My two-week observation in Comox

We just finished our two-week school observation and I was placed at V.P. Vanier in Comox, B.C. I had a wonderful time there and the teachers were super helpful in giving me tips and advises.

Here are some thoughts:

Teacher enthusiasm and student engagement - From my observation the students respond most positively when teacher is enthusiastic about the class or the club. The school is a strong contender in robotics and improv competitions because the teachers are passionate about the class.

Student apathy - On the flip side, there are students who just don't want to participate despite the teacher's best efforts to motivate them. The school has a large catchment area and covers a wide range of socio-economic classes. Many students have issues at home that affect their learning but is outside the teacher's control.

Indigenous education - Vanier has a very cool Indigenous education program called the Ravens Program. Ravens is a combination of First Nations 12, English 11, and Planning 10. The teacher of the program is very charismatic and engaging. He often challenges students on issues and social perceptions from the Indigenous point of view. Due to funding, the program is currently restricted to students who self-identifies as having Indigenous ancestry.