Student Teaching Adventure Continues...

I have been in my middle school for three whole weeks now. Wow! It’s crazy. Time is zooming by, but each day is jammed packed with excitement and challenges.

Rewarding/Wonderful times:

·         Receiving a sweet card/drawing from one of my students

·         Having my students say “Good morning, Ms. Griffin”

·         Hanging out with my students at lunch

·         When my students are actively engaged in the lesson

·         When the students saw the example of an activity for science and they were excited about it

·         Reading my students writing journals because it gives me a chance to get to know them

·         Driving to and from school because the drive is absolutely beautiful

·         Re-explaining information and seeing the students have an “A-Ha” moment

Challenging times:

·         Chatting students and getting them to follow the expectations

·         Writing and developing lesson plans

·         Lacking in sleep…every night

·         Being flexible with scheduling

·         Not being around in College Lodge especially for my residents

·         Not exercising at much because any free time I have, I want to sleep

This past week, I taught for three full days. My cooperating teacher had family issues to handle, so I took over the class.  It was overwhelming at times, but a learning experience at the same time. While the students drive me crazy sometimes, I really love them. Each of them are so unique and already have a special place in my heart.

Today, we had testing, so the schedule was all crazy. The time that we had for teaching, we ended up letting the students have free period/watching educational videos. This week, I will be working through The Westing Game during literature time.  In science, I will be making clouds out of cotton rounds (I can’t say “balls” in class, but the students will lose it). We will also be reviewing material on the atmosphere, water cycle, and clouds. I plan on teaching them study strategies, playing a review game, and hopefully give a test at the end of the week.

A goal that I have for myself is to work on classroom management especially with the chatting and talkativeness. It can get pretty tough at the end of the day and that is when my patience is low.

God has really been challenging me the past few weeks. I need to make an effort to make time for Him every day. My days need to be God-centered in order for me to have a spirit-filled life. I noticed my spirit not being the same, when I don’t make time for Him. I am thankful that I have a relationship with such a faithful and loving God that hasn’t given up on me.

Have a great week everyone. I hope you are able to make time for God and allow Him to fill up your life.

Until next time,

K

You know you are student teaching when...

You know you are student teaching when....

1. You have to make 55 copies of a 15-page paper and forgot to push the SORT button on the copier.
2. You only want to sleep when you have free time.
3. You accidentally wear the school uniforms' colors and blend in with the students.
4. You freaked out the first time you taught a lesson and was "in charge" of the class.
5. You feel like you should be walking in the line with the students because for the last 18 years or so you have been called a "student"
6. You only want to sleep when you have free time.
7. Some of the students still have a tendency to call you Ms. and then your first name (Ex: Ms. Kacey)
8. You wonder how you will ever be able to write lesson plans for 3 or four different classes, when it takes you at least an hour or so to write them for one class.
9. You spend more time getting ready in the morning than while you were in classes because now you can't just roll out of bed and put whatever on.
10. You panic at least once a week wondering if this is the career you are supposed to be doing because it feels so overwhelming right now.
11. You sometimes get mistaken for being a student (I think this has more to do with me looking so young. Oops!)
12. You only want to sleep when you have free time.

I know there has been more things that have occurred this past week during student teaching. Last week was my first full week of school. I was still doing alot of observing, but still interacting with the students. It has been great so far! I am realizing that sleep deprivation is in the fine print of the job description. O well! I will catch up on that during the weekends.

This week is shorter due to Labor Day and an unexpected trip home. However, I started teaching the literature class and a science class this week. I am planning the literature class lessons. We are working through The Westing Game. Yesterday we made a character analysis chart and discussed the main events going on in the story. It's an excellent book, and I am hoping to get through at much as possible before the next unit starts. In science, we are learning about the water cycle. I am teaching this class at the end of the day, so I have a lot of chatty students, but most of them seem really engaged with whats going on.

I hope you have a great day! God bless!

Until next time,
K