TED Talks Speaker, Sarah Kay. Just a little something to help you make it through your day.

The Difference a Year Makes . . .

I still find it hard to believe that almost an entire year has passed since I graduated from UNO.  The funny thing is, I am not the same teacher I was as I was completing my student teaching assignment.  Over the past year, I have gained more confidence in my abilities as a teacher simply because I am becoming more familiar with the wide array of literature that students are exposed to, and in my ability to effectively reach and engage even the most challenging of students.

It astounds me to think that if a person can learn, grow, and change this much in just a year's time, imagine the changes and growth that takes place over a lifetime!  As a high school teacher, when we are first introduced to our students as Freshmen, these students are excited and eager to please, while at the same time, scared of the unknown (being in a new school, having to make new friends, learning new rules, and discovering the expectations of all those new teachers).  By the time these same Freshmen become Seniors, they are not the same people they were when they first walked through the doors of the high school.  For the most part, they are more confident in their abilities and are beginning to form an idea of the type of person they want to be as adults.

The changes are astounding, and it all begins with the first year.

Cooperative Learning

What a fantabulous summer this has been!  It began with me taking my first two graduate level classes, which in turn, progressed into one amazing summer job as the teacher leader for a summer camp program called, "Project Embrace."
To begin, my job is to create an integrated curriculum plan that ties S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) concepts into the programs weekly themes, AND is diverse enough to effectively reach the zone of proximal development for children and youth between the ages of 5 to 17.  While this has been a challenging task to undertake, it has been one that has, so far, been very rewarding for myself and for the students.

For example, over the past several weeks, I have taken many opportunities to have students work in collaborative groups to complete specific tasks.  This week, we are exploring the solar system, to be even more specific, planets within our solar system that have natural satellites.  After a large group discussion about man-made and natural satellites, the kids were split into pairs (older kids working with younger kids) to research information about their assigned planet and begin working on constructing a 3D model of their assigned planet and all the natural satellites that revolve around the planet. 

Once the kids began working on their projects, I stepped back to observe the learning process. It simply amazed me to see how the older kids were not only teaching their younger counterparts about the "science" portion of the project, but they were also helping them to discover what happens when you mix primary colors together and how adding black or white to a color will make the color appear darker or lighter respectively.  The best part about the whole process, is that every single participant was engaged in the process and having fun at the same time.  At the end of the day, the participants were still talking about their planets by making notes about the differences in size, color and the number of "natural" satellites each of the planets had. Many of the kids also made the connection as to how a planet's natural satellite can act as a sort of "brother's keeper" because of the way it affects many things on the surface level of the planet it is attached to such as weather, tides, and the passage of time.

As the End of the School Year Nears . . .

This past week I began my first week of a long-term subtitute teaching position.  In the beginning, I was a little anxious or nervous, largely because I didn't know what to expect.  Since I was going to be subbing outside of my content area I had numerous questions rolling around in my head.  Will I be knowledgeable enough to help the students learn what they need to know to be successful?  Will they do the work I ask of them or will they fight me every step of the way?  What does the teacher I am subbing for expect from me?

Luckily, I was able to schedule some time to meet with the teacher before she took her leave of absence, and as a result, was able to alleviate many of my fears or insecurities about this position.  She provided me with background information about each of her students, reviewed her lesson plans for the next five weeks with me and answered any questions I had regarding her plans.  She also showed me her grading scale and how to use the technology she has available in her classroom.  She even invited me into her classroom to meet her students BEFORE she took her leave.  Having these opportunities made the transition SO much easier, not only for myself, but for the teacher and her students as well.

After having spent a week in this position now, I have learned so much.  I am amazed at how bright her students are, as well as, how respectful and courteous they are to everyone (adults and peers, alike).  I have not had any incidents that needed some sort of discipline from me.  If this first week was a sign of the way the classroom will run for the next four weeks, I have nothing to worry about.  Perhaps, I may even end up with a regular teaching position at this school as a result of this substitute positon.  One can only hope.  I really am having an amazing time working with these students and finding out what they know while trying to fill in the gaps in their knowledge of the subjects we are covering.

Until next time.

Thoughts about being a substitute teacher

Back in January I was hired by the Omaha Public School District (OPS) as a substitute teacher.  I wasn't exaxtly sure what to expect, but I forged ahead despite the "not knowing."  For slightly over a month now, I have been filling in at a variety of high schools within the district and let me tell you, this has been one awesome journey so far! 

I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students from multiple schools and each student I have had the pleasure of working with has only strengthened my decision to become a teacher!  I have come across students who were a little more "chatty" than most others, and students who initially told me that they were not going to do the assignments left by their teacher, and one student who came right out and said that he did not like substitute teachers!  Even with these difficult moments I was able to talk to each of these students and help them see why it would be beneficial for them to work on the task at hand.  I didn't "force" them to do something they didn't want to do.  In fact, all I really did was listen to them.  I listened to their concerns, their doubts, whatever it was that was keeping them from putting forth their best efforts.  By doing so, most of the students came around and were actually very successful in the classes I was subbing in.

This has been one of the most enjoyable months of my life so far.  My hope is that I will continue to get the call every morning to report to one of the high schools within the district and that I can keep learning everything I can from the students I come into contact with.  Perhaps, while I am learning from them, maybe I might be able to teach them something new in the process.

Until next time . . .