Week 15

     It's so surreal that this experience is almost coming to an end. It felt like it was just yesterday when all the teacher candidates were anxiously waiting at the Ozinga Chapel eager to finally take that last step. We were all one step closer to achieving our dreams. As I was listening to the professor panel discuss student teaching expectations I was incredibly nervous. I had no idea how I was going to juggle everything that was about to come my way, but then I realized how much I had overcome over the years. I started the adult studies program in 2013. My son was 4 months of age. I was capable of getting this far with a newborn child and I was going to be capable of student teaching now.  The journey to get here was not easy and there were some setbacks. I felt like giving up multiple times. I thought to myself, well maybe, this isn't what I'm supposed to do. But every time I felt like giving up I simply couldn't. I wouldn't let myself.  Many times I looked at my son and thought to myself I have to finish what I started so that one day when he feels like giving up I can tell him,  "I know how that feels and you have to find the willingness to push through."

    Last week, was a short week on Tuesday we went on a field trip. We visited the Museum of Science and Industry. The students visited the Numbers in Nature Exhibition and the Christmas Around the World exhibition. Then they watched the movie, Tiny Giants at the Dome Theater. After the movie students and chaperones had the rest of the time to explore the museum. The students had a blast! When we returned to class we had a conversation about the Christmas trees. Students were eager to share what they had observed. We ended the day with a writing activity. Students wrote about their favorite exhibition.

    Originally, students were not supposed to have school on Wednesday, however, after the strike make up days were added to the academic school calendar. As a result of this, my cooperating teacher and I decided that we would try to make Wednesday an extra fun learning day for the students. We read books, played board games, created friendships bracelets, danced, and had a Friendsgiving lunch in our classroom.  This upcoming week my host teacher is going to get observed by the principal. She has invited me to attend the pre-conference. We will be co-teaching a lesson. I will also be observed this upcoming week. It's definitely going to be a busy week!

Some of them didn't know what Twister was! Ha! 

     

Friendsgiving celebration

Classroom Confidential

Chapter 12 Great Teachers are Lifelong Learners 

"But not all teachers. Not the great ones. Despite the fact that they teach in a famine culture, great teachers never go hungry." This chapter was the cherry on the top. It was as if Schmidt was giving me her last piece of advice. In this chapter Schmidt talks about the importance of connecting and collaborating with colleagues and other professionals. I must admit I consider myself an introvert. I don't like to be social and I prefer to work alone. During my first week of student teaching, I learned that the first-grade team would lesson plan together and share ideas with each other. At first, I felt really uncomfortable sharing my thoughts and ideas with such smart women. I felt like I was going to embarrass myself so I mostly observed. But then, slowly I started to share my thoughts and ideas and I realized that I actually had something to bring to the table. Now, I definitely feel like working collaboratively is detrimental for teachers. There is just so much to accomplish and if you try to do it all alone you simply end up overwhelmed and stressed. Overall, I think one of my biggest obstacles during this experience was the fear of being vulnerable. I started off the school year scared and full of doubts, but as I near the end of this experience I can honestly say that I am leaving with more confidence and with a new perspective on teacher collaboration!