New Beginnings

Wow!  These past 18 weeks just flew by!  It seems like just yesterday I was beginning my student teaching experience and Wham! here I am today, a college graduate and a newly inducted high school English teacher. 

Over the past semester, I have gone from being a hesitant observer of the teaching process, to learning how to create AWESOME lesson plans and then scrapping them and flying by the seat of my pants simply because I discovered that what I thought was utterly brilliant was in fact, ridiculous to the students.  I have learned the importance of providing visual aids to assist students in the learning process and that if I assign a writing project, I better have a sample of what it is that I am expecting in return.

In addition to writing an endless amount of lesson plans and grading the never-ending flow of homework, I also took the time to attend a few professional development workshops.  The most memorable workshop was the one sponsored by the high school I was working at.  The building principal brought in representatives from Kagan and they trained all of the staff in ways to incorpate cooperative learning strategies and techniques into our classrooms.  I am still looking for and thinking about ways I can incorporate the strategies from this PD into my future classroom!

Finally, on Friday, December 17, 2010 I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelors degree in Education.  Even now, two days after the fact, I feel like I am still in a state of disbelief.  I mean, I set a goal and 5 1/2 years later, I acheived it!  Not sure what I am going to do over the Christmas break with all this newly discovered "free" time, but I think I will do my best to enjoy every last minute I get to spend with my pretty amazing family!  After the holidays, it will be time for me to get serious about turning in applications for a teaching position.  Hopefully, I will get hired by a school district that participates in the UNO C.A.D.R.E. Project.  If I can land a C.A.D.R.E. position I will be as happy as a clam!

A Memorable Week

This past week was absolutely amazing.  I took over the instruction of my 12th grade English class.  I was a little hesitant at first, but as the week went on, I could feel myself getting comfortable with my new position . . . "Teacher" and at times, it seemed that the students were responding to my new role.  They were, for the most part, engaging in the classroom activities I had planned.  They really enjoy being able to work in small groups and discuss the topic at hand, while at the same time catching up on the little bit of teen "news."    I think with a little more practice with classroom management strategies, I will be able to do a better job of ensuring the students remain focused on the task(s) to which they are assigned.

For as good as the week itself was, it did have a downside.  On Friday, I became quite ill and as a result, was unable to make it into school that day.  I felt like I was between a rock and a hard place.  Logically, it made perfect sense to stay home and focus on getting better.  On the other hand, I felt this overwhelming responsibility to my cooperating teachers, the high school, and most importantly to my students to be at school no matter what.  I ended up spending the day in bed, tossed between waves of nausea and guilt.  Looking back on the situation, I am glad I stayed home because I can now see that I would not have been much help to anyone had I attempted to go into school that day.  Now I need to focus on doing whatever it takes to keep myself healthy and strong so I don't have to miss anymore school and let everyone down again.  

Classroom Management

I had yet another enjoyable day at school today.  I did, however, take note of some behaviors exhibited by the freshman students.  As the teacher was going over the rules and expectations, several of the students in the back row became disengaged from the discussion by placing their heads on their desks, or pulling hoods over their heads.  I went to the back of the room to let the students "feel" my presence and when that didn't work, I tried tapping their shoulders and quitely asking them to take their hoods off and to look at the teacher when she was speaking.  In the end, this strategy was not effective. 

After class, I discussed these behaviors with my cooperating teacher and she informed me that she noted the behavior, but since it was not "disruptive" that this is one of those times when we, as teachers, need to pick and choose our "battles."  She went on to let me know that once we are able to establish relationships with our students we will be in a better position to address the students undesirable behaviors.  In addition, for several of the students, the disengaging behaviors could be an attention seeking behavior.

In short, what I learned today was that before we can correct a students undesirable behavior, we must first establish a positive relationship with the student and then determine what needs the student needs to have filled in order for an engaging learning experience to take place.

The First Day

Met my freshman students today.  What an amazing bunch of kids they are.  They reminded me of a string of pearls, each one unique but very valuable. 

My cooperating teacher facilitated each block of students while I pretty much observed.  What struck me was how she was effectively able to make a personal connection with each and every student and her ability to laugh at herself when she would make a "goof."  I believe these traits help ease the anxiety of the students, simply because as I was observing her, the anxiety I had been experiencing over the summer all seemed to fade away. 

So, my first day of student teaching has come and gone without incident and I am feeling much more at ease about this experience and am looking forward to all the adventures this semester holds for me and all of my "pearls."

A Bundle of Nerves!

No more papers to write.  No more exams to take.  All of my undergrad classes have been completed.  Now it's time to sit and wait.  Sit and wait until I report for my first day of student teaching.  This summer has been the longest and most anxious time of my life.  So many people have told me so many different things about their student teaching experiences, what I should be doing, what I should not be doing, what to expect, what kind of cooperating teachers they had, what kind of cooperating teacher mine will be.  I'm amazed I haven't gone absolutely batty yet!  I seem to recall a song from so long ago called, "Anticipation."  Not sure who sang it, but it accurately describes how I have been feeling this summer. 

I want so badly to be an amazing teacher.  To be able to reach my students and help them become literate in so many ways, so they will be equipped to be effective citizens in tomorrow's world.  Everyone keeps telling me that I will do great, or that I will be fine, and while I appreciate their support, I still question my abilities to be effective.  So, at this point, I have decided to not stress about the "unknowns," instead, I will just enjoy these last few weeks of summer and come August 13 I will jump whole-heartedly into the unknown world of student teaching!