I also noticed that these children required more advanced problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
Throughout these four weeks, I learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability in teaching. Managing a classroom independently taught me how to balance various tasks, such as instructing, observing, and addressing individual needs. Working with different age groups expanded my understanding of child development and improved my ability to tailor my teaching strategies accordingly. By the end of the fourth week, I felt more confident and capable in my role, having developed a wide range of skills including leadership, classroom management, communication, empathy, and adaptability. These experiences have laid a strong foundation for the rest of the summer, and I look forward to continuing to grow and contribute to the children's development.