Last week I missed a day with the kids and went to visit the speech teacher instead.  Her methods were completely different than the speech teacher that I had when I was in elementary school and instead of just doing normal work, she played games with the kids.  It was great to see how their speech improved slightly as the game moved along, and realizing how much better they must have gotten already.  I hope to be able to bring this much fun and creativity into my own career.

Stories to Share/Reflection

I don’t really have anything in the stories to share section, except something that isn’t very funny or storylike, but it reminds me of our first teacher cadet project, the quilt squares.  My final project for language is the Philosophy of Life project, and I’m sure many of you guys have to do it too, and my views are still pretty much the same as they were at the beginning of the year, but I’ve added to it.  They are more complex, and from thinking about my quilt square and comparing it to my Philosophy of Life Project, I realize just how much I’ve grown this year.  It kind of makes me happy.

Yates, the child in the class who I usually work on math with, now knows my name.  And just so you know how amazing that is, I’ll tell you what Ms. G told me.  Yates has been in classes with the same people ever since kindergarden and will still walk up to them and ask them what their name is because he honestly can’t remember, but he learned my name quickly.  Ms. G said it might be the quickest that he’s ever learned anyone’s name.  That fills me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.  It’s going to be so hard to leave them.

Learning Experience

Rotations are frustrating for teachers, but imagine how frustrating they must be for the children in their classes.  Especially the first graders.  Especially the first graders in special education.  I thought it would be absolutely chaotic for Collin and Ashton to go through that, but to my surprise the got along well and seemed to really enjoy themselves.  They learned about forces from a different teacher for part of the day and then had a worksheet to do.  Of course their assignments were slightly altered from the rest of the class, but they got through the whole thing extraordinarily in my opinion, and I’ve learned that you really shouldn’t underestimate them.  Not ever.

Reflection

Spring break is coming up!  Literally one more day of school and that’s it.  Time for rest.  I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for this break as I am right now, and I’m trying to get everything out of the way so that I have nothing to do over the break that is school related (except I still have to do my senior project…and work on my teacher cadet portfolio…and my phiolosophy of life project…).  But I truly need a break from this, I don’t know how I’ve lasted this long.  At least after spring break things should quiet down.  Until AP Exams that is.  I think that this year, this time of the year actually, has taught me that I really need to pace myself.  Not push everything off…because I am really on the verge of just saying forget it, I’m not doing anything.  Of course I would never do that, but still, I wish I could.  As sad as I am for the year and highschool to end, I honestly can’t wait!

Stories To Share.

I don’t have any fun recess stories this time, or crazy things that the kids have said.  But even if I did it wouldn’t relate my experiences exactly in the right way.  To know how much I love my field experience and all of the kids, and their huge smiles, and my cooperating teachers, and how excited and happy I am when I walk into the classroom, you really have to be there.  I hope it’s the same for all of you too!

This week, because of senior service day, I got to stay for a full day at the elementary school which was great because I saw a whole new side of special education.  The part of the day that is most memorable to me was lunch because the teacher’s assistants take turns taking Ashton and Nate to lunch and the process was much more complicated that I imagined.  At first I thought that they just walked them down, but they actually stay at lunch with them because they need to be helped or monitored.  Ashton needs alot of supervision with actually getting the food where it is supposed to be, and Nate has to be watched to make sure that he actually eats and that he uses a spoon or fork and not his hands.  The whole process of getting their lunch over and done with took up almost an hour and was very tiring.  I have so much respect for everyone who does this everyday, and for their parents who have to do the same thing at home even more often.

Learning Experience

By staying a whole day at the school I saw that a teachers day doesn’t slow down, but only gets more hectic.  With the school’s Special Olympics coming up Mrs. G is trying to keep track of their activities at gym and during their extra work out period so she can know what tasks to assign them to and how well they well do at them.  I realized that this must be what she has to do all of the time.  See what they are doing well and what they need extra help on, so that she knows what they should be expected to do alone, what they should be pushed to learn, and what is simply above their heads.

Reflection

Getting to spend the whole day with the kids made me miss elementary school and wish that I could stay there with them everyday, but it also made me think more of my future plans and of how I’ll fell when I have to leave them.  How will I feel you ask?  Sad.  Desperately, heart breakingly sad.  But I also think that I will feel accomplished and exciting at having completed something so important, and about moving on to a new phase in my life.  I’m not worried about next year anymore, or nervous or scared.  I’m just ready for it to get here, and I know that whatever happens, I can handle it.

