This page is a reflection of my experiences during my second Field Placement Practicum with Conestoga College on my journey in learning to become a Early Learning Resource Consultant. 

During this second term placement I was able to have my own caseload to work on independently with the support of a supervising RC. I feel that this experience has helped me to build skills in the areas of collaboration, communication and advocating for the needs of children. 

Having to enter the Childcare Centres on my own, largely due to the Pandemic restrictions, left me feeling a little uneasy. This same discomfort allowed me to build my communication and collaboration skills and push through to build effective working relationships with the Educators in the room I was supporting. 

I also was able to provide support that came from my professional practice and focus on supporting emotional and self regulation in early learners. Many of the strategies and resources I had created in my own practice were helpful to add to the classroom and practice of the Educators I was assisting. I was also able to use my skills to foster early communication skills that were a focus for the child and a goal created by the SLP of the child and family. I learned so much on this journey and started out feeling inadequate in my own skills, but by the end of the term I was validated and encouraged by my ability to persevre, change my methods and use the constructive guidance provided by my supervising RC to build my practice. I am also grateful to have had the overall experience of learning both Pre and Post-Pandemic. Had I not experienced both methods I may not have realized that communication, collaboration and family inclusion can be better supported with the use of both virtual and in person meetings, but that virtual meetings provide a greater ease in the scheduling and transportation barriers that impact successful and purposeful relationship building and supporting.