3/4 Finished!

Holy Moly! I am 3/4 done with student teaching!!

I had my major evaluation done yesterday and it went well! I was nervous for no reason. My evaluator was very nice and I really appreciate how comfortable the whole lesson felt. He kept his distance, didn't show judgment, constantly was smiling- was a great evaluator!  

My last day of student teaching is... November 17th!!! Then what? That's what I keep asking myself. I need to get one day of substitute teaching in before January 1st, 2011 so I can receive the current teacher retirement plan.

Any teachers in IL (near NW suburbs) if you need a substitute anytime in late November-all of December PLEASE let me know!!! Or if you know of any schools hiring.


I have been applying for substitute positions but I know most teachers have preferences over who they hire for their sub. 


Anyway, back to student teaching. This has been a great experience for me and I've learned more than I could possibly imagine. I actually feel ready and confident that I will make a great teacher. It's not cockiness but I feel my passion for teaching and the children. I love everything about teaching and it makes me happy. I think in knowing all of this it can bring me great success.

My Dog Didn't Eat my Homework...

I absolutely love the clever excuses children give when they "forget" their homework.

Today the weather was stormy, windy, and the electricity even went out near the school I student teach at.

So when it was time to collect homework, most of the students had it. Then I go to one child and ask if he completed his homework and he says "uh... no. I left it at home." me, "okay." Him. "well you know the tornado.." There was no tornado today but I do think it's fabulous that he can blame the weather for not doing or bringing in his homework. It was kind of hilarious (I think you might have had to hear the way he said it).

Other excuses I've heard are always not enough time, my mom didn't know how to do it, I did it and I have it but someone must have taken it... and of course- what homework? We didn't have any. I love how they try to convince the teacher that there was no homework assigned!

Mid Term

I'm officially half way done with student teaching!!! I am psyched because that means that soon enough I'll have my own classroom which is something I have been dreaming of since I was five years old! 

The weeks are beginning to go by a lot quicker now and I am so anxious and antsy. I also know that I am learning a lot from this and need to make sure I appreciate this opportunity and live it up. It's hard to not focus on the future only but I am trying the best I can. I have to admit I am excited about this FOUR day weekend!

Next week my mentor teacher is also out for three days for meetings so I'll be in charge :) There will be a sub in the room because of laws but I am still excited to say the least. 

I love the bond I am forming with these students and hopefully in a few months I'll be there sub! The days are getting busier now because I am teaching more and more and pretty soon I'll be teaching my ten day unit for my work sample. I wish it was more fun but my mentor teacher really wanted me to teach dictionary skills because the students don't have much experience working with dictionaries. Now the only part of student teaching I am dreading is the reflective paper and work sample... BLAH. I got one part of the work sample done and completed two lesson plans. My plan is to finish two more lesson plans tomorrow... Then by Monday I should have all ten lesson plans 100% completed! I really hope my plan works! 

A month from now when I'm writing I'll be talking about how I only have a few more weeks left.. time sure does fly! I hope the rest of student teaching goes as great as the first half :)!

Fairy Tales

Today in the 3rd grade a few kids were talking about six flags and roller coasters. One student said that she would never go on a roller coaster or is scared of them because she heard people throw up a lot. The boy she was talking to responded with "you don't throw up! you might feel sick but you don't throw up, that's just a fairy tale!"

Love it!

Third Grade

I'm really beginning to love the third grade class I am working with. I was never a big fan of the third grade- mainly because my own experience in the third grade was nothing special. However, I've been working with third graders since last year because of block and am beginning to really like it. They are independent and can work with glue, scissors, crayons and don't need to be too supervised but they also still enjoy school and don't have smart mouths. 

My third graders and me are really beginning to get along. I'm about to begin my fourth week with the third graders and have more responsibility now which is great. I like student teaching but am also SO ready to have my own classroom. It's a tough economy and most schools are laying off teachers so I hope I don't have too much trouble landing a job. 

Miracle Whip

I'm a horrible, lazy blogger. I know I will regret all the moments I've left unwritten but I am trying to get out of my funk- so here it goes:

RB

He's a funny kid and should not be in our classroom. He deserves to belong somewhere he fits in and will learn from. They had to write about connections to a book we read yesterday and it was beyond him.

He ended up basically writing


www.facebook.com/miraclewhip
www.twitter.com/miraclewhip
www.blogspot.com/miraclewhip
etc...  it was hilarious but quite random!

RB

Today the kids were on about me posters and these little posters had like five or so different boxes of apples and each apple had a question like describe what you look like, whats your fav. place, what's one with you have, etc...

So I was working with RB (not real name) and he is the child with autism who just moved here from the Philippines and doesn't have an IEP or anything of that sort yet, meaning he doesn't even have an aid yet when he really needs one. So I was helping him on his poster and I was describing what a wish was and asking him if he could have anything in this world what would it be, etc... and I said so if you have one wish, anything you want, what would it be? His response, "H1N1 Virus" in his robotic voice. Then he wrote one of his favorite places to be was the hospital and he wants to be a doctor, nurse, judge, and school bus driver. 