Stories To Share

  While I was at recess with the first graders, Ashton decided that today was the day for him to be king of the slide.  He went up and down it, by himself (!), more than 12 times which was amazing because he was getting up the steps independently and making new friends.  I noticed that one little boy in particular was having a great time and everytime he got to the top of the slide he would say something new.  One time he said “Cowabunga Dudes!!!” and when he finished he looked around quickly and yelled “Woah, Woah, That was Wicked!” and proceeded to take another turn on the slide.  He was absolutely adorable and made me wish that I could go back to first grade.

Unfortunately last week I only got to go to my field experience once, and that was thursday, which was the day of the Kindergarden Circus!!!  The show was really cute and enterataining (especially those little clowns, they were as good as professionals), and Jocelyn, a little girl from my class with a physical disability, was a baton twirler.  She was adorable and did a great job.  

But, since the Kindergarden Circus lasted almost the entire time I was there, I have no observations or learning experiences to share.  It was my only time going in that week and the whole day I was in the gym with the class watching the performance.  Sorry I have nothing else to add regarding teacher cadets this week, but im sure I’ll have much more soon.  Too bad you couldn’t see the Greatest Show On Earth though, it was really spectacular.

As sad as it is, I’ve been observing on several occassions that while the younger children in the Special Education class seem to have many friends in their regular classes (especially the first graders), the older they get, the less the other children appear to aknowledge them.  Maybe it’s just the time that I’m there, because I know that I don’t see everything, but for all the times I’ve been on field experience I haven’t once seen another child speak to a certain fifth grader that isn’t in the Special Education class as well.  This makes it apparent that the younger kids are, the more accepting they are, at least in elementary school.  Instead of being open minded they are probably more concerened with being “cool” and having the most popular friends.  I don’t know how it will be fore that fifth grader when he gets to middle school next year, but I hope that there will still be some kind hearted people around so that he doesn’t end up isolated.

Learning Experience

Once you read a book to a child, all they want from you is more book reading!!!  At least that’s how it is with Nate.  The first day I read him about two Dr. Seuss books while we waited for his turn in the math room and now everytime he sees me he comes up to me and does the book symbol.  Luckily I’ve gotten to read to him as well as most of the others everday so I’m not letting him down.  The last one I can remember reading is Geral McBoing Boing.  They all loved them and after I read it Yates kept it and looked over it again and again.

Reflection

Everytime I walk into my field experience class room I am more excited each time and this is what tells me that, come April when field experience is over, I’m probably going to freak out.  Most likely I won’t get to see the kids anymore and I already feel so close to them.  It’s not like I’m just helping them, I feel like they are MY students.  Now I get how Ms. J felt when we all left for field experience.

Quote for T-shirt:

Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity.– Deborah Meier

Stories To Share:

I can’t really think of any that would be funny if you weren’t there…but so far my favorite experience was music with the kids.  I got to see Halee and they danced to irish music and searched for the “wee people”, or leprachauns.

When I stepped foot into Ballentine Elementary I thought I was going to a first grade class…but boy was I in for a surprise.  Calamity isn’t the word I would use to describe it though, or to describe anything I was expecting, but it was vastly different and I had to quickly analyze my surroundings.  All in all, I’m glad that it wasn’t a first grade class I walked into, but special education.  Leave it to Mark Twain to have a quote ready for every situation.

My first 3 days at Ballentine Elementary:

I LOVE FIELD EXPERIENCE more than I thought was possible!!!  My first day I got to help search for a child (which wassn’t exactly a fun filled time, but showed me how much Special Education teachers have to do and how they are always on the go.  Their schedules are constantly changing!!), learned “bathrooming skills”, and helped Nate with math by using little cubes and number cards.  The number cards were labeled one through three, and when we put a cube down he had to choose the card with the appropriate number.  While this wasn’t easy for him, everytime he got it right he would get this huge smile on his face and we (Ms. T and myself) would clap for him.   That day I was introduced to all of the students except for one (the semi-missing child) and they all stole my heart immediately.

My second day I got to spend more time with Ashton.  We did math together (he pushed numbers on a screen on what is called a “mini-mode”, and the machine would say what number he had touched), and then the whole class went to art and made fish.  The glued on the scales with shiny pieces of paper and then used watercolors to paint the rest of the white space.  I also got to do several read alouds.  Nate was constantly grabbing books and I got to read them to him and Ashton while the others worked on math and writting with Ms. G or one of her assistants (Ms. T and Ms. S).

Today (my third day), was the same, but different.  I worked with Austin in his math book, did math cubes again with Nate, and then we all went to P.E where the kids all ran (or rolled) around and then threw balls suited to their abilities.  Before I knew it, it was time for me to leave!!  That hour and a half goes by wayyyy to quickly and I always feel like things are just getting started when I have to go.   But the 90 minutes I get to be there is better than not being there at all, and next time (wednesday) I get to stay for even longer.  This give me a whole new reason to love Wednesdays!

