Adventures in Student Teaching Week 15

Well my lovely 15 week student teaching adventure ended today. I have mixed emotions about this. I am so excited that it is over, ecstatic in fact that I can have something resembling a real life starting tomorrow. I am sad to see this end too, yeah the kids would be done with school in two weeks, but knowing that my class is going on without me is just hard to think of.

It has been an amazing experience, an absolutely amazing experience. I learned so much about myself and how far I still need to go. I learned that when it comes down to it I am a good teacher. That the kids will learn. That I wont screw anyone up. I learned that if I could live through the last 15 weeks I could live through anything. I learned that if I’m not happy (or pretending to be) that class will suck. I learned that no matter what book you are reading the kids will complain, but they will learn something. I learned that even the kids who everyone else has given up on can improve. I learned that it is so easy to make a mom’s day by telling her how great her son is.

Most of all I learned about me. This was the right time for me to start teaching. 5 years ago I didn’t have the patience or the experience I needed, I have it now. That doesn’t mean I am perfect, I have a long way to go and a lot to learn. I know there are going to be days that I want to throw everyone out the window, but the thing is, over all, I am going to make it.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 14

Oh my gosh, I survived. I made it through without loosing my mind, hating teaching, or wanting to throw myself off a bridge. And you know it was a good week.

We read again this week and there was one point on Monday (or was it Tuesday) that I just said, “I’m done teaching you guys today,” they were being little hellions, and I was ready to scream. So I stopped teaching and they read on their own.

Wednesday I had no desks, they were being used for an AP test and so we had to make due with the floor. It felt like we were having circle time and I was a preschool teacher. The kids seemed to enjoy it, after they got over the fact that they were sitting on the floor. They wanted to go outside and I just laughed, yeah I have a hard enough time making them behave when we are indoors, there was no way I was letting them out.

Thursday, I had nine students. The rest were taking an AP test, so I just smiled told them to read two chapters for next time and then we watched ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ We would have finished it too, if someone hadn’t started an electrical fire. So I shepherd the nine students under my care, out (taking care to stop the dvd- hey they were about to sing ‘He’s a Tramp.’) and we spent an enjoyable 20 minutes outside. I even managed to keep all nine of my darlings together, which if you knew Riley you would understand what a feat this was.

Then there was the last day. I have been all grins today and feel like a huge weight has been lifted. We had a great lesson today, so much discussion and some of the kids blew me away with their comments and insights. I just had to smile. Of course when I was struggling to find the words to tell one class how much teaching them had meant two of them went at each other with a note book, I just chuckled, because that is how the past 14 weeks have been for me.

I know there is still one more week, but as I won’t be teaching anymore it kinda feels like the end. I think we are having a party at some point next week, which could be fun. But I’ve almost made it!!!!

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 13

Well, I got my last review this week by my supervisor. You know I never really believed this but there is a difference in the way that people used to teach and they way that they teach now, until she left my final review.

Okay, my kids are talkative. There are days that I am ready to shove them out the window or threaten to fail everyone of them if they make one more noise. Of course I then realize that these are teenagers, not only teenagers they are sophomores and only 15 or 16. I try to keep noise and talking to a minimum and they know that if someone else is talking that they will lose points if I catch them talking.

Anyway, the kids were having some great conversations on the books and they were making some of the best comments I have ever seen them. They have come so far since when I started. And all my supervisor could focus on was that one kid had his head down and that there was some talking going on. She missed all that was good about those kids and focused on the bad. When my cooperating teacher saw it she got so angry, and it made me feel better knowing that I wasn’t over reacting.

Since it is spring the kids seem more restless than ever. I am kinda glad that next week is my last week teaching them. I also learned that I need to have some fun things planned for May next year when I am teaching. I also learned I am really excited to have my own class where it is my own rules established from the start. And my own curriculum.

So it has been a good week. Only nine more days, only five more actually teaching. And I am already missing the kids.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 12

I can't believe time is coming to an end, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is no longer the oncoming train.

You know it is funny, I worried so much about having to balance everything and at times I didn't do as good as a job as I hoped, but I've just about made it through.

This week has been pretty uneventful. My kids have been taking state mandated testing, and though I have rather strong opinions on what they had to take and the questions they had to answer, that is neither here nor there. Though they did throw me for a loop when they finished in one day rather than in the two I had planned. That was fine though, you know me constantly thinking on her feet- I just rearranged our schedule.