During art he was drawing and drew a helicopter, a launch pad, and even an emergency exit with the cross sign on it. Then he drew an airplane with the delta logo and said it was the delta airplane, and drew an airport, and he's just so incredibly gifted which makes it hard because he won't be getting help for a while. 

I hate the school system in that sense. It's taking forever to get someone to begin testing him and giving him the help he truly needs and deserves.

Parental Pick Up

After I thought about it, I do have a particular topic I want to write about.

Parents picking up their children... Some parents are quite irresponsible and I can't help but feel bad for the children who suffer because of it. Today we had two different situations involving parental pickup.

Boy #1: He was probably in kindergarten or first grade and his backpack was one of those suitcases that says "Going to Grandma's" and it was 2:15 and there wasn't a parent in site. Finally his teacher decides to call home and the first time no answer and so she calls another number and finally someone picks up and says they are coming. Did they forget there son was in school??? It didn't seem like they were at work and when someone finally came to pick him up it was about 2:30 and there were two adults and a teenager who came to get him in one vehicle. The boy was great and sat quietly and barely said a word but I felt so bad. 

Boy #2: He is an autistic student in my classroom who just moved here from the Philippines. He was just added to the roster yesterday and his parents picked him and his brother up yesterday and dropped them off. They were late coming to pick him up yesterday so when they weren't out there right away we weren't too worried. We were a bit concerned when we couldn't find his older brother in the fifth grade and around 2:15 we went to the office. The principal contacted the older brothers teacher who had no idea if he went in the bus line or walkers line, the secretary had to try to get in touch with all the bus drivers and ask for this boys name. Finally, around 2:20 the boys mom calls asking where her other child was. The principal asked if she could drive him home and my teacher went with her and it was all just so chaotic. It was rough because we thought we lost one kid, the other child is crying in the office, and it was just rough. It was a big mix up and should have been clarified yesterday and the parents were very unclear of what they wanted to be done and why didn't the 5th grade boy stop the bus driver or say my brother isn't on yet or something. I know the 5th grade boy is not responsible though but I feel like teachers are babysitters 90% of the time and it's just frustrating. 

I felt bad for both students in this situation ESPECIALLY since it was only the second day of school and they are so young and helpless. 

Am I really cut out to be a teacher? The patience teachers have is simply amazing.

The Second Day

I am bad at titles... I wish I one particular topic in mind that I actually wanted to blog about, oh well.

Today was the second day of student teaching and it was MUCH better than yesterday. I felt a lot better on my drive home today than I did yesterday but am still dreading the 58 more days. I think part of the reason I feel this way is mainly cause I am busting my butt and up at an early hour and pulling a full teacher day but am not getting credit for it. I mean it does obviously count at WIU and I get a S/US depending on how I do and I will work towards the Satisfactory and hopefully will pass and be a teacher asap, but it feels like a bunch of free work that I am paying to do! I am paying 12 credit hours worth of tuition to be helping out a teacher! Then at the end of my 12 weeks she gets paid for mentoring me!! *sigh*

Anyway I can say that I am learning a lot and seeing all the sides of being a teacher that are not so fun. I like my mentor teacher but I also feel like she doesn't have a real bond or connection with her students. Of course it's only the second day of school but I feel like she doesn't really try to get to know them which is a bit annoying. However, it is only Day 2 and I know nothing about her so can't judge this quickly.

Tomorrow from 11:15-1:50 they are busy with Lunch, Gym, Music, and Art! That means a nice, chill afternoon (hopefully). I am definitely looking forward to the weekend. It felt like such a long week even though I've only gone there for half the week...

I don't know how I am going to do 58 more days (actually 56 because I get credit for two days I won't actually be there).. what a great feeling, ha ha.

First Day of School!

I've officially begun student teaching and this is the final lap before I can finally be a teacher! I am working with third graders again which is a little disappointing because I was expecting first graders and just had third graders last semester but that is okay. 

Today was the first day of school and it was BEYOND hectic/crazy and that is putting it lightly. I felt like everyone was going crazy and running around like chickens with their heads cut off! It was an exhausting and overwhelming first day and I felt ridiculously tired on my way home. I also officially began a last day of student teaching countdown :) 59 days to go!

Of course the students were great and seem very nice and my mentor teacher also seems very experienced and willing to help in anyway which is great.

I'm sure this is a day I won't forget and when I'm reading this ten years from now I'll probably laugh at how dramatic I was being... or be relieved that it only did get better (hopefully). 

I am anxious for the school year to begin now and for things to just begin. The first days of school are always going over rules, assemblies, tornado/fire drills, everyone is scatter brained and I feel like teachers have to figure out every single thing. Today my teacher got two kids put on her attendance list when she walked into the building this morning so had to go make a bunch of name tags for them, a few kids didn't know how they were getting home, one didn't pay for lunch money correctly, and things were just chaotic which is expected. It's frustrating that everything is her responsibility when really most of these issues were the parents fault. 

But tomorrow is a new day and hopefully it won't be as crazy. I need comfier shoes also because we barely sat down all day!

