Inservice

1st one down! woo hoo!

I feel blessed to be working with/alongside some wonderful, God-Loving women and men! I know this is where He wants me for the time being.

Thank you, Jesus for your answered prayers.

Forgot to mention....

...I have a job! haha. oops. :)

I will be working as an interim 4th grade teacher at Centerville Intermediate School. The school is about 40 minutes from where I live and it's temporary, but it's something! It's EXPERIENCE! It's all goooood! lol

I will be filling in for two maternity leaves almost back to back. I start inservice Monday and the kids come for a half day on Aug 6 and full time on the 9th.

Wish me Luck!

job

The word "job" is starting to sound like a dirty word.

I have never been this frustrated.

I have looked and called and filled out applications and mailed resumes.

What does it take?? Seriously. I need that answered.

Trudging along....

....the Application Highway hoping it leads to Job City. It's a loooong and wIndy road.

Diploma

My diploma came in the mail today!

My 5 year old daughter, Savannah, was with me when I got it.

Me: I got my diploma, Savannah!!

S: What's a diploma?

Me: It's a piece of paper that you get after you have graduated.

S: Well, why are you so happy?

Awww, bless her...it's so hard to explain so I really didn't try, but Happy I am!

I'm still not sure that it's hit me that I am an actual college graduate, but knowing it is another matter and for that second, opening my diploma and reading it, my brain knew what it meant!

May 08, 2010

A week from today....

....I will GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Two Wong's Don't Make a White!"

Thursday, I went with a friend and fellow student teacher to see Harry Wong and his wife, Rosemary, at a conference at MTSU. I have his book, "First Days of School" and have read, reread, and marked the pages so much, you wouldn't believe it's less than a year old! lol

I couldn't wait to hear him speak...and he did NOT disappoint. He and his wife both took over four hours to walk us through the book, explain more in detail, give examples, and show us where to "beg, steal, and borrow". They are both very funny (take the title quote as just one small example)and very friendly, "down-to-earth" people.

They were so generous that during the breaks, they signed books, took pictures, and talked to anybody and everybody that approached them. My friend, Barbara, and I got a picture with the both of them (which she has and I need to get soon) and signed our book.

It sure beat going to the Professional Learning Conference that the middle school was having that day and I was excused from! :)

I know that I've officially become a geek, but I don't mind one bit.

Game On!

So, just what do you get when you add Science + Twister Game + Who Wants to be a Millionaire game??

Well, a whole lot of learning, that’s what!!

That’s what we did in my 6th grade Science classes today. We’ve been studying plant and animal cells and their structures. It’s been painfully obvious that very few students are going home and studying, so I decided that we’d work on that, but in a fun way that uses lots of movement, repetition, friendly competition, and best of all….fun! haha.

All in all, the kids were learning and remembering and I ROCK! *score*

2 weeks, 3 days....

....until GRADUATION!!!!!!

First Placement

Wow....I have just one week left in my first placement of Student Teaching. I have learned A LOT and have really grown to care alot about these lil nuggets. While there's always things that drive you crazy about them, there are so many of the little moments that just make you smile and feel so good about this role you are in and what you are doing in the life of a child.

While my class is a very talkative one...and we have to deal with that the best we can....individually or in small groups, they are so funny, so talented, so silly, so sweet.

I will miss them. I am afraid that saying goodbye is going to be very difficult. They already know I'm a big sap (they made fun of me for crying while watching the Helen Keller movie) so maybe they won't fault me for it. ;)

Blog is a no-go

After talking to the principal of the school, I'm not going to be able to do the blog. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

Classroom Blog

I have set up a blog for my 2nd grade class that I'm gonna have for student teaching. I'm nervous but exciting about using this technology as a way for my students and their parents to see what we're doing and to find important information, educational games/activities, and photos of the kids doing projects in class, etc.

I'm gonna have to write a letter to the parents making sure that they know about the site and that they're ok with pics of their kids online.

Hoping this will be a positive thing for all involved! Tell me what you think:

student-teacher-2nd.blogspot.com

rolling along

Friday, I had my Student Teaching Seminar that lasted from 9am-4pm at MTSU. I was able to meet my University Supervisor at that time- though I already knew her and love her! She was my Math Methods professor too. Though I know we have a lot to accomplish, she did her best not to overwhelm us or get our stress level up too badly. I believe sometime next week after school, we're going to meet at her house and talk more in depth about some of those things we'll be doing such as our Work Sample.

We also had a good class about becoming a confident teacher. The speaker was very energetic and interesting. She gave us some good tips and strategies that I think will come in handy during student teaching and beyond.

I carpooled with my friend, Barbara, and we had planned ahead to possibly stay in Murfreesboro after the seminar because the weather isn't great and we had to be right back up there the next day to take our Praxis exams. I had to be at the school by 7:15am.

I took my last 2 exams and felt pretty confident about them both, which I hope is a good sign. :0)

I have a list of things that need to be done tonight to help prepare me for my 2nd grade student teaching class that begins tomorrow. I'm nervous and excited; I just want to get in there and begin! Wish me luck!!

Placement

I got my Placement Letter for Student Teaching in the mail about a week ago. It said that I would be in my county for both placements. It gave me the name of my universtiy supervisor (score- I got the lady I wanted!) The only thing it didn't tell me is what school and grades I'll be teaching. Bummer. I have to call tomorrow (Jan 6) to be told my placement. We are supposed to go into our school by Jan 7 to introduce ourselves to our cooperating teacher and principal and to get a feel for the school and its layout. Yeesh.

Jan 8, I have to be at MTSU by 9am (early!!!) for a student teacher meeting, where I will hopefully come away with answers and an ease about all this (haha). Saturday, Jan 9, I take my last 2 Praxis exams, and Monday I start placement. W O W . I don't feel I have time to breathe and take it all in and be prepared.

Tonight and tomorrow I will be looking over notes and things to prepare for the Praxis. Please say a prayer for me.