My Teacher Life

It’s been a while since I have posted, but I felt the need to share a few moments in my student teaching with you all.

I helped a little girl pick out a book at the library the other day at school. She told me her mom wanted her to get a 4th grade book, because that’s what her sister read in 3rd grade. I knew that would not be an appropriate level for her, but I started with it anyway. I had her choose a book she thought she might be interested in. I then had her read a paragraph, and then tell me what was happening in the book. She had no idea what she had just read. Obviously, from my methods classes, the light bulb in my brain was dinging, because the level of the book was too difficult for her. We picked out a third grade level book for her, and I had her read a paragraph and again tell me what had happened. SHE COULD TELL ME this time!

I felt accomplished, as if I had walked her through picking out a book for herself.

Tonight I did two literacy assessments with the almost 5 year old I’m watching. I told the mom I would, but it still baffles me how it’s summer and I’m creating work for myself just because I can. Obviously, I am going to enjoy teaching! More assessments for tomorrow! Hooray! :)

The most mortifying thing happened at the junior high this week, i had texted my older brother to tell him what had happened, so i decided to just put the text on here… Enjoy.

Long story short- we were reading a short story about a girl who was trying out for a play and there were prediction questions after the story- and some of the answers were “they will not get a role in the play, they will learn a new song, try will mess up in their audition or they will get a role in the play.” one kid goes, “I didn’t know they were role playing..” so I was like “is that appropriate?” and he was like, “oh I didn’t mean it like that!! ” ahhhh! :(

The program here gives us a great opportunity to student teach for two semesters in the same classroom. I found out I will be teaching… (drum roll please………)………… 1st grade!!!!!

During my interviews I thought I was leaning more toward upper elementary, so I thought I would be placed there, but I have been doing a lot of talking to God about this. Ideally, I want to go into a job interview and tell them to give me any grade because I am ready for whatever! The more I thought about what grades I could teach after my interview, the more I became afraid of teaching 1st grade. I did not want to be the reason for their failure in reading, inhibiting them from succeeding in the future! I told God that it was in his hands and if he wanted me to be prepared to teach lower grades, he would give me the opportunities. And what do you know? It all worked out.

In my SPED class today, I got to participate in a brief mobility training. We were blindfolded and were taught how the blind trail. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, even for that brief twenty minutes. I have never been so thankful for my vision In fact, I complain that I’m “night blind” because I am supposed to wear glasses at night to drive. I have a whole new appreciation for my future students who may be visually impaired.

Today was not as near hectic as last week. I basically sat in the back of the room and watched the students work on their Literary Elements Crossword puzzle. I wondered to myself if I could beat the students in finishing the puzzle since most of them were having a difficult time. My teacher allowed them to use their notes they had been taking. Many students had opted to not take notes and too bad for them, they had to do it by themselves with no help. Of course, one student kept blurting out answers so the intent of the assignment did not go through. Oh well.