Most days I love these kids. They are full of energy and life, they are as smart as whips and they are just fun to be around. Other days I want to throw them out the window. I think that spring is in the air finally and they are going stir crazy. I wish high schools had field days just to let them get some pent up energy out. I almost lost it with one class this week, more because they disappointed me with their behavior than anything else. The snow seemed to have settled them down, but the weather is turning good again, so not quite sure how we will make it through the next 14 school days.

I just know that when the time comes I will miss these guys. I know that next year I get to start again. Me in my own classroom, my own rule, my own procedures but I will miss these students who frustrate the hell out of me but have found a special place in my heart.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 11

I can’t believe I am down to only four weeks of student teaching. I wish I could say that the time has flown, and I guess in some ways it has, but at the same time it feels like forever. In all honesty, I love teaching. It is the one thing that I wish I could do all day long and I hate when I have to leave and go to my real job every day. I love working with the kids and I love seeing them catch on to something or make a big leap. Those to me have been the moments that I will take with me and remember for the rest of my life.

This week hasn’t been bad, hasn’t been good either, I would say that it has simply been average. We started the week watching ‘The Secret of Roan Inish’ and I just have to say I love that show. I also think that it was a great show to use to introduce magical realism. I stopped the movie as we were watching it and asked questions about what they thought and how it contributed to the four elements of magical realism.

I think the biggest thing I learned this week though was it is okay that I am not perfect. I have always fretted because my A day class gets the most discombobulated lessons. It is the first class that gets a brand new lesson that still needs kinks worked out and right now they are also getting lessons in a unit that is completely new to me. They have become my little guinea pigs, which wouldn’t be bad if they weren’t the class that has the most discipline problems. It really just comes down to getting a double whammy. But I realized this week, it is okay that I am not perfect with that class or with anything else. I am still learning, I am still observing how other teachers handle things, and that is okay. I am not going to be prefect the first year or even in year twenty, but all I can do is my best and make sure that my students are getting my best.

I did get another job offer today. Riverton High. It makes me chuckle a bit because my last job offer had a student population on 197, this one has 2900. I think I am going to take it. The staff seems nice and the program appears to be excellent. This school district was in my top two to work for and I would love to teach Sophomore and Senior English. So I have to call them Monday, and I am pretty sure what my answer is going to be. I have to say I am flattered with the offer though. I interviewed at 12:15 today and they told me then I would hear back next week. I heard back at 2:30. I guess they liked me.

I is goin be a teacher

So, I mailed out graduation announcements yesterday. It was one thing that I just needed to check of the box since graduation is in nine days.

Today I got to school and had the following conversation with my mom:

Mom: Honey, I have a story to tell you that shows not only are your burning the candle on both ends you are burning it up the middle too.
Me: What'd I do?
Mom: You spelled graduation wrong on your announcements.
Me: *blanches* Please tell me you are kidding.
Mom: I'm not.
Me: Are you kidding (more desperate)
Mom: No, honey it will be okay.
Me: I mailed out 75 invites last night and now I look like an idiot.
Mom: No, people will think it is funny.
Me: *Quirks eyebrow in that I don't believe you way*
Mom: Really, it will be fine.
Me: I'm going to class now.

So yes, English teacher Nat sent out a major typo in her grad announcements.

*face palm*

*goes to sleep for a week*

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 10

It is well after midnight here, and I am still going strong. I have a boatload of things to get done this weekend and go figure I am feeling overwhelmed. Because of this I took today off. I feel like a total slacker, seeing as I didn't work on Monday, but I have four more weeks until I have a more manageable work schedule, and let's just say this helps stave off the panic attacks just a tad. I can tell the stress that my body is going through, my face has broken out and I look like the 16 year olds I teach. Oh well. Let's talk about fun and exciting things like...

I passed my Praxis test!!!!

That is the last one I have to take, unless I decide at some point next year to be highly qualified to teach Spanish as well. But I am so excited. There was dancing and confetti, then I went back to all the baking I was doing. Thank heavens though that I got that done. I am also getting graduation announcements out this weekend. I can't believe that I am graduating! Still have school for another nine weeks, but this is the end ladies and gents!

