Just starting to remember what having TIME actually feels like.
Yes, that's right. I am actually updating this. For the first time in an entire semester, I have the time to sit here and type in this thing. No lesson planning, no provisioning, no correcting papers, no PPA, NOTHING. What an amazing feeling. There were times during the semester that I didn't think I would make it... but here I am... relatively unscarred. I really want to make a t-shirt that says "I survived Student Teaching."
As much work as it was though, I wouldn't trade it in for the world. You can learn and learn and learn in education classes, and that's all well and good, but actually being in a classroom 5 days a week for an entire semester is the greatest learning experience you will EVER get. I can't believe how much I've learned... here are just a few things:
1. Kids smell everything. You give them a pencil, they will smell it. You give them paper, they will smelll it.
2. They remember everything. I can't remember how many times I've heard "Miss Bechtel, you told me a month, 2 days, and 3 hours ago that I could read today."
3. Never underestimate the intelligence of children. They can do things beyond your wildest imagination.
4. Everything that you do or say makes an impression on them. When students admire you, they want to be just like you. The girls started to wear their hair like mine and buy clothes like mine... so cute!
5. You get more attached to the kids than you think. I am going to be a big mess of tears on Friday when I have to leave my kids. I never thought I could love 21 kids that I'm not related to, as much as I do. I love each and every one of them, and it's so hard for me to think that after Friday, I may never see the kids again, and my little first and second graders are going to grow up to be adults... and it just sucks because there's so much more I wanted to teach them... not just about school stuff, but about life and about what's right and wrong, and making good choices... and it's hard for me to let go and just hope that my kids will turn out to be the wonderful, kind, intelligent young people that I know they can be.
6. You can't plan for everything. My type A personality will NEVER survive in the real world of education... it's so important to be flexible.
7. Teaching is the only profession where no one tells you what to do. You can go in on the first day and you won't have a boss to follow around.. you won't have anyone showing you the ropes, telling you where to sit and what to do. You are on your own and you need to take the reigns and do what needs to be done.
8. Being a teacher is a multifaceted job. Teachers are teachers, parents, and friends all tied into one.
9. Teachers are the most undervalued and underappreciated professionals (oh and did I mention underpaid??). but teachers have passion, and love for learning... and good teachers can spread this love for learning to their students.
10. Most of all, I have learned that I can tough it out through stressful situations. I did what needed to be done, and more, and I feel like I can be a wonderful teacher in the fall. I feel confident in my teaching ability, confident that i'm in the right field, and ready to take on any situation that they throw at me. And that is the more important thing that I've learned.
I really have matured this semester.
I will miss my kids so much :(
As much work as it was though, I wouldn't trade it in for the world. You can learn and learn and learn in education classes, and that's all well and good, but actually being in a classroom 5 days a week for an entire semester is the greatest learning experience you will EVER get. I can't believe how much I've learned... here are just a few things:
1. Kids smell everything. You give them a pencil, they will smell it. You give them paper, they will smelll it.
2. They remember everything. I can't remember how many times I've heard "Miss Bechtel, you told me a month, 2 days, and 3 hours ago that I could read today."
3. Never underestimate the intelligence of children. They can do things beyond your wildest imagination.
4. Everything that you do or say makes an impression on them. When students admire you, they want to be just like you. The girls started to wear their hair like mine and buy clothes like mine... so cute!
5. You get more attached to the kids than you think. I am going to be a big mess of tears on Friday when I have to leave my kids. I never thought I could love 21 kids that I'm not related to, as much as I do. I love each and every one of them, and it's so hard for me to think that after Friday, I may never see the kids again, and my little first and second graders are going to grow up to be adults... and it just sucks because there's so much more I wanted to teach them... not just about school stuff, but about life and about what's right and wrong, and making good choices... and it's hard for me to let go and just hope that my kids will turn out to be the wonderful, kind, intelligent young people that I know they can be.
6. You can't plan for everything. My type A personality will NEVER survive in the real world of education... it's so important to be flexible.
7. Teaching is the only profession where no one tells you what to do. You can go in on the first day and you won't have a boss to follow around.. you won't have anyone showing you the ropes, telling you where to sit and what to do. You are on your own and you need to take the reigns and do what needs to be done.
8. Being a teacher is a multifaceted job. Teachers are teachers, parents, and friends all tied into one.
9. Teachers are the most undervalued and underappreciated professionals (oh and did I mention underpaid??). but teachers have passion, and love for learning... and good teachers can spread this love for learning to their students.
10. Most of all, I have learned that I can tough it out through stressful situations. I did what needed to be done, and more, and I feel like I can be a wonderful teacher in the fall. I feel confident in my teaching ability, confident that i'm in the right field, and ready to take on any situation that they throw at me. And that is the more important thing that I've learned.
I really have matured this semester.
I will miss my kids so much :(