I’ve already got to apply numerous things I’ve learned from Teacher Cadets into my field experience.  The first day I was there I immediately zoned in on the information we learned in our barriers segment since each child in the class had at least one, and the more I got to talk with the children, the more I recalled about barriers and the better I could connect with them because of it.  I’m so glad I took Teacher Cadets and that I was assigned to Special Education.  My senior year wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful without it.

Quote: 

Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity.– Deborah Meier

By the way, how does it feel reading my blog without the obvious headers that usually mark the beginning of each section?  Probably about as weird as it is for me to type the blog excluding the headers that usally help me stay organized.  But soon, everything, or mostly everything, will be different.  And no, I am not just talking about the imminently approaching start of my college days (while that is of course always on the back of my mind), but I’m talking about field experience.  No longer will any of us cadets be going into Ms. Jackson’s room for class in the morning, instead we will be dispersed among various schools to apply what Ms. J has taught us this year.  We won’t be the ones getting taught, we will be the ones teaching!!  Of couse I’m overwhelmed with excitement about this progression that we have all made, but I’m also a little wary.  What if I don’t know what I’m doing?  What if the students don’t like me?  What if the teacher doesn’t even like me?  There are so many “What If’s” flying through my head that I think I could fill a whole blog  just by listing them.  But since I’m sure you will be bored to tears reading that, I’ll just let them stay in my head.

Anyway, I’m super, super worried about starting my field experience on top of everything else that is going on right now.  I think I may be more overloaded than I have ever been before, and that is really saying something.  So much for letting senior year be a breeze, but I’ve learned alot from this year, especially from this time of the year.  I’m much to ambitious.  I need to learn to hold back on things, and not just jump into everything because I think it will be good for me, or it will help my education or career, or just because I think it will be fun.  If I do what I did this year, next  year, I’m pretty sure I’ll end up failing out of college….or having a nervous breakdown.  Sooo….I’m going to take a big breath and just do it.  I’m going to go to field experience and do the best that I can, because that is all I can do, and hope for the best, because whatever happens happens.  And yes, I do realize how many cliches I just used, and I’m okay with it.

“Don’t worry, be happy.”   Bob Marley

Last week I, along with the rest of this year’s teacher cadet class, had to take a re-take of our last unit test.  I learned alot more by taking the test the second time, but was dissapointed in myself for not studying enough the first time around.  Luckily Ms. Jackson realized that the class needed to re visit some of the information and let us have a re-do.  I feel like I did much, much better the second time, but I don’t know yet for sure.  Anyway, this taught me that a good teacher is flexible and will change the plans when needed.  Ms. Jackson had originally planned for us to move on the next unit, but when she saw that we didn’t do as well as we should have as a class, she let us have a second chance.  Hopefully all of us who become teachers will remember this and use it with our own classes.

Observation

On our observation day I saw alot of things that surprised me.  From first graders in heels (legit heels almost two inches high) to black nail polish, I was shocked at how quickly kids are growing up now.  This reminded me of the “Hurried Child” syndrome, a syndrome that makes kids take on adult like responsibility and miss out on true childhood.  It’s sad to see so many children this way because I had a childhood that I value greatly and wish that everyone could have the same experience.

Observation day also taught me how important it is to not be closed-minded.  I went in sure that I wanted to assist a fourth grade class, but I completely changed my mind and now want to go to first instead.  If I had went into observation day set to fourth grade and dismissing everything, I would have not found out how much I fel like I fit the younger grades better. 

Read Aloud

Ashley read us an excerpt from “Checklist for Life for Teens”.  She picked a section called “Zipped Lips” which was about the importance criticizing in a constructive way.  If you never give a child criticism they may grow up thinking that they are talented in everything when they should perhaps pursue one thing instead of everything, or they may never feel the need to practice to become better and enhance their skills.  However, if you constantly criticize someone in a demeaning way, they may feel like they can’t do anything right and decide to give up.

Reflection Time

As the year continues to wind down I get more and more shocked at how close I am to finishing high school.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m  extremely excited to graduate, but the idea of moving on to college and truly starting my life is almost overwhelming.  Soon everything I do will count so much more than it counts now.  My important decisions will follow me forever, and while I’m sure that I’ll do a good job and make the right choice most of the time, it’s still somewhat scary.  I know that I’ll get over this in time tho, and have a great life ahead of me. (If you can’t tell, I’m really, really happy right now!)