What a week. I don't even know where to start. This has been one of the most frustrating weeks that I have ever experienced. I don't know if it is because it is spring or if it was because prom was this weekend, but my students were just out of control. Add that to starting a new unit and a really bad observation and you have a recipe for disaster.

The first two days went well, the students worked on finishing their papers in the computer lab. I was surprised how little discipline I needed in the computer lab. For the most part the students stayed on task, maybe there is some good with this fast pace schedule we are trying to keep that only allows one day in the lab for them to finish the papers, or if there was some other reason, but I was so pleased with their work. The majority of the papers were wonderful. I was so proud of the work that they did and their finished products. I am excited to give them the papers back so they can see their final scores.

After two great days we had a train wreck. I knew that my supervisor was coming either Thursday or Friday and I was excited to present this lesson to the class. We were starting magical realism, which I believe will be a fun unit and I think the kids will enjoy. I started off the lesson on Thursday and it was going really well. The kids were connecting with the ideas and had fun discussing Harry Potter as magical realism. Then we changed gears and started reading a story. I lost them at during the discussion after and no matter what I did I couldn't get them back. I had kids acting up, talking about non-related items, staring off into space and generally not paying attention. Of course that is when Claudia showed up- an hour into class. Finally reaching the end of my rope I told the class to pull out a piece of paper and write on essay on how 'The Falling Girl' is a social commentary. There were mumblings and groans, but they followed instructions.

I was upset by the end of class, and I felt that I had let everyone down, including myself. I left class and cried for about three hours and tried to convince myself that I wasn't a failure and I could get up and face it all again the next day. Of course I did, and Friday went so much better. It amazes me the differences between my classes and what works in one compared to another. I enjoy all my classes but I am learning how I need to tailor my lessons to each one. It has been quite the learning experience.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 9

Wow what a week. I don’t have a reflection paper due this week (I have another two papers due, but that is beside the point) but it has been such a crazy week that I had to at least process it.

In reality this week has been topsy turvy. It started Monday when I walked into the school, confident in my lesson plans for the day. I had also planned out the next three weeks- except for what I was going to do with my classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. No problem I told myself, I can easily take care of that on Monday night. This plan under my belt I walked into the classroom only to find my cooperating teacher was out sick and I would not have access to her computer. My brilliant lesson plan was a PowerPoint presentation on Ruthie’s hard drive. So I had 5 minutes to come up with a brilliant lesson plan. I did. Actually we had a lot of fun with the persuasive presentations the kids did and were able to have a good lesson.

Then Tuesday there was an assembly. I had ten students when the bell rang. The rest of the class was at Jamba Juice getting their free Jamba. I gave a pop quiz that day with the following questions: 1. What is my name? 2. Where do you go to school? 3. Whose classroom is this? 4. What month is it? 5. What book are you reading? Those in the class got 5 pts extra credit. I think I am going to use this tool more often. While I was teaching one of the students asked me what kind of Jamba I wanted. He was on the phone with two of the girls in class and they wanted to bring something back for me so I wouldn’t mark them absent. I told him I was okay, they brought me back a Raspberry one.

Wednesday we finally got to do the PowerPoint I had planned and it was one of the best lessons I have ever had with the kids. It was absolutely amazing. They were so engaged and some of them that never participate were asking questions and adding to the conversation it was brilliant. I was ready to hurt the department of Homeland Security when we had an earthquake drill in the middle of the lesson. It was a big distraction, I thankfully, was able to get the class back on track but it was still frustrating.

The last two days we have been writing essays in class. I actually only have one class period left to grade, because I am brilliant at grading essays now. One day I know my kids will learn and understand what a thesis is. In addition they will learn and understand when I say I want examples from their reading, I mean I want examples from the book we are writing an essay on, not about how Godzilla represents the Atom Bomb- yes I do have that essay and am willing to sell it to the highest bidder.

It was a good week, got my first job offer, don’t know what I am going to do about it, but at least someone wants me.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 8

You know, I have a much better perspective on how I am doing as a teacher when I am in the classroom. After my melancholy reflective post of last week I feel energized and ready to tackle the last seven weeks of this adventure.

This week was good. I feel so much more comfortable in the classroom than I have in weeks and a lot of that is due to my cooperating teacher.

