The Best is Yet to Come

There is one word that comes to mind to describe my first week student teaching: amazing. I love everything about this profession. I love my kiddos (even the ones that drive me up the wall), I love teaching them, I love watching them learn... this is totally the profession for me! I may come home exhausted every night, but it is very worth it. Now more than ever, I'm praying as hard as I can for a teaching position. And I'm not a prayer, so that is saying a lot!

The morning of my first day!

My cooperating teachers (both of them) are so great. They welcomed me with open arms and have already made me a huge part of the classroom. My very first day I taught a science lesson, and continued to teach science through the rest of the week. Friday I administered and graded the spelling test. Right now, I'm sitting in my comfy robe, grading what feels like a mountain of papers. I do feel like I'm having to figure a lot of stuff out (especially grading - there are so many papers this weekend that I messed up on and had to scratch out the grade and regrade - learning curve, right?), but I really feel like I am learning a ton of stuff by being completely immersed in it. The best way to learn is by doing and making mistakes, after all!



As I said, the most difficult thing so far has been grading these papers. It's hard to determine how much each question should be worth - 2 points, 5 points, or each worth points adding up to 100. I asked Ms. G and she suggested 2 points each unless it was a quiz or test, then told me it was up to me - I am the teacher! I panicked a little. So much responsibility - I hold these kid's grades in my hands! Not only that, but I want them to be correct so badly that I am willing to be a bit flexible with the grading. As long as I know that they understand and they got it, I give them the points. For example, one of their punctuation sentences was:

"they will try to bite anything that bothers them so watch out"

The sentence, according to the key, should be corrected to:

"They will try to bite anything that bothers them. So watch out!" 

However, I had many kids who corrected the sentence to:

"They will try to bite anything that bothers them, so watch out!"

Or something similar to that, which is still technically correct. So I gave them the points. I don't want to be a teacher who is so strict and is not willing to be flexible with grading if the kiddo truly understands the concept.



Anyways, this upcoming week we have benchmark testing for reading and writing. Wish my kids luck!

Awwwww, Freak Out!!!

Multiage what now?

I had my meeting with my cooperating teacher and university supervisor on Thursday. It was great. I get to work with two awesome teachers - a third grade teacher and a fourth grade teacher - because they do multiage teaching. When they told me that, I was very confused. I had obviously never heard of multiage classrooms, so I went to the school's website to get a little information. Here's what it says about multiage classrooms:

     Also known as mixed-age grouping and no graded education, the multiage program groups students of varying ages and is based on a continuous progress theory. The Texas Education Agency is using the term "mixed age learning communities or programs" and has named a Committee on Mixed Age Programs. According to the Committee Report on Mixed Age Programs, January 18, 1991
         Mixed age programs are free of rigid structures such as fixed-ability groups, grade levels, retentions, and promotions that impede continuous learning. These programs take into account the variations in child development so that all students will be successful and no students will be retained or placed in transition classes. These programs accommodate the broad range of student needs, their learning rates and styles, and their knowledge, experiences, and interests to facilitate continuous learning. They achieve this through an integrated curriculum incorporating a variety of instructional models, strategies, and resources.
        Mixed age programs honor the development of the whole child and reflect an understanding that children learn through active involvement in a variety of group settings. The school atmosphere fostered by such programs allows children to enjoy learning , to be intrinsically motivated, and to see themselves as capable learners
        Assessment and evaluation are integral components of mixed age programs. The information gained through assessment and evaluation supports the child's learning and assists the teacher in making appropriate educational decisions.
        Mixed age programs invite parents to be active partners in the education of their children. Teachers and parents collaborate to support children's growth and development in all areas.
    The report concluded by noting that "the implementation of this type of program requires extensive time and planning. Developmentally appropriate curriculum, improved assessment, partnerships with parents, and training and support for staff and administrators are key components of a successful mixed age program."

It's a lot to take in! Sounds like a good program, but I'm not completely certain how it is going to work. I think it sounds more complicated than it really is, so I will learn a lot during observations in the upcoming week.

My plan book and awesome lanyard!

Other than that slight shock, I was given my teacher's log in information to access the RISD pacing guide. I immediately logged in and made myself a plan book.I think one of the most valuable things I will get out of this entire experience is sitting down with my teacher while she plans and watching how she looks at the pacing guide then decides how and what to implement in her classroom. We are lucky - on the 27th of January, the school pays for all teachers to have substitutes so that they can have the entire day to plan. How awesome is that?! I haven't completely decided what I'm going to do on that day, but I really think it would be beneficial if I went with her and watched her plan.

It will be ok.

I can do this.

I'm ready to do this!

Assignments and Excitement

Today was the day I received my student teaching assignment. For the sleep I got on Friday night, one would have thought that it was my first day of student teaching - I was so excited to get placed, I could not sleep for the life of me!

