I cannot believe it, only five more weeks of student teaching remain! It is very bitter sweet. Part of me is so excited to finally be out on my own in the real world, teaching in a classroom that is my own. I cannot wait to have my own desk, my own chalkboard, my own walls to decorate, and my own set of kiddos who come to me when they have a question or something they are so excited to share! However, there is also the other half of me who likes having that guidance and someone to turn to when something goes wrong. My mentor teacher for this placement is phenomenal. He lets me do whatever it is I want to try, he offers great advice and coaching, and he is there when I have a question. I am getting so much more out of this placement than the last.
However, in five short weeks I will be done! I will be finished college and I will be a real teacher! Something that I have been working at for a long time now. I can't believe how quickly these past 3 1/2 years have gone, and especially how quickly these 16 weeks of student teaching have gone. I have learned so much! After spending 8 weeks with second graders, and now 3 weeks with seventh graders, I realized how much fun working with kids can be! Both second and seventh grade have their ups and downs. Little kids are so much fun. They are excited to learn, they are enthusiastic about trying anything new, and they have so much energy. Throughout the day and at the end of the day I felt good about the work that I did! My second grades were always surprising me. Working in a classroom all day with the same kiddos was so nice because I got to know them really well, which made it so hard when I had to say goodbye!
At the middle school level it is great being able to go more deeply into the content and the posibilities of what the students can do seems endless. Seventh graders are able to make the connections you have to draw for the younger grades! The work they do is exceptional. Although there is more eye rolling than in the younger grades, there are some students that are truly excited to learn and it is those students who make you feel good about what you are doing at the end of the day. Middle schoolers are also hilarious. It is a different kind of teaching and learning experience. Middle school is growing on me even though I am finding it challenging to connect. Second graders love to tell you everything, seventh graders not so much. It is harder to make those connections and without that rapport it makes it difficult to teach them.
I think student teaching has taught me so much about me and my teaching style and teaching in general. The important things I have realized this semester include:
*Fifth grade is still the perfect age and grade level to teach!
*Kids love it when you take an interest in their lives! I learned so much about my second graders by listening! Snack time was the perfect opportunity to hear all about what they are doing outside of school. I would then use this information to get their attention while I taught. For example, I would use their pets names in sentences for writing or on spelling tests! They loved that I listened and that I remembered!
*Having kids involved in their learning is way more exciting to them and to me as the teacher! Talking at my students was painful for both of us, but watching students do hands on learning and exploring makes learning fun for everyone!
*It is important to find BALANCE! I am still struggling and learning how to separate myself from teaching. I need to take more time for myself and my friends. Not every second of every minute needs to be about teaching and planning.
*Sleep is essential! Last week I only had 12 hours of sleep for an entire week and it was hell. It makes it hard to bring energy and excitement into teaching when I could barely stay awake.
*Exercise is important! It is so easy to put off going to the gym because of everything that needs to be done. However, when I stopped running I felt worse.
*Eating right is key! A diet of caffeine and sugar will keep me energized...for about an hour and then I crash! Energy drinks are addictive! After student teaching I will probably have to check into a twelve step program just to kick the energy drink habit!
*When planning start with Monday's lesson first and work your way through the week! This sounds like a no brainer but it took me 10 weeks to realize that if you plan in the order of the lessons you teach, it is possible to get a few days ahead! I was so used to putting together lessons starting with big projects or from the end and working forward. This will save you from late nights finishing the next days lesson at 3 am before waking up at 4 am to teach the lesson at 10:50 am. Not fun!
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