I have loved working with Ruthie. She has forced me to look outside the box and my normal methods of teaching and become a better teacher. She gave me such a boost of confidence this week. She gave me my midterm review and it was overwhelmingly positive. I asked her about it and she said that if she said in on paper, she could say it too my face. She then sat down and told me that I was the best student teacher she had ever had. She went on to explain that where I am now is the level that her other student teachers had left. Because of this she feels she can push me farther and work on refining what I need too. Ruthie then went on how she wished they could keep me at Highland next year, but staffing currently prevents that. It was a great talk and I walked away feeling better about the job I was doing. Apparently I haven't been the only one that Ruthie talked to. A couple of teachers and some of the administrative staff stopped me this week and talked about what a good job I was doing, it was just the boost I needed.

The students have also been great this week. I have found I am able to joke a little with them now and not have to pull back as I had before. They still work on what they need to and they come to me now for questions and problems on their essays. It has been great to work with them on their papers this week and I have enjoyed seeing them rise to the challenge as I prepare them for the AP class they will all be taking next year.

This week still had it's problems. I have one student I am really worried about. She hadn't been here for two weeks, she ended up with a failing grade last term, and doesn't seem ready to work on what she has missed. I tried to talk to her, but she doesn't want to talk. So for now she knows my door is open. That is all I can do.

I also have one student who just decided he didn't want to write his essay on Thursday. No reason, just didn't want to write it. I have to admit it was discouraging when he only turned in a paragraph. During the class period I kept coming back to him and asking him how I could help and how his thesis was going, but he would just shrug and move on. This is one of the students who I caught coping a paper last term so I find myself second guessing my decision now. I just don't know what to do with him.

We also had a great lesson on the holocaust and the atomic bomb. The students are reading Night and Hiroshima this next week and I wanted to introduce them before they got too far into the books. I had a PowerPoint on both of these subjects and we talked about it before. Then I was impressed at their reactions as we went through the descriptions written and the horrible pictures. It brought about a great conversation on why we read these books and why they were written. They impressed me with their insights and the stories they shared. It was a brilliant class.

So, yes things are getting better. I have rearranged my schedule a bit so I find it a tad more manageable and I have found it is essential, for me, to get to the gym every day and have just that 40 minutes to myself. I know there will still be moments during my last 7 weeks of this adventure where I am ready to cry or tear out my hair- but I think that the good moments will far outweigh the bad.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 7

What, you say. I haven’t taught this week. Right you are, but there is still a reflection due and in all honesty I have thought a lot about teaching this past week and what I need to do.

The week before I started my student teaching my cooperating teaching and I sat down to talk about a few things. It was during this talk that she gave me a bit of advice that I have mulled over ever since: You are the most important person in the classroom. It boils down to if I am not happy or enjoying the lesson neither will the students. The last two weeks or so, I haven’t been happy.

It isn’t that I don’t enjoy student teaching, I love it. I wish I could teach all day long and look forward to the day when it will be my full time job. The problem is I feel overwhelmed. I know that I have touched on how difficult it is to work full time and teach, when I add that with everything else that I need to do in my life I feel like I need 36 hours in each day, just so I can get a few hours of sleep. I had to fly across the country to get away from everything and relax for a few days, I’ve never had to do that before.

I’ve always been the overachiever, someone who can take on multiple tasks and fulfill them, I’ve just never had to keep it up for this long before. This isn’t meant to be whining, whining won’t help in this situation, but I am currently at a loss on how to resolve the situation.

Maybe if things were a little easier in the classroom, they are getting better and I think the situation will continue to improve as I become more confident in my abilities and the students grow even more accustomed to their new teacher. I still have to figure out what works for me in a classroom management strategy, but the good thing is I am constantly ruling out what doesn’t work so that means I must be zeroing in on the right thing.

I wish I knew the answers after a week of pondering how to change things in the classroom, unfortunately I still don’t. So until then I will take one day at a time and work out how to make sure I am happy in my current assignment.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 6

Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Frustrated. Tired. Those are just some of the words that describe this past week. Student Teaching has been more of a roller coaster than I thought it would be and that is saying something.

