PSD After 3 Practicum Experience

PSD After 3 is a free after-school enrichment program offered at several Poudre School District Title I and 21st CCLC sites, including Harris Elementary where I completed my practicum. The program provides students with academic support along with enrichment in areas like art, science, recreation, and tutoring.

During my seven-week practicum, I taught art once a week to a group of second and third graders in the Rams Art Club. My curriculum focused on identity, storytelling, and hands-on making. Students created symbolic self-portraits, explored cultural masks, and completed a four-day clay unit where they built and glazed their own pinch pots.

Throughout the program, I worked on building routines, supporting students in their creative choices, and adjusting instruction as I learned more about the group. Teaching multi-day projects, managing materials, and creating a consistent classroom structure helped me grow as an educator. The students came each week excited to make art, and seeing their confidence and skills grow over time made this practicum a meaningful experience for all of us.