Internship (Week 3)

Yesterday, I relaxed all day and worked on some class work for my kids so I didn't get around to blogging. This past weekend was great, and to top it off, today was good too! I am doing better than I was in the last post, emotionally. I have my head up, and looking towards the future. Last week was pretty rough on my mind. But I had an awesome weekend, and felt refreshed today. So, Hello new week, nice to meet you!

Last week, I taught my unit for my school work. I did what I could since we had a crazy week! Here's how it started.....

Monday, we were delayed 3 hours due to flooding from a storm system that had came through Sunday night. We did what we could, and got through the rest of the day. Tuesday was the 100th day of school! Who doesn't do fun things on that day??? So we got some more work done that morning, and had fun activities the rest of the day. Wednesday, we got a full day of school in. We were able to catch up a little bit. Thursday, we were dismissed an hour early due to possible flooding from another rain system. Ugh!! As soon as I got home, it quit raining. So it was strictly done as a caution, but a waste of an hour in my opinion. Friday was test day. I wasn't very happy with the test scores, but my teacher explained real quick that it wasn't me. She explained that it was due to the week we had, and their scores fluctuate often. I'm hoping this week is better!

I still haven't typed any lesson plans.....booooo. I type out a daily agenda, I take notes on what I do everyday, and I have the lesson plan template saved. It's just a matter of putting my notes into the template. My first observation went very well. We are having a meeting this week to discuss his notes, as well as my teacher's notes on my teaching. I also submitted my first two assignments, and started my second set of assignments. 

I am absolutely loving my new "job."

I love coming home when it's day light. I love having time to relax before bed. I love helping the kids. I love seeing the "light bulbs." I love their eagerness. I love it when they ask me for help. I love it when they correct me. I love explaining to them what "to do" and what "not to do." They are so fun and full of energy!

Internship (Week 2)

My brain is making siren noises, and screaming "Information Overload" today! There is so much to do to prepare for the coming weeks, and I just can't get into the groove. I want to do the work because I like planning and organizing, but I'm not with it. A lot of things have been going on here lately that I just don't want to blog about because I don't want to remember it. And that particular "thing" has me in a tizzy. I can't focus. I can't eat like I need to. I can't do what needs to be done because my brain just constantly thinks about that "thing". Luckily, it's wearing me out so bad that I am sleeping really good. That's about it though. I know in time that "thing" will become less and less of a thought, and I can get back on track.

Last week, I did about the same thing that I did during week one. The kids are super sweet and very active. We (teacher and I) constantly say "sit down" all day haha!! That's 2nd graders for ya! When we walk to the library, or any other time we in the hall, they have become my "2nd grade soldiers". The put "bubbles" in their mouths to keep them from talking, and walk stiff like soldiers to keep from touching each other or the walls. They like that haha. One of the girls colored a picture of Alice from Alice in Wonderland. When she finished, she brought it to me and said, "You can have it since Alice is your favorite." She's a gem!!

The class I have is mostly strugglers. I honestly believe that a teacher's gift comes out the best with a struggling student. When you see that child's light bulb come on, it is just amazing because they have a hard time understanding some concepts to begin with. When you see that what you said "clicked", it's so heart warming. I know the students will be just fine, and they will make it to the next grade. The students that are on average, they love to help everybody.

Starting tomorrow, I am completely in charge. My teacher even said that she would be out of the room some. I am excited. Nervous. Completely ready. I have all the work and tests prepared for this week. I have fun activities planned along side the usual routine. In the classroom, I am prepared. In my head, I am prepared. As far as my University, I am not prepared. I haven't typed one single lesson plan. I feel like I'm not in college anymore. I feel like all I have to do is make sure my classroom is ready, and I have everything prepared for my kids. That feeling is amazing. When I remember I still have assignments and such, I start to come off my teaching high.

Haha.

I know I will get it all together. Procrastinator is my middle name for crying out loud. I know the actual assignment isn't due for a few weeks. My first 2 assignments are due a week from today. Still. Not. Done. Haha. I work better under pressure I've realized.

I'm ready to face this week, and I know it will go by super fast. I don't wish my life away, but for my heart and mind, I hope time does go fast for a while. Until at least I'm over that "thing". Then it can go back to normal.

Internship (Week 1)

Since this is an important step in my life and upcoming career, I want to be able to look back and read about the ups and downs of this experience. My plan is to talk about what happens at the end of each week. I hope I can keep up with it!! I'm not good at blogging on a regular basis, but I'm hoping that will change.

Monday began my first full week of student teaching. Of course, I didn't jump right in and take over the room. We decided for the first week, I would take over morning duties which consisted of getting notes, homework, and any lunch money and what not. The kids automatically accepted this, and our student-teacher relationship has grown tremendously from it.

