Week 1 thus far...

So, I'm 3 days in, and I'm definitely feeling my challenges of student teaching already. Since the start of the week, something has gone wrong everyday, and I'm hoping this trend will start to wind down as the weeks pass by.

DAY 1: Being the first day, I was surprisingly calm about the start of this 6 week experience. I had my entire first 2 weeks planned out with hopes that nothing would get in my way. As Monday started in the morning and moved toward the mid afternoon, my first spike of issues surfaced. My presenation that I had prepared for the students began to freeze on my computer. Up to this point, I was so excited about introducing the students to a Prezi presentation because it's something that is new and creative. Might I add that the kids loved it?!? They were enthused by the whole production (some of my students even worked on one of their own at home that night!) However, due to the Greenhouse Effect that takes place in my room, I believe my computer and projector were getting too overheated, along with the fact that I had been teaching for several hours. As the prezi began to glitch, I realized that I had put my total trust in the oh-so-dependable-technology that I didn't have a plan B. Thankfully, my presentation came through and I finished teaching in all of my classes, even though I lost a lot of time. Thank goodness I am required to student teach... it's circumstances like these where I will know from now on that even the most "reliable" sources out there don't have a guarantee sticker on them. Lesson Learned: ALWAYS had a backup plan. No questions asked :)

DAY 2: Overall, Tuesday was a great day. The students were introduced to the reading of food labels after suffering through the "Nutrient" themed prezi presentation from the day before. For the most part, the classes seemed to understand the given information until the last class of the day when one of my boys started testing my nerves. I'll be honest: I had not allowed my Italian side to show in the classroom up to this point. In fact, I was so excited that I was able to suppress it by being the "nice teacher that everyone seems to love." However, "Jeff" caused my water to boil. Let's just say he needs to work positive communication with people, especially with his teachers. Yes, I'm sure you're saying, "well isn't this the perfect example of why you're in the 'practicing teacher' mode?" Yes, this is preparing me to handle the stress of my future students. However, my patience level has never been so challenged before in my life. But after calling Jeff's dad to alert him of his son's behavior in class, things seemed to cool off. Dad was very supportive of the entire situation and reassured me that things would change. It's a parent like this that gives me the extra boost of confidence that's required on a day to day basis as I walk into the classroom.

DAY 3: Let's just say that you become the mean teacher when you give students a task that they despise doing. Today, the students had their first quiz on nutrients, food labels, and the Food Guide Pyramid. A very SIMPLE quiz (this was something I repeated over and over again to reassure them that I wasn't out for their heads). At the end of the day, the majority of my team seemed to think that the quiz was easy and not as hard as they made it out to be. So, when does this day turn into my "bad day?" Well, Jeff was on his somewhat best behavior today (I had to call him out a couple of times). However, it was "Amy" who tested me today. Before the start of the quiz, she seemed stressed about the content and told me several times that, "I am going to fail." After trying to reassure her, she came back with the following response: "I hate this class, ESPECIALLY now."
It was at this point that I lost it. Yes, I understand stress (BELIEVE me, I am the queen of stress). However, to take that stress out on a teacher and state remarks like this, this is when I start to lose faith in myself as an educator. What did I do for this child to talk to me in this manner? How do I get through to her if these are reactions from a private life? What do I say to her tomorrow?

...I don't know. These are thoughts that run through my head as I feel like I am being faced with another trial. These are the few of many experiences I will endure in my career, but I am still in the nervous stages of how strong I will be as a leader in my own class. Maybe I'm looking into it too much.. or my lack of sleep is allowing me to think irrationally ;)

Anyway, there's my input on days 3 out of 30 thus far. I am off to prepare for my presentation of the digestive system. Wish me luck!

Today Was THE Day

So, today was THE day. THE day I have been planning for about a week. THE day that consumed my life as I designed lesson plans and activities. This was THE day when I would I have my first observation from my OSTE (On Site Teacher Expert). My OSTE, who is otherwise known as my students' real teacher, has been prepping me for a few weeks for today's class. From passing out papers and grading tests, to teaching the kids how to perform a lab, I have been dreading today...THE DAY! And at 8:30 AM this morning, THE day began.

I was evaluated by my mentor during my entire lesson that I taught for 2 periods. My lesson was about the global changes in the atmosphere, and I informed the students about Global Warming, the Greenhouse effect, and the total effects of UV radiation. During the lesson, I pulled out to good ol' overhead projector and use transparencies to present my notes to my students. To have them follow along, I left blanks in their notes so that they had to follow along and fill in the words as we worked together. After the lesson, I played a review game with the students to see how well they were listening, as well as to see how efficiently I gave the information.

After the two classes ended, I finally sat down with my OSTE to see how well I performed today's task. Going over the notes, Mrs. Felix gave me a... 3 out of 4 :)

Looking through her notes, I saw the comments that retained my strengths as a teacher. Seeing these phrases and descriptions gave me complete hope that I am actually doing the right thing in my life. One comment that stuck out: "You're a natural!" Man, did that put a smile on my face :D

Looking back and seeing how I prepared for THE day, I don't regret anything. Though there are a few changes I would tweak for next time, this entire experience was rewarding and inspiring. Most of all, my students were learning from my lesson that I taught... and that's all that matters.

-Ms. C

Note: The activity that I did with my students at the end was derived from this website. For those of you who are interested in cool science gadgets, check out what I ordered online for my students.

Ms. "C"

A new blog has been long past due. I haven't written since close to the beginning of the semester and right now, I am half way through and getting ready to sign up for Spring 2011's classes. How quickly these past 8 weeks have gone by, but not quick enough. I am constantly on my computer, hacking away at the keys as I come up with yet another paper, assignment, or lesson plan that needs to submitted to the authorities above who are out for my head :)

After Labor Day, I was assigned to start interning at Mendenhall Middle School. Every Monday and Wednesday morning, I arrive promptly at 7:30 AM (*at least, I try arrive on time*), and prepare myself before meeting my first class full of 30, vibrant 7th graders. This semester, I am teaching science and have earned the nickname Ms. "C." As much as I was looking forward to hearing students call me by my entire last name, this title will have to do.

Overall, the experience has been overwhelming. I am teaching two classes that contain opposite personalities and statuses, so it feels like I am teaching two completely different subjects. The students, however, are fun and are somewhat patient with me as I continue to learn (and pronounce) their names. These students have taught me to step away from my safe zone and have allowed me to open up. As obnoxious and out of control they may be sometimes, I still look forward to seeing them every morning and have even gotten to the point where I miss them on weekends. Even more exciting, I haven't had major problems with the kids and am slowly starting to adapt to their needs for learning...

Well, here I am... rambling away and I still have so much to do. Tomorrow I am teaching the entire two classes about global changes in the atmosphere and am developing an activity to go along with it. On top of what I am already doing tomorrow, I am being observed by the students' real teacher for a grade. This should be fun :/

Enjoy your evening, my fellow readers. And as I tell my students at the end of the day: "Make good decisions... or I'll hunt you down"

-Ms. C