Dawson Leduc
About Me
Teaching is the right career for me because I am passionate about mentorship, the French language, and making an impact on my community. As a young man, I love coaching youth hockey, and I have learnt how rewarding it can be to inspire young kids. What I do on the ice, is what I want to bring to the classroom. My experiences coaching, mentoring, and leading teams have shaped my identity as an educator who values discipline, teamwork, and student confidence. Having summers filled with coaching and running hockey development camps has strengthened my commitment to youth development and lifelong learning. As I continue to grow as a teacher candidate, I am dedicated to building inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environments where all students feel capable and valued.
Skills, Talents, and Strengths
I bring numerous skills through my personal and professional experience. I have a deep knowledge of hockey through coaching and playing, which has helped me develop discipline, leadership, and teamwork in young learners. I work with the Dufferin Ducks organization to develop young hockey players from the ages of 6 to 8 years old. I focus on teaching proper technique and developing skills to help players get better. Being a varsity athlete at the University of Waterloo allows me to motivate youth toward living a healthy and active lifestyle. With my strong knowledge of French, I aim to connect with diverse communities and build meaningful communication. On the rink, on the trail, in the gym, or in the classroom I strive to inspire growth, confidence, and hard work. I also bring strong communication skills, enforce a growth mindset , and a commitment to continuous improvement qualities that guide my development as an educator.
Hobbies
Education
Passion
Teamwork
Teaching Philosophy
My approach to teaching mirrors the way I coach: I build confidence, encourage teamwork, and create a learning environment where every student feels confident and supported. My experiences in youth hockey and French education shape my commitment to helping learners grow through discipline, encouragement, and meaningful relationships. In every setting, my goal is to inspire students to work hard, believe in themselves, and take pride in their progress by instilling a growth mindset.
Through my practicum placements, I continue to strengthen my professional knowledge and refine my practice. Working alongside experienced educators has deepened my understanding of effective instruction, classroom management, and student engagement. These experiences reinforce my dedication to ongoing professional growth and to strengthen learning environments where all students can thrive.
Standards of Teaching Practice
Domain: Commitment to Students Learning Domain: Teaching Practice
Competency: Established rapport with students & dedication in efforts to teach and support student learning and achievement
Supporting students during the inter-board chess tournament was a meaningful opportunity to build strong rapport and demonstrate my commitment to their learning beyond the classroom. By practicing strategy with them, encouraging their problem-solving skills, and celebrating their progress, I was able to be part of a school club where students felt supported, confident, and motivated to challenge themselves. This artifact reflects my dedication to build positive relationships and ensure that every learner feels valued and capable of achieving success. Through consistent encouragement and presence, I helped students both develop both their strategic thinking and their sense of belonging within the school community.
Competency: Presents lessons that allow students to build mastery of concepts
While teaching French, I intentionally designed lessons that helped students build mastery of new vocabulary and verb conjugations through interactive mini-games and friendly competitions. By incorporating movement, visuals, and quick-response activities such as showing a subject card and having students identify the correct verb ending, I created a learning environment that was both comprehensive and enjoyable. This artifact highlights my commitment to structuring lessons that scaffold learning, promote active participation, and empower students to take ownership of their growing language skills. It also demonstrates my development in designing differentiated, student-centred instruction that supports diverse learners.
Competency: Integrates appropriate technologies into instruction
For the Menu de le café de français activity, I designed a visually engaging digital menu that students used to create and perform their café scripts from Grade 5 to 6. This resource supported students in practicing vocabulary, pronunciation, and functional language skills while also applying numeracy as they calculated the cost of their orders. By integrating digital design tools to create the menu, I enhanced clarity, accessibility, and authenticity of the task. This artifact reflects my ability to thoughtfully incorporate technology into instruction to enrich learning experiences, scaffold communication, and provide students with meaningful, real-world contexts for using French.
Competency: Motivates students and engages them in learning
The Jeopardy-style review game I created for my Grade 6 class exemplifies my ability to design instruction that motivates and actively engages students. By organizing the class into collaborative groups and presenting key concepts in a game-based format, I encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and healthy competition. Students were eager to participate, discuss possible answers, and apply their knowledge to solve increasingly challenging questions to help them prepare for their biodiversity unit test. This artifact demonstrates my commitment to using dynamic instructional strategies that make learning more memorable and meaningful while reinforcing essential curriculum expectations.