By midweek, I started reading with them from their Basil readers. They ask me for permission to do things. Then, they started asking me for help with their Math work. They have adjusted to me being in their "space" quicker than I imagined. I love seeing that because I didn't want them to not like me! They come up to me to randomly say "hello" and some have started giving me hugs when they leave. It's so sweet!!

I am in 2nd grade. There are 15 students in the classroom. One is an ELL student that is getting ready to be tested for Autism. This is an amazing experience for me because when I was in Elementary school, I never had a special needs classmate. Last semester during field experience, I was able to be with an Autistic student. I learned more that semester than any other. I think they are amazing kids, and I can't wait to spend more classroom time with him. I know he will teach me a lot!

What A Way To Ring In The New Year....

It's been close to a month since my last recap. So much has happened, and continues to happen. It's funny how the closer you get to a goal, the more that you notice that "life" just happens and you become busier than you've ever been. I've always had goals...ever since I can remember. I've set little kiddie goals, teenage goals, and now I'm about to make my biggest, young adult goal ever. I absolutely love being on top of things as far as organization, details, and knowing everything off the top of my head. It takes a lot ya know. Sometimes, I don't see how I remember every little thing I'm supposed to do. How I remember things from work when I haven't been there in days, and how I remember due dates for assignments, meetings, and other important things for school. Our brains work in strange ways, and it amazes me.

Christmas break was, of course, way to fast. I didn't really get to enjoy it the way I wanted to. Our Christmas day was great. We opened gifts here that morning, rested for a couple hours, then headed to my grandma's house. We ate great breakfast food and desserts, opened presents, and laughed about things that had been happening. At my grandma's house, there is never a dull moment when the whole family gets together. My uncle from Clay, Alabama is hilarious. He is never serious, and when he is, it's usually not a good thing. My other uncle that lives across the street from me is more layed back, but when they get together, it's so funny. We laugh until we cry almost every get together we have.

My Christmas wish list consisted of nothing. I buy things for myself throughout the year, and would rather buy gifts for others than others buy for me. But of course, my amazing mother wanted to get me a few things. I had a stocking that had my favorite candy, Dove Peanut Butter.....which is hard to find in my area, a camera case that I needed, The Help DVD...I read the book and I love both. My cousin's wife bought me a Rue 21 gift card, and my grandma bought me a new Alabama yearly calendar, and gave money. I loved my gifts, but loved getting to see my family more.

The day after Christmas is when things started going downhill. I woke up feeling horrible. I went on to work, but could barely function. I thought it was a cold, and my boss sent me home around 3:30 that afternoon. Tuesday, I was scheduled to work, but went to the doctor instead. He gave me some medicine, and a shot. I came home, and layed on the couch. Didn't move at all other than to go to the bathroom. At this point, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I was exhausted, but had been resting and sleeping for hours at a time. I slept all night, and dozed off and on all day. Wednesday, I get up and go to work. I only stayed until 12:30 to make sure everyone got a lunch break. Again, I'm exhausted, and can't hold my head up. Thursday, I go to work again, but only stay until 11:40. Yeah, crappy. I layed on the couch all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Slept sooo much, and was absolutely drained. Saturday night, I watched a little bit of the New Year's Eve specials. Coldplay had a special on, and I listened to them on the TV. It was awesome. So I spent New Year's Eve wrapped up on the couch. Sunday, my breathing started getting shallow. It was getting harder to breathe too. My parents took me to the hospital. I got two shots, a chest x-ray, and medicine. They ruled it a very severe sinus infection. Really? If that was all it was, my first antibiotic would have worked. I did the same thing on Monday.

Tuesday was Teacher Work Day for the school I was assigned to for Internship. I was encouraged to go, but I had so much to do. I was feeling some better, and so I tried to tackle Wal-Mart. That was a big. Huge. Mistake. I was exhausted in about an hour. I got what I needed for the first day of internship, and was ready to go. I came home and rested up. Wednesday started my first day of Internship. We have to go 75 consecutive days. I'm in 2nd grade, and have loved being there the past 3 days. I love being there, love coming home before dark, love not having any homework, and love the people I'm with at the school. They are so helpful and friendly. I definitely could get used to this new "job" of mine. Yes, I'm so freakin' tired everyday, but I haven't even took the time to completely get well. I know I will adjust and get back on track with sleep!

This week starts my first full week, and I will be taking some responsibility of the classroom. The kids seem to like me pretty well so far. They are always telling me things about them, and asking me tons of questions. I feel like I've learned so much in the 3 days I've been there. I know I'll learn much, much more in the next few weeks. I can't wait to start teaching, and take full responsibility of the classroom. I just hope I don't disappoint!!

I hope to take a lot of notes, pictures, and memories away from this final step to getting my degree. It still hasn't sank in that I am almost there. I've wanted this for so long. What will my next goal be?? What will I do with myself when I finish??