Week Five

Ok, next week is the real deal. I completely take over the ENTIRE CLASSROOM. Yikes! Honestly, as of this moment, I'm not too nervous. That's not to say on Monday morning I won't be a wreck. The weatherman is predicting snow for Sunday night. Maybe I'll get to postpone it a day.
The students have been practicing a Grandparent's day program for next Friday. Imaging hearing over 700 children singing at one time. It is awesome. They will doa craft and a writing activity where the grandparent has to decide which paragraph was written by their grandchild. My CT will be in charge that day so I only had to prepare lessons for 4 days. The followig Friday they are closed so I only had to prepare 4 lessons for that week, too. The following week will be mostly observation. Then, off to the nest placement.
This has been a great place to do student teaching in. My CT is so encouraging. She tells me what I need to work on but also gives me praise . The other day she actually gave me a sticker that said "great job!"
I taught social studies and science this week and loved it. They were studying about reptiles and they love the books I brought in. Next week in ss they will get to pretend to be archeologists and dig for artifacts.
I'm really going to miss these kids when I leave. I will also miss the awesome chapel services every week. Watching these kids praise the Lord so freely is so uplifting. God has blessed me by allowing me to do part of my student teaching at a Christian School. I intend to take what I have learned there to ny next placement.

Week Three

This has been a pretty good week. I have started doing the pledges (and lead songs in between. I am NOT a singer), morning prayertime, and mathboard. Morning prayer time is great. Just about all the kids give requests and usually they are the ones who want to pray for that request. They are not shy about praying in front of their friends. We usually have about 10 kids pray and I close. Next week I have the reading groups and phonics lessons. My supervisor came in on Friday. I have a few things to work on but she said she was pleased with what she saw. Very slowly, my confidence is returning. My CT gives me a lot of encouragement and praise. Friday the class had a Valentine party. I enjoyed it as much as they did. One parent made special cupcakes and the kids made a keychain that says Jesus loves (a heart bead) me. They all passed out their valentines and most of them remembered me as well. I recieved gift cards, small boxes of chocolates, and various other presents. I thought that was so thoughtful of them. I really didn't expect anything but what a blessing I received. I can't believe I have been there 3 weeks now. I get my midterm evaluation next week. YIKES!

Week Two

I just finished week two at my new placement. Yesterday was the 100th day of school and that was a lot of fun. Thursday the kids made 100! glasses to wear on Friday. Well, I did most of the work. The stuff wouldn't stick to the glue and some of them we had to staple together. I ended up going around with the tacky glue finishing most of the glasses. Friday the kids brought in 10 bags of 10 items. I mixed all the items and gave every child 10 bags. Some of the things were creative ideas. We had pony tail holders, various cereals, plastic balls, washers, sports beads, candies, and pretzels. The kids had to count their items by 10's then string the stuff on a piece of cord. No one complained because they didn't get a certain item. One little girl kept dropping the other end and had to start all over. Between the glasses and the necklaces the class was quite a sight but they had a lot of fun.
My CT is the most patient and quiet-spoken person I have ever met. I have a feeling I'm going to hate leaving her class in 6 weeks. I start doing math board on Monday. She took the time to pray with me on Friday that I would do well and not be nervous. I one thing I'm a little iffy about is leading songs. This teacher leads her class in a song between pledges (American flag, Christian, flag, and the Bible). If there is one talent I do NOT have is singing but I figure doing this will help me get over being nervous when I get up in front of a class. The part of teaching this class I'm actually really looking forward to is the Bible lesson they have every afternoon. The Bible lessons are included in the material the teachers have but I've watched this teacher make object lessons out of them and I like doing that kind of stuff.
This is a great group of kids and I love being with them. Yesterday I read a Valentine story to them and one little boy told me I was the best reader in the whole world. Another boy said "We love you." and that just made my day! I hope God sees fit to put me in Kindergarden or first grade next year. I definately love the little guys!

Great Week!

I just finished my first week at my new placement and it was wonderful! I'm really learning what it means to be flexible. When I got the email about the new placement it was in a Kindergarden class. When I got there the next day I observed half a day in Kindergarden but went to first grade for the afternoon. Something was going on in the Kindergarden's teacher's family so she wasn't able to have me in her class. The first grade teacher I'm going to be with permantly is the same teacher I observed last year for one of my classes. She called in sick on Wednesday so I went into the other first grades teacher's class. SHE called in the next day. He infant son is cutting teah and had a fever. My CT is still out sick so I observed the other Kindergarden class which I really enjoyed. That afternoon I went back and forth between my first grade class and a second grade class. So I go in today and my CT is still sick but I'm in the class anyway. The assistant principal decided not to call in a sub because there was 2 of us. Talk about on the job training! The assistant acted as the teacher and I asisted her. I think the day went really well. I got to grade homework and seatwork. I conducted the math board (calendar, days of school, etc.) and the math test. I had recess duty and headed up show-and-tell. The assistant had a marble party. That is where they fill a jar with marbles by being quiet n the hallway, etc. When the jar is full they get a party. Today they got to watch part of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory and they had earned "money" all day so they bought candy at the "candy store" the assistant set up. They also had doughnuts because their class had the most box tops for the month of January. I had such a great time working in the classroom today and wasn't a bit nervous. At the first placement I was a bundle of nerves everyday. I'm actually looking forward to next week!

I'm so excited! I received my new placement today. This time I will be in a Kindergarden class and I'm really looking forward to it. I start tomorrow at the new school and I just know everything is going to work out. I love that age. At the preschool I worked at I worked with the pre-k group and and the Kindergardeners who were there for before and after care and really enjoyed it. From what I have seen, Kindergarden is still a time where they can do crafts and have a little fun while they are learning. Once they reach first grade it seems to be strictly business. Well, I'm about to learn more about it as I go off to a new adventure and a new beginning.

Week Three

This past week was different from what I had expected weeks before. In my last entry I said I had been removed from the classroom where I had been assigned to student teach. For a few days afterward, I was very emotional and anxious. I have since felt a peace like I've never known. I know God is in control and He is working everything out as to what is best for me. So many people have been praying for me and I believe God has heard and answered those prayers. Last I have heard there is a school they are trying to get me into and I hope to hear something real soon. I'm excited about my new placement. I'm ready to get in there and give it my best. I do want to thank all those who have prayed for me and have had kind words to say. I also want to thank those at my school who are working so hard on my behalf.

Week Two

Ok. Week two is over. It did not go as well as I had expected. I was such a bundle of nerves everyday. I knew I wasn't doing very well in some areas but thought I was doing ok in others. My cooperating teacher asked to have me pulled from her classroom. I was stunned but I am going to use this experience as a time to grow and learn. Hopefully, I will have a new placement soon. I know a little more now then I did two weeks ago and plan to go into that new placement and give it all I've got. I say that and I mean it but I have to also say that this has seriously shaken my self-confidence so I'm more nervous than ever. I am not going to give up and I don't want to quit. Throughout the last two years I have really seen how God has guided me and this is just one more opportunity for God to work in my life. One thing I am learning in this is that when someone is going through something you can't just pat them on the back and tell them everything is going to be ok. Even thought that is meant to be comforting and the intentions are kind it really doesn't help because that person really doesn't know what you are experiencing. Just be a good listener. I know God is in control and He will work this out for what is best for me. Please say a prayer for me as I continue to seek His guidance.