Friday Blog

What are you excited about regarding student teaching/teaching?

The most exciting part of student teaching that I am looking forward to is having the opportunity to be with the Kindergartners for an extended period of time and really getting to know them! Never before have I had the opportunity nor the time to be so dedicated to a group of kids before. I have been told many many times by my instructors that "you will know your kids." In the past when I would volunteer, I would come to the classroom for a few hours a day maybe a couple of times a month at the maximum which really limited my ability to observe and learn about the students and where they were as learners. Even when I participated in the YMCA's Youth Summer ELL Camp, I was only with the students on Fridays so my relationship with them was limited. With my internship, I will be able to meet them at the beginning of the year, get to know them throughout September and be with them again starting in January, and be their teacher starting in the Spring. I am so excited to build my relationships that I can't hardly wait!

Building Relationships

Describe a great classroom activity that you observed. What made it great? What was the impact on student learning?

Today we began our first day of UWB classes during our September Experience. I was reminded today how valuable and powerful the relationships we build are. One of the most important jobs as teachers is to "let each of your students know that you care." If we can take the time out of each day to connect with our students individually through communication we can quickly gain a better understanding of their personalities even if it simply by asking a question about their day, their dislikes and likes or their favorite hobbies. When I look back on my own learning throughout grade school I really appreciated those of my teachers who took the time to teach us who they are not only as teachers but as people. Today I was lucky enough to learn some of the things that my teacher enjoys and a favorite hobby of hers. I believe that if students can see teachers as people that their ability to create a positive relationship is more easily accessible.

The activity I observed today involved a white water paddle and some questions. We were encouraged to ask her anything about the paddle that might help us to learn more about her as a person. I learned that eventhough she loved to partake in this sport now she wasn't always so comfortable participating in such a high adrenaline-rushing activity. She overcame her fears of being underwater and discovered a passion of hers. She made the decision to start her life over after she moved her a couple of years ago. I found her activity to be extremely engaging and inspiring! I appreciated the time she took to share with us a part of who she is. She allowed us to ask her any question which allowed us to be creative, personal, and engaged.

If I was able to do this same type of activity with my own classroom I think I would bring in my snowmobile helmet. Because my helmet looks like an average helmet I think my students would begin to ask me more and more about why I brought in such a helmet. I would love to share with them a fun activity that I enjoy doing with family during the cold winter months. I think the most interesting thing to reflect on would be how I took the time to learn a new activity that was sometimes scarey. I overcame some of my fears and was able to explore areas I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to see. I enjoy trying new things as long as the safety risk isn't too high. I am the type of person who is extremely greatful towards those who take the time to teach me something new.

Math Lessons

Today was the second and last day of Northshore's introduction to a new math curriculum. Northshore SD newly adopted Math Expressions for Kindergarten through 5th grade which has created a big change for Kindergarten teachers who were used to creating their own in the past. In the process of learning more about the books and overall format of the curriculum I got to visit the newly built theatre at Bothell High School as well as Sunrise Elementary in Redmond. Both were a positive experience.

I was telling one of the other teachers whom I met at the workshop that I couldn't picture myself not being present at the meetings. They were not required for interns yet the experience provided us with so many wonderful lessons and I learned so much working with teachers all throughout the district. I was given the opportunity to explore the first ten lessons in depth and to share insight, ideas, and overall understanding of its structure with some great mentors. Not only did I get to participate in small group discussions but I also got to help lead a very small instruction.

Even though I never had the intention of teaching Kindergarten nor did I ever imagine that this was where I would be placed I can't help but to be extremely optimistic and enthusiastic thus far. School starts next week and while I still feel a bit overwhelmed I am lucky to know I have so many peers who are experiencing this with me and I am also realizing how many great people I will be working with and learning from. These last two days just flew by, I am trying to absorb as much knowledge as I possibly can. I wonder who will be learning more, me or the kids?

Always be prepared?

Summer vacation is quickly coming to an end and even though I still have a few more days to relax I am finding it extremely difficult to do just that. I have to continually remind myself that while there are 91 pages of and Intern Handbook staring at me, I am still on vacation. This isn't like any vacation I have had before. We were given three glorious weeks to truely enjoy the sunshine and the season so I took full advantage of my time off with a trip to California. I was partly successful at unwinding and letting my mind escape while there, but now I can't help but to imagine how the beginning of the school year will unfold. I am overwhelmingly excited and anxious to meet the students and to really get to know the school but all the while I am still so nervous! I want to be prepared and I want to be ready so that is truely where my mind has been these last couple of weeks.

One might choke at the thought of a ninety-page handbook full of information just as I was but at the same time I can't help but question, "Is it really only ninety pages?" While I patiently waited for each page to shoot out of the printer, I began wondering how a ninety-page handbook could feel so overly extensive yet so very small all at the same time. Was this handbook going to prepare me as well as I had hoped it would? I quickly attempted the efforts of reassuring myself with words like, what we are unprepared for isn't always a bad thing. It is impossible to be prepared for everything and as I continue with my efforts to stay positive, I can't help but to find myself more excited at the challenge that being unprepared will bring. In my particular case, I don't feel that any one person can be fully prepared for the first day of school, and that too is just fine. I know one of the most important things I need to learn is to how to handle and deal with the unplanned. Remember now, I am trying to stay positive!

Next week, I will begin my September experience. I will meet with my Master teacher again, learn all about the new math curriculum, begin classes, and start fully engaging myself in school. Bring it on!