It was the end of term this week. So in the midst of everything else I spent my nights (and really early mornings) grading final papers. For the most part I was pleased with the papers. I can see how much all my students continue to improve as writers and how their insights into the literature are continuing to deepen. One night while I was grading I noticed that the paper I was reading seemed vaguely familiar. I pulled out a paper I had graded previously and noticed that they were essentially the same paper. It wasn't word for word, but was still the same thing. Before issuing a grade I asked three other teachers to read the papers. I didn't tell them anything about my suspicions but they quickly confirmed what I already knew. I was then at a loss, I wasn't sure how to handle this situation. Thank heavens for my cooperating teacher. Ruthie, told me simply to half the score then on the other paper write see Johnny for the other half of your score.

When the boys came to class that morning they had already seen what their scores were and asked why. I explained to them and the protests started. They claimed they worked on it together, I pointed out that there is a difference of working together and writing the same paper. Later in the period I began to grade another paper, only to find it the same as the two others I had already graded. I called all three students up, and told them that the score would now be divided three ways. They continued to protest, but finally one of them admitted to what they had done. He tried to take the entire blame himself, saying that was the one who had copied. I thanked him for his admission but pointed out all three were still responsible for what had happened and all three would accept the consequences. It was a tough moment. I felt bad, but at the same time they need to learn that what they did was wrong.

The week continued to go that way. I told students I would accept work up until the moment I walked in Thursday morning. It would be marked late, but some points were better than no points. I had students who just didn't turn in assignments, or were upset when I couldn't accept them after Spring Break. Unfortunately the end of the term is not a date I can change. I was so frustrated with these students who are supposed to be honor's they are supposed to know better. I know that there are some that question if I am getting a proper experience in student teaching when I have the honor's classes. The thing is, I know there are challenges that I am not facing in the honors classes. I have few ELL learners and minor disruptions, but there are also a whole new set of challenges. I know that most think that honors classes are the Mecca of teachers- I am here to state that they are not everything that they seem to be. It is hard tough work. I have students who act up, I have students who are disruptive, I have students who don't turn in work, I have students who talk back. When it comes down to it teenagers are still teenagers- honors students or not.

Of course the week wasn't all bad. We are reading 'A Doll's House' right now, and I have one student who is so excited about it. She is reading Nora and she reads it with such a passion that I just smile. Hilary has such a yearning for learning. She reads ahead, she asks me for book suggestion about a topic she wants to learn more about. She is a true pleasure to teach.

My one ELL learner is going to pass the class. He has worked so hard this past week and just the thought of him passing makes me want to cry, I am so happy.

So I guess when it comes down to it. It was just a regular week. Ups and downs, but I am so grateful that it is now spring break- I don't think I could have lasted another week.

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 5

I am not sure if the weeks are actually getting longer, or if Daylight Savings has wreaked havoc on my system. Needless to say, it was yet another delightful week of teaching.

My week started with us finishing up ‘The Great Gatsby’ movie. I know I fought watching it, but it really was the right decision. The kids have a better grasp on the story now and I think they were able to really see a different view point. I loved it when they would shout out saying, “Wait this didn’t happen in the book.” Or “If you don’t see Daisy hit Myrtle you have no idea it wasn’t really an accident.” It was times like those I felt the previous weeks we had discussed the book had not gone to waste.

I also assigned their final essay for the book, which is due next week. As they have been trickling in I am amazed at the grasp some of my students have on the story and interpreting it. I have one student who just transferred into the class at the semester. He didn’t want to be in an honor’s class, but his regular English teacher insisted he was wasting his time in the class. He is very timid but I have been able talk to him for a few minutes before class has started about what he read the night before and get him share his thoughts. His paper was astounding, and all I could think was it is such a pleasure teaching him and how I wish he could see what I, and his other teachers, can see in his skills as a writer.

I had another student this week, who when I said the class would be reading Night in the next few weeks as part of our unit on realism, went out and read it that night. She thought it might help her understand more of the history for a play she is doing. We sat and talked and she told me how much the book had touched her. I was pleased to see that she had taken the initiative to read a book outside of class time that we are not reading until after Spring Break.

Even with all this I still have the students who try me and see what they can get away with while they have a student teacher. I have one yesterday who used the hall pass and never came back. Another who tried to attend a class that wasn’t his- with a friend. The classes as a whole still have a hard time focusing in when it is time to work and I have yet to find the classroom management technique that works for me to get their attention. Right now I stand at the front of the room with my arms crossed, and wait for silence. It seems to work- but it takes so long. I think that is one of the hardest things about student teaching, they aren’t really your students so it is hard to change the techniques and rules that they are used to.

