Week #1 Week #2 Week #3 Week #4 Week #5 Week #6
Week #7 Week #8 Week #9 Week #10 Week #12 Week #13
My first day was extremely exciting. I really like the teacher that I have been paired up with. He is my mentor teacher. The funny thing is that I used to substitute for him for the past two years. He seems to be funny and is humorous just like me!!! I would also like to mention that the school has been very helpful. All the of Principals and Vice Principals have personally come to me to welcome me to their school. The teachers have also been very friendly. People seem to be helpful and very kind. I hope I can do what is expected of me. I expect quite a bit from myself. I hope I do not get disappointed somewhere along the way. I participated in my first lunch today!!!! Gosh I knew I wasn't missing much from the cafeteria. (Ohh by the way, the cafeteria ladies have also been so nice to me) I wish Mickey D's would deliver!!!! I gave small introductions to the classes. In Mr. X's class. He has been very helpful in introducing me to everyone. You know I am only going to be there for 6 six weeks. I feel so bad, because everyone is being so nice, and I am not even going to work there. Anyway, Mr. X has shown me all the paperwork that is involved when you become a teacher. Unfortunately I will learn more of that as the days go on. Ohh I am soooooooooooooo excited. Am I being naive about all this. I don't care, I like the way I am feeling and I am loving it.
Well here we are at the second week of my student teaching. I enjoyed observing the previous week. Now it is my turn to do my stuff. I was so excited, nervous and happy all at the same. Some students have already mentioned to my mentor teacher that they can not understand me when I teach. They feel that they are having a difficult time. Well that doesn't make me feel to good. Mentor has told me not to worry, and things like this always happens, that some students haven't had time to get use to me. Well we will see. I hope I change their minds. So much paper work this week. Attendance sheets, homework problems, daily warm-ups, hall pass, lesson plans, worksheets arrghghghgh so much paper work. I could just get lost in my apartment with all these papers stacked on the couch, on the floor, and on the bed!! Yet I love it. It is so crazy. Hmmm... I don't think I will ever be able to figure that one out. I have only taken his Algebra 1 class. It consists of 3 periods, second, third, and seventh. 4th period is our off period. Eventually I will work into the entire day. When I am ready, he'll hand them on over to me. When will I be ready??
Well this was my last week at the high school. I am kind of sad. It seems just as I was learning names and getting to know students, just when I was getting started, it became time to move. I will never forget it. I know they are not "my" kids, but...I can't explain. Maybe I am getting to involved in my job. It's funny even the students who complained about me, came out with the better grades. It's funny how people are. I think I'm getting a little sentimental. I can't help it. I just don't want to go. I am just getting used to it.
Well it was my first week at the middle school. The kids are soooooooo quiet. The classroom is so quiet. I can actually hear the clock tick! I had a rough time. Let me rephrase that, I had a rough time staying awake. Sometimes I felt so sleepy, just like the students. The students are 8th graders, there are a total of seven periods and a homeroom period. I don't understand why they have announcements twice a day. I thought that's why we have homeroom. Everyday before the school day ends, which is 3:45, but around 3:40 the principal comes on the intercom to give the afternoon announcements. Why?? I don't know. All I know is that, it is interruptive and not a wise choice. Anyway, besides that everything has been rather quiet. I'm not sure if I am going to start teaching next week or not. I haven't been told yet. I guess I am still mourning from leaving the high school. I an still excited an happy about the next month and a half. Well maybe I am excited because it is almost over. Whatever the reason I am just happy. You should see some of the students, they are so tiny. Some are above my waist. Well I am just glad the weekend is here. I have some time to relax before I start.
It has been my second week at the new school. Things are not as wonderful as I hoped they might be. Some people who are reading this may think that I am being naive and that I don't understand why things are they way they are. That may be true. I am seeing things that I did not want to see. I see teachers who complain, I see teachers who know down their last day of retirement, and they gladly mention it to you EVERY single day. I'm keeping track of their dates now. All I hear them say is that we can't teach them anything new or different because they will get confused. Of course they will, because all they know is what the teacher tells them. they are not told how to think for themselves. All it is, is that "you will do this because I want it this way." I don't want to be miss All-know-it-all, but something is not right. I don't understand, I feel bad for the kids for some reason. I feel like if I was one of them I would hate being there also.
