As we prepared to leave Thursday our teacher quickly reminded us that we needed to say goodbye to the kids. We immediately went through the lunch line to share some quick " have a great weekend" " see you next week" and high fives. It might be just my imagination, but the kids were sad to see us go. We have only been working with them for 2 weeks and I'm already attached! But what was more obvious was that they were already attached too.
This has an impact on me as a future teacher. Kids value your time and presence. Although I am just an intern I too have an impact on their lives. I need to remember that whatever capacity I am in, teacher, administrator, volunteer, community builder, that I am representing and modeling the person that I am proud of and who I want my kids to see.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The calm before the storm
Sunday marks the beginning of a work week. As I continue to do my homework( so that I can go tubing tomorrow) I think about my students. I think about the week ahead. I'm hoping that I get to work on time this week and that I am able finish all my readings.
Great book : Bone Black by bell hooks
Memoir about a girl growing up in the south and how she fights to maintain her identity as a strong willed intelligent individual against the conforming & soul crushing, racist, sexists world she lives in. It's pretty interesting, I can't seem to put it down.
MAN I MISS READING FOR PLEASURE!
Great book : Bone Black by bell hooks
Memoir about a girl growing up in the south and how she fights to maintain her identity as a strong willed intelligent individual against the conforming & soul crushing, racist, sexists world she lives in. It's pretty interesting, I can't seem to put it down.
MAN I MISS READING FOR PLEASURE!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Real World
Yesterday one of the children announced that he was feeling sad because something terrible happened to his family last night.
My teacher reacted by saying that they were really sorry that this particular event happened to them. None of the other children reacted shocked, surprised, or showed sadness when they little boy shared his troubles.
This is the life of my students and of many students like them around the country. They have so many factors going on outside of school that it makes it almost impossible for them to succeed in the classroom. This situation only reaffirms to me that I want to be a teacher more than anything. I want to provide a secure environment for these kids, a place where they can learn and feel good about the things that they can accomplish. THEY, not their parents, or family members, or people in their community, but themselves.
My teacher reacted by saying that they were really sorry that this particular event happened to them. None of the other children reacted shocked, surprised, or showed sadness when they little boy shared his troubles.
This is the life of my students and of many students like them around the country. They have so many factors going on outside of school that it makes it almost impossible for them to succeed in the classroom. This situation only reaffirms to me that I want to be a teacher more than anything. I want to provide a secure environment for these kids, a place where they can learn and feel good about the things that they can accomplish. THEY, not their parents, or family members, or people in their community, but themselves.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The 1st Day
We were suppose to arrive at 7:30am but my goal was to get there at 7:15am because as they say
" The early bird catches the worm". Well, that didn't happen, my worm was eaten because I arrived at 7:30am on the dot and when I stepped foot in the office there was a line! By the time I was given directions to my teachers room it was 7:35 am, when I got there they were GONE. They had already left for the daily assembly. So not only was I now late, but my teacher had to come over and get me from across the room to join him/her and the other intern who got there ON TIME. I was not feeling confident at that point. Although I knew I had tremendous experience with kids, the school still seemed like a foreign place to me. All schools have their own rules, protocols, and culture and I was an invader who felt.. well left out.
When we got back into the classroom the teacher started the calendar right away. First take away: I was so impressed by the way the teacher was able to infuse math and math concepts in the weather & calendar routine. The teacher also used more than 1 way to represent numbers within the 1st 15 minutes of entering the room. SUPER IMPRESSED!
The rest of the day I was just watching the teacher as they gave small/ whole group instruction in Math, Science/ Language Arts. 2nd Take away: I LOVE THE WAY THIS PARTICULAR TEACHER HANDLES CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT! I will most likely post another entry soon about all of the positive techniques they use.
The teacher instructed the other Intern and I that we could just observe the first day and then after that he/she would be guiding us to teach portions of the planned lessons. HOORAY! I was hoping that I wouldn't get a teacher who would make me run errands, sit and watch for the whole semester, and go make copies. What a waste of money and time that would be. Thank goodness I have a teacher who understands and values the roles and structure of this program. I'm 100% sure I will learn a ton TON TON from this teacher.
How did I feel: I was exhausted after the first day and an 1 hr 15 mins staff meeting after school. I was appreciative that everyone was so welcoming, but at the same time I was nervous about what impression and message I was sending. I felt comfortable with the children and I was eager to use what I have already learned about inquiry based learning with my interactions with them. I feel like I can do this... I just wish someone would hire me at the end of this semester, not 1 year from now.
On another note: In class today we talked about writing in a new way that I hadn't thought about before. I wanted to make sure I took note in this space of some of those aha moments.