I had a curve ball thrown at me this week in regards to my lesson plans. I had planned on starting our realism unit with Night and Hiroshima and to introduce these books we were going to have a PowerPoint on the Holocaust and the atomic bomb dropping. Tuesday afternoon I found out that the books we needed were being used by another teacher and that we would have to start ‘A Doll’s House’ the next day. I hadn’t prepared anything to introduce the play, thinking that I still had at least a week before we started.

I threw myself into panic mode and came up with a lesson plan during intermission of ‘Civil War.’ The lesson ended up being one of the better ones I have come up with. We talked about controversy and why things are a controversial issue. As this is one of the major points of the play- and something that realism is based on. I really want the kids to connect. It worked well in some classes, others didn’t seem to want to participate much, but over all it was a great activity. I am excited for this unit now!

Adventures in Student Teaching Week 4

Ah Friday- we are together again. I don't know why I get so excited. I am at work until nine and then of course my weekends are not as relaxing as I hope they could be. I am really ready for a nap too- at least I am finally over this stupid cold.

I know that this is probably boring for about 90% of you to read, but I use it as my weekly reflection paper for class (give or take a few snarky comments) plus it helps me gather my thoughts about the week and how I just might succeed as a teacher.

It amazes me how fast the weeks go by. I remember, like it was just a few short hours ago, staring into the endless abyss that was Monday, now here we are on Friday and another week is over.

Okay, let's start with Monday when my supervisor came to observe me (no warning), showed up late (which I found rude), stayed for about 30 mins (good thing I didn't have them write first), gave me a satisfactory on my dress (I was in slacks and a blouse for heaven sakes!), and then left with about 50 mins still left in class. Yes, I am sure she got a great idea how I was teaching.
All in all it was a good week. It had its up and downs but nothing too shocking. We are in the final wrap up of Gatsby, in fact we just have to finish the movie and they have to write their final essay. It has been a good learning experience for me. See, I know this book inside out. I have been preparing to teach it for about a year now, well I put things in action the past few weeks and found what worked and what didn’t. There are times that I felt we rushed the novel, but I also know that if we dragged it out anymore that it would have been too much. There is so much about that book, or any piece of literature, that can’t be gleaned in one reading. Maybe I was trying to get them to see too much- I don’t know.

One thing I did learn this week is that movie days were made for teachers, not students in mind. I had avoided showing them the movie, but finally decided that they needed the extra help to understand the whole novel. Well let’s just say in the past two days I have gotten more accomplished than I ever hoped and got a jump start on our next unit. The kids seem to finally get it, it is like the movie is filling in the last piece of the puzzle.

I am tired of cell phones in class. The school has a rather strict policy of no cell phones in school- well no one seems to follow that. It doesn’t matter how many times I ask for the phone to be put away it always seems to come back out. Yet another illustration on how far I still have to come on classroom management. You know it is funny, up to this experience I would have said I had classroom management down. It had always been a strong point for me when I taught before, but now I feel like I am back at the starting gate. I asked my cooperating teacher about it and she mentioned that all her classes are like this right now, she even has a hard time trying to get them to behave. We went over some new ideas and I hope that they might work. The kids were good today, so maybe that is a good sign. We shall see.

I am finally learning all their names. This has been a struggle for me, but day by day I learn a new name. I am developing relations with them too, which has been nice. It is like they are finally seeing me as their teacher. After four weeks I am glad that has come.

I did have one setback this week, well a few actually. We had been preparing for a test on figurative language for quite a while. They had been studying it since September, we had done activities each week focusing on identifying it, and the day before the test I handed out one more activity to work on. The test is difficult, with that in mind I allowed them to use their notes and the worksheet we had done previously. I was saddened to see that about 70% off the students failed the test. I don’t know what we could have done differently. Needless to say, we rearranged grading on that test and most of the students ended up being okay, but it was still hard.

I also had a student accuse me of loosing her paper. She couldn’t find it in the basket where their work is stored (we don’t return work to the student because of situations like this) or among my no name papers. She was quite rude when I mentioned that she would have to rewrite it. She had insisted that she was in class that day and that she had written the paper. I finally had to show her my records and pointed out that she was absence because of cheerleading that day and that I had not received a paper from her.