Quote of the Week

Albert Einstein:

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Being back after the glorious, wonderful, magnificent winter break is truly a wake up call.  Now it’s time to get back into the groove of school, but after two full weeks of laziness, it’s not exactly easy to do.  I feel like now, after being in the bliss of no homework or tests to study for, school is a heavier load than ever.  Add that to my case of senioritis that is worsening every day, and you’ve got a serious problem.  Thankfully report cards are due soon, and that is helping me to snap up.  I think maybe that’s why report cards are issued so soon after break.  They know that without the incentive, everyone would stop working.  Maybe even the teachers.  So what’s the point of this?  DO NOT SLACK OFF!!!  There is always something you can do to make sure that you don’t fall off the face of the earth where school is involved.  Like don’t wake up three hours later than usual everyday because it makes it harder to get up, and don’t forget math problems exist because they won’t go away.  It’s too bad that I had to learn this the hard way, but at least i learned it, right?

Observation

Alzheimer’s was evident in one of the people that I’ve know since I was little at church one day this week.  She asked me if I was from here or from Hopkins, and my jaw almost dropped to the ground.  I felt so bad because I had no idea she had the disease.  Luckily someone told me because I was reasonably concerned and confused and probably would have told someone if I had not been made aware of her sickness.  She and her family would like for it to be private as possible, since it is a very touchy subject.  This showed me that instead of jumping to conclusions and telling everyone all of your encounters, that maybe you should just be quiet about some things and make sure that in the process of telling what happened you don’t also let someone’s secret out to the wind.

Read Aloud

Halee read a poem entitled “Teachers” that was written by a student about, you gessed it, TEACHERS!!!  I loved the poem so much, and it made me so happy to know that a student appreciated his/her teacher so much that they wrote a poem to show their grattitude.  No matter what profession I end up taking a part in, I hope that I can inspire someone as much as this student was inspired, and make someone’s life better the way that this teacher made this child’s life better.  It gives me hope. 

Reflection Time

Well guys, this is it.  This is the week that I find out if I am a McNair Scholar or not.  I would have probably been freaking out about this last year, because it is such a huge deal, but now I’m calm about it.  I think the day went well when all of the finalists were at the school interviewing, and I know that what was meant to be will be.  I feel that I’ve matured so much since just the beginning of the year, and while some of it occurred naturally, I do believe that I owe some of this growth to teacher cadets.  It hasn’t just helped me look outside of myself more, but it’s made me look into myself in a way that I haven’t had to before, and in doing so I’ve learned some things I might not have known without it, and I’ve definitely gained some in the self confidence area.   That one gets two big smiles.

Quote of the Week

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” -Judy Garland

I picked this one because I think it’s so, soooo very important to stay true to yourself and to be an individual.  In today’s society where everyone is being pressured to fit into a certain mold, a certain way of dressing and acting, looking and thinking, I think it’s more important than ever to look into yourself and find the beauty that’s there.

Yay!  Christmas is here and while school is hectic due to the crazy amounts of exams, I’m still loving life.  And school for that matter.  In teacher Cadets we have been preparing gifts for a family that would not be able to have a very nice Christmas without our help.  THis is the first time that I have been involved in adopting a family, but it is so rewarding to think about someone besides myself and my friends this Christmas season.  Even though my family doesn’t celebrate christmas, I’m still feeling that Christmas spirit, now more than ever due to this Teacher Cadets project.  I love helping others and this has helped me learn that alot of people aren’t as wrapped up in themselves during Christmas as I thought, because alot of people are adopting families and holding similar charity events.  Imagine how much others could have, though, if people were this generous throughout the whole year.  Something to think about, huh?

Reflection Time

I’m feeling so much more appreciative and grateful to my parent’s for everything that I have now.  Seeing a family asking for things like tissue for christmas presents has been an extrememe wake up call.  While I don’t consider myself materialistic (however, I must admit that I do love handbags) or self centered in the least,  I have realized that I do take things for granted and am possibly even a little bit spoiled.  My parents give me an allowance every week for just washing the dishes and keeping my own room clean, a chore which I’ve realized many people do for nothing, and should not actually get paid for.  And I have also realized that I am way overpaid for this simple job that a ten year old could do.  I definitely won’t complain about not getting a new fifty dollar purse whenever I see one I like anymore, and I’ll remind myself that some people don’t even have half of that to buy tissue with.  This adopt a family has been very eye opening for me, and in a good way.  Thanks to the family we helped, Ms. J for organizing it, and the rest of the wonderful teacher cadets for sharing this experience with me.

Quote of the Week

“Charity is a virtue of the heart, not of the hands.” -Joseph Addison

Do I even need to explain this one?