My dear, sweet, kind friend Lisa picked me up. She even brought me coffee (she seriously deserves a medal of honor for that!). We arrived perfectly on time to a room filled with our student teacher colleagues. We talked, we ate and drank coffee, we picked up our packets, and we discovered who our university supervisors were.  I was lucky enough to be assigned to one of my previous professors, a woman who I totally adore and gives me infinite amounts of energy, to be my supervisor. How lucky am I?

Then came the waiting. Yep, we (well, some of us had to wait while some of us found out way earlier - jealous!) had to wait to find out our school, grade, and subject assignment. So, we sat for a couple of hours and listened to representatives from organizations, the career center, previous student teachers, and our department leaders. I think the wait was killing all of us. It was really difficult to pay attention, but we plowed through.

I see tote bags in my future,tote bags galore!
http://www.katelynskreativestitches.com/

Finally, the moment of truth. We broke off into our groups to meet with our supervisors. I was handed my paper. I have to admit, I was panicking a little bit. When I originally put in my paperwork and chose my preferred grades, I circled K through 5th. I was terrified I would be placed in an exclusively math classroom, which I would gladly embrace but is definitely not my strong point. As I looked down at my grade assignment, my heart skipped a beat.

4th grade. No subject. Just 4th grade. 

I really hope it's not a fluke. I really hope it's a 4th grade room that is taught by one teacher only. My 4th grade classroom was like that and we had the best time. Some of my most vivid memories of learning are from my 4th grade room, such as:

• Reading Hatchet. I can't say that I loved the book, but I remember reading it and not hating it. The same goes for Julie of the Wolves  (yeah, my nickname for the rest of my elementary years) and Island of the Blue Dolphin.
• My teacher reading Where the Red Fern Grows aloud and crying to a book ending for the first time ever. Seriously, complete water works in front of the whole class. I was a mess during the end of that book. How embarrassing.
• Dissecting owl pellets - oh yeah, we did that and yes, I loved every minute.
• My teacher dressing up in a long coat, black fedora, and big black sunglasses to help teach us writing. No, really! She would say she had to run an errand, then come back in all dressed up and in her "secret agent" character, carrying a small speaker that was playing the song "Secret Agent Man" as she entered. She would then tell us how we had to be detectives in our writing and uncover the details within out stories and give us "special missions". I loved it. 
• All the animals in the room. She had a hedgehog, 2 cockatiels, and a rabbit named Moxy. She had us write stories of their adventures, especially Moxy. Let me tell you, I put Moxy into some serious situations. 
• My teacher, Ms. Ross. I remember her vividly. She was crazy about running and tried to make us crazy about running, too (every morning - 1 mile on the track - and it had the opposite effect on me). She was obsessed with Elvis and Butterfingers (if we got in trouble, we would serenade her an Elvis song and bring her a Butterfinger. Luckily, I only had to do this once). She was hard on us a lot of the times, but she really made learning an adventure. 

Anyways, there is so much more. All of my elementary years were blessed by excellent teachers. So, as I begin my teaching journey I want to make a commitment to be like them. I will strive to make learning fun and to do things that will leave a lasting impact on my students. I'm excited. I'm ready. 

Where is my Magic School Bus?! I'm ready to get to it!

The Beginning of the End

Hey there! Boy, it has been a long time, hasn't it? I have been having such a fantastic winter break that I lost track of time and the goal of blogging. Let me tell you, though, it has been one of the best and most relaxing breaks I have ever had. I vegged on the couch, I did a TON of shopping for new clothes that I can teach in, I visited my parents, and best of all: I relaxed. Seriously, me relaxing is a huge deal. I normally worry about every little thing, stress out, keep my schedule jam packed, etc etc. It has made such a huge difference in my life to spend even a couple days just relaxing on the couch, re watching some of my favorite TV shows.

Anyways, Saturday is the student teacher kick-off meeting. I find that I have mixed feelings about it. I'm so happy I will get to see my friends again, and I'm so excited to find out my school and grade assignment. However, I'm so nervous about what is going to happen on the first day I'm in the classroom, during the first week, when I try to take over the class, etc. I'm sure we are all feeling it. We aren't going to be sitting in our safe classrooms taking notes on classroom management strategies anymore. We are going to be out there, in the classroom, hopefully living and implementing all of the tools that we have acquired from our fantastic professors. But it really is nerve racking, isn't it?  I think it has to do with fear of the unknown.

So! To get myself excited and motivated, I have been pinning recipes like a madwomen. I have to make sure that I eat healthy and enough food during my time teaching. I am moderately hypoglycemic, therefore if I'm not very careful with my food intake, student teaching could end very very badly.  Here are my food goals:

1. Make breakfast. Eat breakfast. Every single day.
2. Make lunch. Eat lunch. Every single day (I bought a new really cute bento style lunch box just for this!).
3. Make lunches the night before to make mornings easier on me.
4. Pack at least two healthy snacks along with my lunch.
5. Go to the gym at least 4 times a week. I'm thinking Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Not really a food goal, but a fitness goal.

So, there they are. I am creating Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack boards. I even made a big list of healthy snacks. I would be happy to share my list if anyone is interested!