Write on Me, Save Paper

This is the purse my students gave me on my last day block teacher ... <3

Last Day in the Third Grade

Time certainly flies, and I can't say that enough. I remember my first day entering the third grade and it was on February 1st, so I haven't been in this classroom for too long or anything, but I did spend a lot of time with these children. I was there Monday-Friday from 915:11:45 and then 12-2:30 for the last four weeks. I taught lessons, worked one on one with them, hung out with them during recess, went to the cafeteria with them, observed, etc.. My last day was great. They made me cards, got me the cutest purse ever- that I will definitely post a picture of, and we had a little goodbye party. I got to watch their awesome animoto videos, we had an extra recess at the end of the day, I brought in some snacks, and it was just a great last day. It was also one of those last days where you wish it wasn't ending and you could just finish the rest of the year with them. But, that won't happen, and as a future teacher saying goodbye is something I will have to get used to.

On another note, I found out where I am placed to student teach in Fall 2010 and am SO excited! I will be working with first graders which I have never done before!! Then I will be done and can have my own classroom... it feels so good to be so close.

Oh, How Time Flies

I've been really awful about posting in this blog and I know down the line I will definitely regret this.

I hope when I student teach I am a lot better about the experience, because I've been learning so much from this block teaching experience and hope that I don't forget it.

I only have seven more days left with my third graders!!! I'm going to miss them more than you know. I've seen a lot of changes in them and have learned so much about them. I think when I am an actual teacher the end of the year will be hard for me, because you see the same children day after day for at least seven hours, five days a week. Then the end of the year rolls around and they leave. How do you do it teachers?? Is it as hard as I think it will be? Do they visit as often as they promise?

My last day in this third grade classroom is a week from Thursday. One part of me is excited (because it means the end of the school year for me) and another part is pretty upset. I am going to miss this. I'm also happy though because it means I can move on and I will be one step closer to my own classroom... what a thought.

Jager Bomb

The 3rd graders are working on reports about anything they want
and this one kid is doing Jaguars
so he googled jaguar and u know how google has the drop down menu with options like jaguar pictures, jaguar eating habits, or anything related to jaguars pretty much. Well i was walking around and he goes "oh wow
jaguar bombs!" Then excitedly tells his friends and the kids at his table and I walk over
and hes still all excited because he thinks he can write a paragraph about jaguar bombs. But really he spelled jaguar wrong and typed in jager....so it was jager bombs

Assassinate

The students are writing about Martin Luther King Jr. and two boys called me over to help them spell the word assassinate. I spelled it for them and then they typed it out and then I walked away...

Ten minutes later I walk back over there and still see the same sentence minus the work assassinate and asked them why they only had two words down and deleted the assassinate. Then one boy points a finger at a kid from another group and said "he deleted the word assassinate!" and I asked why, and that other boy goes they were deleting the -inate part so it would just be ass ass (but he spelled it out of course :). So then he was like I had to delete it because the people are watching! There are people inside our computers or people monitoring them and I saved you from getting into a lot trouble! Then the boy just looked at him in a simple, oh thanks... I understand. 

Love is in the air... In the third grade

I have been really bad about posting on here, I tried once, but felt that my post was unfair because I was judging my first few days in a new classroom too quickly.

Now, two weeks have gone by and I'm adjusting and liking it more. I work in a third grade classroom in a great elementary school. I've never worked with third graders before and had a hard time adjusting at first, but now am slowly beginning to enjoy it.

Any who, today the third graders had their Valentine's Day party since they have tomorrow off, and boy was it chaotic!

The cutest statement I heard was, during recess I was playing with wedgits with this girl and then this boy comes running over, I just gave _______ my phone number!!!!!!!!!! And he's really excited and it was pretty cute. Then two minutes later.... you hear ________ "why did you give me your phone number?" Ugh... awkward pause, so you can call me sometime if you want. Then the girl just goes away. It was pretty adorable.

Then that boy was talking about his snow days and what he did with me and the other girl playing with the wedgits and he's like yeah my friend came over but not my girlfriend. Then the girl was like wait, you have a girlfriend?? Then he said yeah.. and she asked who, and then she was like oh is ____ (girl he just gave number to) your girlfriend?? and he said yes. That is very un-true, but a cute story none the less.

Block Teaching

Sorry, I've been MIA. I was on winter break and was getting no experience working with students, taking any courses, or creating any lesson plans, so I didn't have many "classroom moments" to blog about.

However, the semester has begun! I'm into week two, and on February 1st, I will begin student teaching in a third grade classroom!

I'm pretty excited, more excited than nervous, although I do have to teach 30 lesson plans, two will be observed by my university professor, and one will be videotaped! How nerve wrecking!!! Luckily, I love my university professor and feel very comfortable around her which makes it that much easier.

For the rest of the week I probably won't be posting anything, but be prepared because starting February 1st i'm hoping to have lots to share and talk about. 

If you have any great lesson plans for third grade or block teaching advice I would love to hear it, thanks!

(also I just wanted to say thank you to the great ladies at SITS, the comments have really pushed me to keep this blog going and motivate me to write again).