Professionalism

Professionalism is one of the first things we discussed in my capstone class last week, and rightly so. I think that I have always presented myself well in the schools I have observed/worked in. I've been dressed right, on time, helpful, friendly, etc. But being a student teacher is a whole new level. You are in that school every single day for 7-8 hours. Everything you do, say, what you look like, etc. reflects upon your college and also your future career as a teacher.

It's a little intimidating to think about. Plus, we talked in class about how even outside of school, you have to remember that you are a teacher. You represent the students and the school district you work in. It's not something I'm worried about, but it's something I hadn't really thought about until last week. I guess I'm being forced to grow up (not that I mind) but I've taken on this whole new perspective.

No more is there an issue of really being a student and a teacher - in the school, at least. For example, when I was observing and doing junior practicum, I always wondered whether I should use the student or teacher bathrooms. I know that sounds silly, but it showcases the problem well. You're caught between two worlds. 

However, with student teaching, you are faculty. You really are. You are treated like a school employee. You are responsible for the students you are teaching. Your cooperating teacher is in the room, but he/she is not in charge. You are (okay, for the most part).

Last week, I still felt like a student, but this week, I feel like a teacher. Part of it has to do with the fact that I've actually been TEACHING the first two periods of the day. My own lessons, too. I've been intricately involved in the planning and grading and behind-the-scenes faculty stuff since day one. And I really feel it now. But I'm really confident that I can assert myself. Professionalism is such a big part of this whole experience. I know that it will take me a while to fully develop myself as a teacher, but I'm prepared for that (I think).

On another note, today, my coop was ordering the new books for next year (he hasn't had new ones in almost ten years and I can vouch for their crapiness) - and the two in-class support teachers were encouraging him to order three teacher editions instead of just one, because he was trying to save money. That made me sad because I realized I won't be here past the end of April. I didn't realize how attached I've already become to the school =/ but hopefully I'll have my own school soon. And it will be great.

-Jess 

The first week is over!

And I'm taking a couple of days to rest. And organize.
I have learned so much in student teaching already that it's hard to catalog it all. I don't think I even can. A lot of it has to do with actually being in a school for 40 (unpaid) hours a week, behind the scenes and also front and center. I haven't taught yet but Monday is my test drive - I'll be teaching 2 of the 8th grade classes every single day until the end of April. And every week, I'll add on another class - which means I'll have less time to plan during the day and more time to teach. Which, I guess is the point!

Right now, since I'm just getting back into it, lesson plans are daunting. I'm procrastinating hardcore because I have a sort of writer's block - I'm stuck - how do I get my students to understand something, in an interesting and educational way? I'm really hoping that as I plan more, my teacher brain will kick in more than it ever has before and allow me to plan lessons with (relative) ease. Because once I add the 7th grade in two weeks, I'll be doing double the amount of work. And I'm already doing a lot.

 But I'm not complaining - because that's what I have to do, to be a good teacher. Work hard. Plan lessons. Always take in the needs of the classroom and individual students. As much as teachers today get a bad reputation, I know I picked the right career.

-Jess

Student Teaching Day 2

Student teaching has been an eye-opening experience so far. As I thought/hoped it would be.
The students are so polite, and the teachers/staff have been nothing but welcoming. It's still a little awkward for me when I sit in the faculty room for lunch, and when I'm in the planning period with all of them (because I'm still learning the inner workings of the school and whatnot), but everyone is so friendly that it's not an issue at all.

I'm starting to teach one period on Monday!! This means that I have to have lesson plans on... Friday. Which is in two days. And I have barely been home for the last 48 hours... so I'm gonna do a little planning tonight and a lot tomorrow (AND I can come right home tomorrow at the end of the school day, instead of going to my college - YAY!)

Anyway, I'll start teaching Monday, and every week add another period. I thought doing lesson plans for one class was a lot of work... and now I'll have at least 2. For EVERY DAY. Ready in advance. I guess that's what real teachers do.

And I am, really, becoming a real teacher, and I'm really starting to embrace it.

More soon!

If I believed in reincarnation...

I'm feeling a little philosophical tonight. :)

I've always thought that in my past life, I was a professional figure skater. I have always loved watching the Winter Olympics, wishing I could glide on the ice like that. Wear a sparkly dress (not as short as they tend to come, though). However, unfortunately, Mike and Julie can attest to the fact that not only do I have two left feet, but I can't ice skate for the life of me.

Here's my theory: when you go to your next life, one BIG characteristic or trait changes. For example, I was an Olympic gold medalist, spot on, a beautiful ice skater, but somehow, I twisted my legs up in some kind of freak accident. Maybe on the ice. I'm not an expert on my past life... there's a reason for that. That's why I am who I am now, and not who I was then ;)

But anyway - the point is, that accident didn't kill me, but it disabled me, and as a result, in my current life, I'm experiencing extreme clumsiness in the following forms: tripping, tripping over my own feet, falling on ice outside, bumping into furniture when I know it's there, etc.... no matter how careful I try to be.

However, I think I can deal with this knowing that I won an Olympic gold medal in figure skating in my past life :)

By the way, as of tonight, figure skater is interchangeable with ballerina. I went to see the Nutcracker tonight with Melissa, and it was beautiful. I remember when I was in preschool/kindergarten/1st/2nd grade, and I was in dance school - and how envious I was of the older dancers, who were learning pointe, who were the stars of the recitals, who had the most gorgeous costumes (I guess I was even fascinated by fabric at a young age, though I never would have guessed...). Maybe I was the Sugar Plum Fairy in my last life, wearing that amazing purple tutu I saw tonight. In that case, I had it goooood.

In my current life, I'm going to be a teacher and a quilter. I'm obviously happy with this. Things are good, even though I may always continue to stumble every time I walk into the next room.

However, in my next life, I'm making a prediction. I'm going to be the next J.K. Rowling. I'm going to have this AMAZING story idea (maybe I thought of it on a plane instead of a train - maybe I'll actually like flying in my next life) and I become a really prolific writer. Not in it for the money, though. Obviously, that's a plus. But the big thing that will change for me is my level of extreme procrastination. Sure, everyone needs to procrastinate a little. It's healthy. But as a writer, I'm going to love what I do and somehow, naturally, limit the writer's block. I'm going to travel all over the world and write until my hands fall off.

Maybe in my NEXT next life, my big change will be that I have no hands and teach kids how to drive without steering myself? (oh, and I'll like driving)

I really want to write a novel about this... am I getting a little ahead of thing here? This is supposed to come one life from now... ahh, anyway, really. The wheels in my head are turning.

-----So let me ask you... what were you in your past lives, and what do you think your future lives hold?

What I found while cleaning out my room, Part 2

I fondly remember teaching "school" when I was about... nine? I also wrote this when I was about the same age, in real school:

(...would do if I were an elementary school teacher.")

I set up school when we lived in a townhouse for a year, but when we moved to our new house, we had a white board and table in the (then) unfinished basement. Those were the good times :) I usually "taught" Sean, but I remember some of the neighborhood kids were involved sometimes. I really got a kick out of finding the notebook we used to use.

Oh, the irony (check out my comment on his work, to the left)

Art lesson - I had a way with words ("before you color stuff in"):

Sean was apparently extremely skilled in Phonics, Homework, and Writing...

Tee-hee. I was only preparing for what was to come, but then, it was sans red pen.

-Jess