Am I cut out for teaching? Is anybody really prepared for teaching? I don't think so. There is so much work in teaching. I don't think the public has any idea of how difficult it can be. I think it also matters where you teach, the type of children you have and the type of parents the children have. I've been a little upset this week I guess. My teachers edition math book was missing for a day. What happened was that my mentor teacher was out of the school that day. So basically I had to substitute. I did have a sub, who came in now and then. I didn't mind. Well after school, I collected my belongings and started out the door. Then I realized that my book bag felt light. I realized that I had left the book in the classroom, so I went back to go get it, but I could not find the book!! I went a little crazy, to put it mildly. I distinctly remember that I had it on the podium. Yet, when I went back to check I could not find it. Well after thoroughly looking in the classroom, I went down stairs to tell the principal. They were very nice about. I was not taking it well. I was very upset when I came home. The children do not need to bring their books to school, because all the teachers have a set in the classroom. The teachers edition is an odd shaped big book, compared to the student's book. So a mistake would only happen if you were unconscious. Well I was upset. I called my husband, who tried to cheer me up, but it didn't work. I seriously took it personally. The next day, nothing happened, it was so obvious that something was wrong with me. The history teacher came by and said, "ol'Mo, why are you so down today?" I just couldn't understand. Suddenly around 2 pm, the student who had taken the book finally decided to return it. How could you have waited till 2 o'clock? I would be too scared to have it in my possession. So this student carried this extra big book in their back-pack, and finally decided to return it. That is not accidental. I will accept that maybe, just maybe, you took it by mistake, but the immediate morning you should have returned it. How could you forget that you had the TEACHER"S MANUAL!!!! Teacher's pay are nothing decent, the environment is nothing pleasing, the bosses are not accommodating, you have to take work home every night, (depending on the type of teacher you are). Why should I teach????? Why should I teach????? Why should I teach????? I find it kind of stressful. Why should I teach?????? Honestly sometimes I feel that I just need to find another type of job, before I get stuck. Deep down, I know I want to teach. I feel that I am good at teaching and I can't see myself doing anything else right now. I think I am going to go to bed today and just lay there till I fall asleep. Hmm......
Today starts the Thanks Giving day Holiday break. THANK GOODNESS!!!!! I needed a break. I gave tests to all of the class periods. I am so excited to go home. Virginia that is. I miss my husband, my brother, my parents and some real food. Food that has been actually cooked in someone's home kitchen. The day went rather calmly. Especially all they had to do was take a test. I still feel like that I would prefer the high school age children. They are just not as immature as the 8th graders. I always thought that they would behave with some sense. That is not true. Many boys still act like they are 9 or 10 years old. Don't get me wrong, there are students who are thoughtful and polite and mature, but there are some that are just soo immature it is to funny. It blows my mind. I enjoy being there, but sometimes you just want them to be a little bit older so that you can teach. I have been looking forward to today for weeks. I feel just like one of the students. Excited to be on turkey day break. I am already looking forward to the end of the semester. I have so much work to accomplish this next week. If I realistically think about it, I won't be able to get much done. That's alright, I will just work on it when I come back to Mississippi.
Well next week is the last week. I have learned soo much. I see that I have so much to learn from more experienced teachers. I guess I had some arrogance deep down inside. I thought that I am young and fresh and I am bringing more of a lively perspective into the classroom. What I really feel is that the best way to teach is to use the old school method of shut up and sit down, along with cooperative learning, play learning. There are times, when the students just have to be quiet and they just have to sit there and listen to me. Then there will be times when we compete with one another in playing around the world. I feel that people that are in the higher positions, meaning in the administrative positions, (many of them) don't really understand what goes on at the teaching level. I don't think it's intentional, it's just that I feel they loose sight and we are only human. The problem is when they are unwilling to listen and agree with teachers. I don't think they should do everything a teacher asks, it's just not possible, it would also be just plain dumb, but they should see what works for the majority. Maybe I am being arrogant and naive again. I just wish that things could be better run. Anyway...life goes on.
Suzana's Home