Time for Back to School...
Today was my first orientation for my graduate assistantship at the community charter school I will be working at for the next two years. Even though it was only the first day of our orientation, I am further refreshed and truly feel comfortable already in the environment of the school. Today was filled with the typical "welcome" lectures from the principal, human resource department and other staff personnel. Everyone seems so friendly, compassionate, and upbeat despite the often challenging environment of the school. I'm really excited to be a part of this environment. After having so many miserable student teaching / pre-teaching experiences and dealing with teachers with negative attitudes, this is a much welcome change. I'm hoping that even though I didn't have the most positive experiences in either of my student teaching placements, maybe this internship with be what I have been searching for.
The charter school is returning from a state of slight disarray. The school adjusting to a new principal, new school name, and many new procedures and policies resulting from both. So everything has been really disorganized apparently these last few weeks. I was only notified yesterday that I should be attending orientation today. There are about two other people I know from my undergraduate studies at Mercyhurst, but all the other people selected for this internship seem nice too.
I even was further surprised today. Upon my initial interview, it seemed as if the special education supervisor was going to hire me for the special education department. Apparently today when I received my placement, I found out that I will actually be co-teaching in a third grade classroom. The classroom teacher will do the daily planning and I will help facilitate. I ultimately would have been happy in either placement, but at this point I have started to develop more special education experiences than regular education, so I'm looking forward to getting some valuable teaching experience. So far, so good. My supervisor seems really nice as well. She is also a graduate from Butler High School ironically. I haven't met my cooperating teacher or classroom yet. Hopefully that should happen tomorrow.
What I really love about this experience is we are treated like equals. It doesn't seem like it will be the "hey I'm the experienced teacher, you are the inexperienced student teacher" relationship. I like feeling like a professional employee working with other professionals. How exciting!
I'm just really relieved that I have this valuable opportunity to not only expand my educational background but get valuable teaching experience while I complete this job. Everything just seems to be working out well, I just hope everything remains positive and doesn't turn into a distant illusion. Hopefully my good words do not jinx my destiny.
I saw the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It was okay. I liked the ending, but the majority of the movie was confusing. I don't want to post spoilers, but I do invite anyone who feels capable of answering my questions to let me know. I want to try to better understand the movie.
Well, tired. Bye for now.
The charter school is returning from a state of slight disarray. The school adjusting to a new principal, new school name, and many new procedures and policies resulting from both. So everything has been really disorganized apparently these last few weeks. I was only notified yesterday that I should be attending orientation today. There are about two other people I know from my undergraduate studies at Mercyhurst, but all the other people selected for this internship seem nice too.
I even was further surprised today. Upon my initial interview, it seemed as if the special education supervisor was going to hire me for the special education department. Apparently today when I received my placement, I found out that I will actually be co-teaching in a third grade classroom. The classroom teacher will do the daily planning and I will help facilitate. I ultimately would have been happy in either placement, but at this point I have started to develop more special education experiences than regular education, so I'm looking forward to getting some valuable teaching experience. So far, so good. My supervisor seems really nice as well. She is also a graduate from Butler High School ironically. I haven't met my cooperating teacher or classroom yet. Hopefully that should happen tomorrow.
What I really love about this experience is we are treated like equals. It doesn't seem like it will be the "hey I'm the experienced teacher, you are the inexperienced student teacher" relationship. I like feeling like a professional employee working with other professionals. How exciting!
I'm just really relieved that I have this valuable opportunity to not only expand my educational background but get valuable teaching experience while I complete this job. Everything just seems to be working out well, I just hope everything remains positive and doesn't turn into a distant illusion. Hopefully my good words do not jinx my destiny.
I saw the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It was okay. I liked the ending, but the majority of the movie was confusing. I don't want to post spoilers, but I do invite anyone who feels capable of answering my questions to let me know. I want to try to better understand the movie.
Well, tired. Bye for now.