I have survived two days of student teaching in third grade and I still want to be a teacher, so that's good, riiight? I think I will try to check and recap how things are going periodically and share the stories I will undoubtedly gather over the next 3 1/2 months.
The first two days really were great and I feel so fortunate with the school I was placed in and the mentor teacher I have. Both are fantastic and I am loving every second, but with the anxieties of a new "job" I am feeling a little stressed and cannot place my finger on why exactly. Before I get into that too much though, I wanted to recap the days.
Day 1:
The first couple weeks are meant for observing and slowly taking on responsibility. I am not interested in slowly taking on responsibility and I really want to start doing things right away so that when I do get to "bell-to-bell" teaching, I am not completely wore out by the end of the day.
On the first day the kids went around the room and introduced themselves to me and asked me questions about myself. For the most part the questions were things like, do you have pets? What's your favorite football team? Are you a Cyclone or a Hawkeye? (our in state college rivalry) and then I got the best question EVER .... Are you Nikki Minaj?
What??
Yes, this girl has a wild imagination and an enormous amount of confidence (she boldly announces when she has a crush). I had to stifle a laugh (as I have had to do several times so far!) and said, nope! I'm Miss Johnson, your new student teacher!
I cannot wait to see what else this imaginative little girl and the rest of her classmates have in store for me.
Day 2:
The day started with a team meeting of the third grade teachers. All of the teachers are so nice and welcoming, and I really enjoyed sitting and listening to them plan!
The rest of the day went very much like the first day and it flew by! I helped several students one on one and did a little note taking/data collecting for my mentor teacher. It already has begun to feel like I have been there much longer than two days (in a good way!)
The school was buzzing a bit because there is a big winter storm coming and overnight we are supposed to get a bunch of snow. So, you know what that means... a possible snow day or late start! I was a little bummed about this storm because I had a feeling it was going to sabotage my Tuesday night plans which is the weeknight I usually get to spend time with Bill. I really look forward to these nights, but we live about 20 minutes away from each other on opposite sides of town and I did not want to skip my evening workout and I did not want to drive over there just to drive right back... all in all, it was really bumming me out because I hadn't seen him since Thursday. As I type this out I feel a little silly for letting this get to me, but I suppose it is pretty valid.
So, I here I am, 8:30 on a school night (smile) and I am typing this out in bed and will probably be asleep very soon. I have a feeling this is my new normal. :)
What time do you usually go to bed? Do you remember having any student teachers in your rooms as you grew up?
Of all ppl, she asked about you being Nicki Minaj? That's funny - in relation to singers, I remember when teaching and that song "Bleeding Love" premiered and my students asked me how come she's bleeding love when she could put a band-aid on it! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you love your placement, sounds awesome!
How excited you must be!! So fun to take on a new adventure, and although we haven't met face to face, I think you are going to be a kick ass teacher, Miss Minaj. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am glad your first few days have gone great. That is a bummer that you didn't get to see Bill. I would have been super bummed, too. Tuesday is my & Phil's day, too!
ReplyDeleteThat is funny about the girl asking if you were Nicki Minaj! Hahaha!
Well I get up at 5:15-5:30 most days and like to get around 8 hours of sleep, so I usually head to bed at 8:30 and read until 9 or 9:30! I'm a total grandma when it comes to bed times!
I ALWAYS confuse you with Nicki Minaj! (For the record)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your first few days have gone so well - and if you get a snow day, enjoy it!
Oh, this post is bringing me back to my days of student teaching, haha. It wiped me out!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're first couple of days have went well and I hope to hear more updates as you get more involved with the teaching process! It's awesome to have a great mentor teacher! (Mine was AWFUL. :()
I wake up by 5:30-5:45 every day so I try to be in bed by 9:30 at the latest to get good, quality sleep. It takes some getting used to.
And I think being bummed about not being able to see Bill is a VERY valid emotion to have, and not silly at all! I'm sorry. :(
Nicki Minaj, too cute!
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Every day when I show up on the job I remind myself that yesterday wasn't so bad that I couldn't come back and do it again. that makes today a good day.
ReplyDeleteWe usually crash out about 11 and I get up at 6.
I hope you are enjoying your snow day. We had a snow day here in CF too. Shoveling out was awful! Good luck with your student teaching!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that this girl boldy announces when she has a crush! Just love her confidence!
ReplyDeleteI tend to get in bed around 11 each night and then read for about 30 minutes before going to bed.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have a slight memory of having a student teacher in 1st grade. But given that it's been so long, it's not that crazy it's a little fuzzy.
Haha, as you know I love funny kid stories. Definitely one of the perks of my job. I go to bed between 9:30 and 10 most nights. In the summer I can handle a little later bedtime :)
ReplyDeleteI remember having student teachers when I was younger, and the last two years I've had aides in my classroom doing reading practicums with me. I really like it. But I also remember how HARD student teaching was, I don't want to go back to that :)
Nikki Minaj? Where is the resemblance? Do you have pink hair? Do you wear really weird clothes? That's funny. I usually go to bed around 10:30 or 11 and get up around 5:30. I always try to go to bed a little earlier but it doesn't always work. I have been known to go to bed around 9 on a good night!
ReplyDeleteToo funny about the little girl asking if you were NM! Glad you are enjoying the student teaching so far!
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