Hello everyone! I am so excited about being in the field even though I do miss all of you! My cooperating teacher is extremely cool. I LOVE the class and school that I am in, it feels like home to me. I know a few people who work at the school and my little brother also attends the school so it is nice to not feel so strange! Our school is located in Highland and filled with students who are accelerated learners and come from families that are very well off. I must say that it is nice to work at a school with students who seem to be on a similar level. In our 5th grade class, there are only about 3 students who could use some extra help but even they aren't too behind that we need to worry a great deal about their future of learning.
My absolute favorite thing that has happened this week happened on my first day in the classroom. A student who is extremely proper came up to me and said, " I would just like to officially tell you that it is very nice to meet you." (As he was holding out his hand waiting for me to shake it.) I have never in my life met children who speak like that. It was SO sweet of him. Our classroom teacher is so supportive in whatever we need to do. She is very helpful but gives us so much freedom to explore teaching. She is such a great person and the children love her to death.
The lesson that I learned this week is that teachers still spend hours in the morning and after school to prepare lessons but during the day, they make things look so easy. I have noticed that our cooperating teacher never looks at the lesson plan that she spent hours that morning preparing. That is something that I am going to have to work on. Because there are so many different subjects, I feel like I will need a review of what to teach next. I could not believe how many teachers work from 6:00 A.M.- 5 P.M. everyday to make sure they have their lessons prepared. An 11 hour workday is a very long day. Anyway! Hope everyone is doing well!
What a sweet, proper school you are at!!!! :) hahaha That was a cute story about that little boy! Don't those things just make your whole day!? Wow, I can't believe all the time teachers put in!!! I don't think the teachers at the school I am at come in that early or stay that late! That is such dedication! Glad you are liking your experience!!!! :) Good luck this coming week!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful that your class "feels like home" to you! I feel the same way in the class I'm in. It's great.
ReplyDeleteOh! Sounds like you're in a similar class to the one I'm in; accelerated learners and living in a well-off area.
I totally agree that teachers make it look so easy. It makes me think, "I just want to be (what my friend used to say...) a fly on the wall when the teacher is setting up the behavior/jobs/rules for the classroom With the students at the beginning of the school year!"
I found out that teachers work long hours when I did a teacher interview for my Intro to Ed class a couple years ago. Plus, when my daughter-in-law began teaching (2 years ago), she told me that she stays at the school until they lock up then brings her work home to work on it! And she does 2nd grade! Uh oh!
I have a friend who teaches Special Ed (--started a year ago), and she was telling me that in the Education Program, they teach "theory," which is good for us to know. But, I guess we're already supposed to have the "content" from our first two years of college (plus prior years of school). Luckily, there's the internet these days, and you can do research on subjects pretty quickly!
"The lesson that I learned this week is that teachers still spend hours in the morning and after school to prepare lessons but during the day, they make things look so easy." Brianna Griffeth
ReplyDeleteI know it was crazy to hear her say that she is there at 6am every morning and even stays after school for preparation. But like you said she made it seem so so easy like she has been teaching for 10 years instead of just 3.... I also think shes really lucky that she has such a good class, no IEP's and not even really any behavioral problems. All the student seem to know what's happening in terms of the schedule and respond well to her instruction. She really is a wonderful cooperating teacher.
That is so cute! I think it would be great if more of the students were as proper as the at little boy.
ReplyDeleteOur teacher is very flexible with us too. For me it's a good and bad thing. She has given very broad suggestions of what we can teach, when we can teach, and it would be easier if she would tell us what she really needs us to teach so we don't just teach something that she's not going to build on or use
That is so cute Brianna. It is fun when the kids interact with you. I was amazed at how quickly our class accepted us. Sandy and I have both received letters from students telling us how much they like us and are glad we are there. It completely melts your heart. Our class is not quite as parent supported as yours sounds. Turning in homework is actually one of our teacher's greatest challenges. It has definitely opened my eyes and caused me to really think about how I would deal with this if it were my class.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the hours we spend before and after school. For all the subjects you all teach I would have to look at my agenda constantly.
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