Not my best week, nor my worse. I am excited to start a new unit on Wednesday and am excited I have the weekend to put it together, but the good thing is I still love what I am doing.

Adventures in Student Teaching- week 3

Well, it was by far a better week than last week- not that that’s saying much. We are inching ever closer to the end of ‘The Great Gatsby’ and I must say, even though I love that book I am ready for it to be over. The kids have been hilarious, every day I hear how much they hate Tom and how they hope Gatsby kills them. I don’t have the heart to tell them that Gatsby ends up dead and Daisy chooses Tom. We ended up diagramming what they now affectionately call ‘the soap opera’ on the board yesterday- I needed more board space to explain that one. I almost started crying though when one of them started drawing parallels to today’s society- I wanted to throw my arms up the air and shout hallelujah!

We also started timed writing this week. The kids hate it. 30 mins to write a 2 page essay. I hate it because I have to read them all (and if one more person summarizes the plot of the novel for me I might have to throw something at them). I think they were all shocked with the grades the first time. The first batch were low, but when we did it the second time they were getting better. That could be because I enforced a seating chart so there was more writing than talking, or that they finally realize I am not a push over and they will be graded on more than participation. In my first batch of essays though I did get a marriage proposal and someone explained to me what Shakespeare would have thought of Fitzgerald- gotta love those teenagers.

I have found I am a lot more flexible with my student teaching and becoming more confident. I really do love it. This week I also learned that I can blame anything I want on my cooperating teacher. She is really good about that. Of course she is made of awesome- that is why I fought to work with her. She makes me feel so good about myself. This week she kept telling other teachers how wonderful I am and how I really don’t need to do student teaching. “Give her a degree,” has been Ruthie’s call. She is also going to help me with my project I have to get done while student teaching. It is massive and quite scary- but she and three other teachers in the building did the same thing last year when applying for National Certification, so she said they can get me through.

I also survived my first few days of parent/teacher conferences. They were actually rather easy- I didn’t know all the kids by name alone so sometimes I was worried I was talking about the wrong child, but it seemed to turn out all right in the end.

So basically good week. There were times I questioned my sanity of wanting to teach English (those essays *shudders*) but I do love it. Next week I get two days of movie, *sigh* Robert Redford *sigh* Can’t complain too much about that.

Adventures in Student Teaching- weeks 1 and 2

I am starting a weekly post called “Adventures in Student Teaching” look for a new installment every Friday afternoon….

So here are some valued truths I have learned in the last two weeks-

1- No matter how hard you try, you cannot keep the Bingo beans off the floor.

2- “Great Gatsby Pictionary” is a great way to feel wanted. Everyone wants you on their team...before they know your drawing capabilities.

3- Be ready to chuck all the lesson plans out the window.

4- Cheerleaders are the same today as they were ten years ago

5- No matter how many times you tell them students still don’t understand that the teacher downstairs with the same last name, and who looks just like you is your mother.

6- Even though they cant grasp the concept of number 5 they do understand that Zach is your brother

7- The teacher look, you know the one over the glasses, really does work.

8- What you teach first period will change by second period, and you final period of the day will get some thing completely different.

9- Quizzes are not healthy for students or teachers

10- The kids actually do understand- they just pretend not to.

11- The moment when someone just gets it- priceless

12- Knowing about Harry Potter, and understanding what people say when they say they ship Snarry will bring you up a few notches.

13- Kids will always choose extra credit over candy

14- If you say it enough times, they might understand the difference assonance, consonance , and alliteration.

15- Remember to explain about things like Tonya Harding, when she in mentioned in an article- they don’t remember that skating scandal ever happening.

16- Sometimes using popsicle sticks with names on them is the only way to get them to participate.

17- You will lose your voice.

18- It is okay to cry.

19- It’s okay to say, “I don’t know”

20- It’s okay to say “Because I’m the teacher and that is what we are doing. So shut up, listen, and maybe you will learn something.”

So yeah- more adventures I am sure next week. Maybe actual stories. Like Nui, the kid who hasn’t come in a month but I’ve gotten there two days in a row now. Or the group of kids who call me Miss Natalie just to make me roll my eyes…or how I am teaching kids I baby sat many, many years ago…