First Week Full Time Student Teaching

So I am done with my first full week of student teaching. (YAY!) Part of me is so excited to be there every day, part of me was exhausted and longing for the week to be over. Of course I was battling a terrible cold all week, and the kids and I could really tell when the cold medicine was starting to wear off, as I became more stuffy and more hoarse as the hours ticked by. It is nice to see the entire weeks routine. When I was just there two days a week, there is just so much that you miss out on.

We started the week with a sub, which turned out was a great transition. I taught all day, and the kids came to me instead of the sub. That really set the tone for the rest of the week, and I see the kids coming to me and asking questions now almost as often as my Master Teacher. Listening to some of the other interns struggling with having the students give them respect and listen to them makes me really appreciate having that boost.

We had conferences this week, which seemed to go well. I am still not sure how I will handle conferences next year. It is a bit intimidating. I did get a huge compliment from a mom whose son is a special ed student. She said she really appreciated that I treated her son like a regular kid, she started crying as she talked about previous experiences. It really makes you realize that these little ones are somebodies baby, they are special to someone, and we should never forget that.

I am taking over the science -- starting with insects! Love those bugs!! I am bringing in ladybugs, walking stick bugs, and caterpillars. It will be so much fun. I checked out a TON of insect bugs from the library and propped them up all over the place. The kids loved them. During silent reading time they all were reading all about bugs, even the girls! I can't wait till the get to see the walking stick bugs. They are so crazy looking.

How did everyone else's first week go?

Done with classes -- now what?

I have to admit to feeling a bit adrift this weekend. We had our last classes, all my assignments are done and turned in, and I find myself asking - "what do I do now?". You would think I would be dancing around the house singing and laughing and cheering that I made it this far and have no more classes, yet I find myself stopping and thinking, in an almost panicky sort of way " What am I forgetting?" I keep checking my computer, checking blackboard, checking my calendar, sure I have missed something. Perhaps I am entering into withdrawal. I feel like I should be printing up 50 pages of readings for the week, posting messages or responses to bulletin boards, writing papers, writing lesson plans... and yet there is nothing to do. I feel adrift and a little lost.

I know, you are all shaking your heads at me and thinking " freak", but it is true. I have been so used to spending all weekend doing readings and homework, it will take me a little while to adjust to not having that routine and getting into a new one.

Then of course I start thinking about the future. I know in theory I am educated and prepared for teaching. I know all the buzz words, studied the developmental stages of learning, different learning styles, ways to integrate curriculum, ways to be culturally sensitive and all that. I have passed the tests, taken all the courses, done the papers and reflections. I am ready.


But am I really? Will I be able to handle this? What will happen when it is just me and a room full of twenty-four 2nd graders? Will I be able to teach them, or will I do something that will mar their little minds for the rest of their lives? Maybe I will forget to teach them something vital, or fail to explain something to them that will change the way they look at academics for the rest of their educational existence? Will my class roar out of control and look like something you see on an episode of the Simpsons?

I guess the only way to know for sure is to face my fears. To tackle them straight on, and to try my best each and every day.

What the economic stimulus means for education...

Interesting stuff from Edweek.org... their most recent newsletter...

Click here to view the newsletter in it's entirety...

Obama's Education Ideas

This week Obama voiced some interesting ideas about education.

This article from USA today has the highlights:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-03-10-obamaeducation_N.htm

Best Teacher Websites

Here are some great websites for teachers. It is handy to have them all in one place and categorized!

http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/50-online-reference-sites-for-teachers/

Separating Boys and Girls in the Classroom

This is an article from NY Times. It discusses how schools are separating boys and girls to see if test scores increase and behavior problems decrease.

What do you think about this? Is it practical?

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Education&st=cse

Benefits of Blogging

Here is a list of 8 reasons blogging makes for a better teacher.
My favorite is "self-reflection." It is true blogging forces you to think about your practice and reflect before you can write. It almost makes time for this when maybe you wouldn't otherwise do it!

http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/8-ways-blogging-makes-me-a-better-teacher/

Grade Level Teams

Throughout the year I have seen many benefits to grade level teams. I am in one of four Kindergarten classes in my school. The teachers collaborate on tons of things; they encourage and support one another on anything from homework for the month to issues with parents.
Last week I sat in on the K and 1st grade meeting. They discussed the successes and failures that they are witnessing in their classes. Then the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers joined the meeting. These teachers essentially asked for a LONG list of things they wanted addressed before students enter their classrooms. The K/1 teachers explained how they can only do so much. Also, some of the things that the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were asking for were developmentally-based, according to the K/1 teachers.
I left the meeting feeling like it was very ineffective. I think the K/1 teachers felt attacked and the older grade teachers frustrated with what they are seeing with their students. I couldn't help but think that there has to be a more diplomatic, kind way to approach one's colleagues. It almost seemed like "what not to say/do in a staff meeting" experience. I am wondering in what ways the meeting could have been more successful? How could communication have been improved?