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 :)!