Letter

Maxwell Cameron Award Nomination

I feel genuinely honoured that my work has been qualified as outstanding by faculty and seasonal instructors. I have been devoted to the teaching program for the last few months, and its values have truly changed my life and my view of education.

While I wrote weekly reflections for the purpose of courses, I evaluated my practices daily by looking back at what worked best, by debriefing with colleagues about how to improve, and by seeking additional resources in libraries and on the internet. My most powerful reflection happened during a math block when I realized that my lesson was not reaching my learners. I adapted my teaching strategy immediately, and nobody felt frustrated by a missed learning opportunity.

My practicum at Raven Kingdom School is one of the most rewarding experiences I ever had in my life. Comparing and contrasting the theory and practice is fascinating and a source of motivation to research and implement new strategies on a regular basis. Theory supports that children learn through play and I purposefully planned games, jeopardy, or hand-on stations throughout my units. It was fantastic to see my lessons come to life in my classroom, and to observe my students engaged in playful learning.

Knowledge of students is one of the keystones of effective teaching practices. Raven Kingdom School is an inner city school where students have daily exposure to poverty, abuses, trauma or mental illnesses. Some of my students did not eat their fill during Spring Break because the school programs were closed. As a teacher with pedagogical sensitivity, I had to adapt my practice to reach all my pupils, and to ensure they have the right tools to become successful members of society.

My class is a wonderful demonstration of the complexity and challenges encountered by contemporary teachers. I am fortunate to teach 23 lively children whose smiles are contagious. However, an episode when my classroom got wrecked and one of my students with behavioural needs was restrained by two grown-up men brought tears to my eyes. The lack of financial resources and the reality of special needs education have challenged my faith in full inclusion, but staying flexible and open-minded has truly helped my practice to move forwards.

As an immigrant, I embrace the Canadian diversity and the differences in my classroom. Teaching students from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds is a privilege, and I appreciate every moment of it. After a study on Aboriginal stories, I had an interesting discussion with my students about the “many ways” to see and interpret our world, and about the importance of respecting each others beliefs. I have been judged because of my differences, and I feel responsible to teach my students true compassion and genuine respect of self and others. Education is a powerful way to break the cycle of poverty and violence, and educators who are advocates of social justice create pathways towards a peaceful humanity.

I would like to thank all the faculty and seasonal instructors for their nominations for the Maxwell Cameron Award. It has been a great opportunity to reflect on my growth over the last few months and to mirror the program values with my daily practice.

Sincerely