[Thursday] update...
Since I started student teaching I've been super busy and haven't been on the computer much, so now is my official time to update.
Student teaching is going really good. It's getting better as the days progress, and there are less and less awkward moments. I really like the teacher (Stephanie) I'm student teaching with. Oh, and if the fact that Stephanie lives two streets away isn't weird enough, both my kindergarten AND preschool teacher both work at the school I'm at. And they both remember me. I didn't say a word about having my kindergarten teacher, and she asked me if I went to St. Peters Elementary, which I did, and I told her I had her for kindergarten. So the next day she brought in the yearbook from that year and the year my brother had her. It was funny. Then, the other kindergarten teacher asked me if I went to Rainbow Connection for preschool and if I had Miss Mary. I asked my mom, and sure enough, I had her for preschool. So I like to think of it as fate that I ended up where I am. Plus, I kept saying that I didn't request a school because I wanted to get placed and just see what happens. It definitely worked out nicely.
I don't do a lot in the classroom yet, so it gets kind of boring just sitting there. I learned the kids' names in 3 days though, I kept quizzing myself. There's only 18 of them, but still. I'm feeling more comfortable around them now, which is good. I get to take them whenever they go anywhere by myself in their little line, that was my first "duty." I also read to them after lunch and during snack, and this week I took over calendar, where they do the day of the week it is, the date, how many days we've been in school, use straws to count tens and ones places for that amount, the weather, and the weather graph. Then they sit in a circle and get to share one or two things, to try and help them from telling stories all day long. I was so nervous when I first found out I had first grade, especially after my experience in substitute teaching, but I absolutely LOVE them. I'm also getting better at classroom management. At first I was afraid to say anything, but Stephanie is awesome and trusts me with them, and I'm getting better at it. I'm still trying to figure out what I want from my class and the sort, but it's going along nicely. Oh, and I love it how Stephanie calls the class "our kids" now. I'm still worried about planning lessons and taking over, mostly because I'm worried that Stephanie will think I suck. But she's nice and I'm sure she'll help me out. I'm trying not to think that far ahead, and just take things slowly. Next week I'm taking over problem of the day, journal, test prep, and rocket math. Stephanie doesn't plan for those, but I already told her I want to. At least in the beginning, then as I get used to it, I'll just do it like she does.
I've learned so much in the past week. It's crazy. I'm glad Stephanie is only in her 4th year of teaching, because she still remembers what it was like to be a first-year teacher. She also told me that bunch of the staff student taught at the school. Maybe I'll get a job there, that would be just lovely. At times I feel really overloaded, because it's all of this information all at once. But I have time to figure it all out, I don't start teaching social studies/science until the week after next, so hopefully I'll feel better. Then I have to remember to have Stephanie observe me, and contact the LU observer to observe me, and have the principals observe me. Oh, I did get two letters of recommendation from two of my professors at LU. And I asked Stacie at work to write me one, and I'm going to ask Tom. I don't know how many I need for sure, but the more, the better! And I know Stephanie will write me one, and maybe Meghan will, or my LU observer. Ah, there I go, thinking ahead again.
This weekend I'm going to work on my portfolio. I'm going to try really really hard to get it done before I start taking over a ton of subjects. That way, I can focus on teaching and do a good job. Yay for me. And Monday I'm stopping by work to see my eval. Fun fun.
Oh, I got my car estimated from that lady who rear-ended me on Christmas Eve. They gave me a check for $200. Dad says I should get a second opinion to make sure the insurance people aren't ripping me off, because he didn't think you could fix the damage and that I'd need a new bumper. Which would have been good because my bumper is still messed up from the accident two years ago. But I don't really feel like getting a 2nd opinion, so I don't know if I should just cash the check or actually call someplace. The lady who looked at my car had like 10 certification things all over her office, so it looks like she knows what she's talking about. And she gave me her card in case my dad was "mad at her." Ah, I don't know...
This weekend I'm asking mom if she wants to go garage-saling. I realized today in class that I don't have nearly enough books to put in a classroom, so I want to check out some garage sales to see what they have. And supposedly you can buy books from the library for like 10 cents, but I'll have to go ask them about that. Or I could ask my neighbor, she works there. I'm used to getting up early finally. I get up at 6am every day, and go to bed at about 10pm each night. It's weird. I never thought I'd be able to get used to getting up that early, but I do. And I'm not dead tired all day. Weird.
Okay, well I've rambled enough for today. Now I have to put a much shorter version of this on my MySpace page, because you know everyone needs an update on my life...haha...