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!