" The early bird catches the worm". Well, that didn't happen, my worm was eaten because I arrived at 7:30am on the dot and when I stepped foot in the office there was a line! By the time I was given directions to my teachers room it was 7:35 am, when I got there they were GONE. They had already left for the daily assembly. So not only was I now late, but my teacher had to come over and get me from across the room to join him/her and the other intern who got there ON TIME. I was not feeling confident at that point. Although I knew I had tremendous experience with kids, the school still seemed like a foreign place to me. All schools have their own rules, protocols, and culture and I was an invader who felt.. well left out.
When we got back into the classroom the teacher started the calendar right away. First take away: I was so impressed by the way the teacher was able to infuse math and math concepts in the weather & calendar routine. The teacher also used more than 1 way to represent numbers within the 1st 15 minutes of entering the room. SUPER IMPRESSED!
The rest of the day I was just watching the teacher as they gave small/ whole group instruction in Math, Science/ Language Arts. 2nd Take away: I LOVE THE WAY THIS PARTICULAR TEACHER HANDLES CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT! I will most likely post another entry soon about all of the positive techniques they use.
The teacher instructed the other Intern and I that we could just observe the first day and then after that he/she would be guiding us to teach portions of the planned lessons. HOORAY! I was hoping that I wouldn't get a teacher who would make me run errands, sit and watch for the whole semester, and go make copies. What a waste of money and time that would be. Thank goodness I have a teacher who understands and values the roles and structure of this program. I'm 100% sure I will learn a ton TON TON from this teacher.
How did I feel: I was exhausted after the first day and an 1 hr 15 mins staff meeting after school. I was appreciative that everyone was so welcoming, but at the same time I was nervous about what impression and message I was sending. I felt comfortable with the children and I was eager to use what I have already learned about inquiry based learning with my interactions with them. I feel like I can do this... I just wish someone would hire me at the end of this semester, not 1 year from now.
On another note: In class today we talked about writing in a new way that I hadn't thought about before. I wanted to make sure I took note in this space of some of those aha moments.
- Children often feel like they are unable to write because they often feel like their stories aren't worth being heard
- As teachers we should encourage students to write, not only for themselves but to share the writings with other people ( " Only write for 10 minutes, just put anything down, no one will have to read it"
- Don't be naive, your perceptions about writing are visible to your students and often have a negative impact on how they view writing
- We need to be more reflective about our personal writing and encourage our students to do the same.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I got my ASSIGNMENT!
Friday after much MUCH waiting... I was given where I will be interning for the next semester!
I couldn't believe that I was so anxious about knowing where I would be. I've been working with kids of all ages practically my whole life. I had my hopes up on one school in particular and I was praying that I would be placed there (probably what made me so nervous) This school is enticing because they are dedicated to using and promoting research based teaching methodologies. Obviously the best choice for me after a year of Grad school under my belt!
Well... I didn't get that school.
Silver lining: new school new adventure? :)
On another note: I've started thinking about my research interests and I think I've picked a topic! I have to flesh out the details though. I'm hoping that I can get started soon.
I couldn't believe that I was so anxious about knowing where I would be. I've been working with kids of all ages practically my whole life. I had my hopes up on one school in particular and I was praying that I would be placed there (probably what made me so nervous) This school is enticing because they are dedicated to using and promoting research based teaching methodologies. Obviously the best choice for me after a year of Grad school under my belt!
Well... I didn't get that school.
Silver lining: new school new adventure? :)
On another note: I've started thinking about my research interests and I think I've picked a topic! I have to flesh out the details though. I'm hoping that I can get started soon.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The first day
Today I started the first day of my program. I've decided to create a blog to document my progression and growth throughout my Certification Program. I will not be disclosing where I go to school, the name of my program, or where I live. I want this blog to reflect an honest journey towards becoming a teacher and in order for me to do this it needs to be as general and generic as possible.
I am probably the most passionate person on this planet about educating children, adolescents, and adults. At times to a fault, I wear this passion on my sleeve. My goal is to share my thoughts, ideas, lesson plans, aha moments, and struggles with anyone who wants to listen.
Today, I got inspired by my professors. I was told that I would be prepared to be the " best teacher in the world". Call me crazy but I sure feel like that will be the case!
THUMBS UP FOR DAY 1 :)
I am probably the most passionate person on this planet about educating children, adolescents, and adults. At times to a fault, I wear this passion on my sleeve. My goal is to share my thoughts, ideas, lesson plans, aha moments, and struggles with anyone who wants to listen.
Today, I got inspired by my professors. I was told that I would be prepared to be the " best teacher in the world". Call me crazy but I sure feel like that will be the case!
THUMBS UP FOR DAY 1 :)
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