School has begun. Student teaching has begun. Children are dragging as they get used to a new and earlier school day, while teachers are trying to get to know them and find ways to make back to school more fun...
Well...
My first week was fantastic. My master teacher and I are a lot alike and get along very well. She even told me on Thursday that she didn't want November to come(My student teaching ends the week of Thanksgiving). I am so grateful and blessed to be placed in a classroom with a Christian teacher, who knows what she is doing and is willing to let me jump in with whatever may happen in the classroom. This semester I am with 4th grade, our class has 22 students, with an even number of boys and girls. The class is full of various interests, learning styles and personalities, which makes each and every day a new adventure. Teaching is always an adventure. I have already been told that I will be a great teacher when I have my own classroom, by students. I have been told that I will be missed, by my master teacher. I have been given the responsibility of having my own school ID and key for our classroom. I have been welcomed by all the staff in ways that make this school feel like home. I have been given a note of thanks from a student for "being a nice teacher", two drawings and many hugs. I feel like part of the Matheson Park Elementary School family. At the end of the week, I was exhausted and grateful for the weekend but I am ready to get back into the classroom and start teaching. This week, I will start taking over the math lessons. Tomorrow my master teacher and I will do math as a team, then by the end of the week, if all goes well, I will be in charge of math. How exciting! The excitement is hard to contain...plus I get to go to the Acoma Pueblo Feast day with the class and the Planetarium. Field trips are awesome!
Tomorrow my online course for finishing at UNM begins. I am hoping it is as easy as my two school friends say, since they took it last semester. I also hope to get some of my student teaching seminar assignments finished this week so I don't have to think about them. First...a lesson plan. It's almost done but I am too tired to finish it today...maybe by the middle of the week.
As for the rest of life...
Today Mike and I went to Sagebrush Eldorado to see a co-worker of his and her daughter and sister get baptized. It was very exciting because he invited them to Easter services and they have been going since then. I was glad we got to take part in their celebration. I also ran into a few old friends and parents of some friends from band in middle school and high school. You just never know when you will see someone while going to a church that is as big as Sagebrush.
This week, I hope to hear all about some of the events of the first week of school in the lives of friends and their adventures...beginning kindergarten, being the mom of a new kinder student, how the first week went for my school buddies at their student teaching placements and other news that I missed out on last week due to being a school all day and super tired each night. I look forward to the semester.
As things begin to get crazy again, I think about Pop-Pop and how just over two years ago all he wanted to hear about was my crazy schedule. I like to think that he is smiling down at me, saying "Whatever pleases you, just tickles me to death". I am grateful for my supportive family and friends, who have made this long journey of college at UNM so much better. Love to all of you!
Julie
I'm so glad to hear that things are working out well for you with your student teaching. It makes a huge difference to have supportive mentors/colleagues (I can say so from experience--God has certainly blessed me in that area, too!). I'm sure the semester will fly by, but it must feel really good to be so close to graduating!
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