Oh wow. I just started my fifth week of student teaching. After this, I will be one-third of the way done! It is going by so fast. But, it has truly been amazing.
My first two weeks I spent getting back into the swing of things. I kinda did what I did during my second Practicum, where I floated, helped students, and took over small routines in the classroom. However, during my second week, I was given the job of being the line leader and take the students to their specials (i.e., art, music, PE, and library) every day. At first, I was terrified! How the heck am I suppose to get 32 five-year olds from one side of the school to the over in just a matter of a few minutes?! But, I did it and I have been doing it. Haha! Somehow. :]
January 13th started the next step in student teaching where I take over one subject and teach it every day. I ended up teaching math. I have been using a packaged Math program called enVision math. It is a pretty popular math program that this school district uses. It's like Saxon math. enVision math has quite a few components to it and I actually really like the program. Everything comes ready for the teacher to use with hardly any preparation. But, my mentor teacher (MT) doesn't use enVision. She uses mostly Saxon math. So, enVision was not what my students were use to. Anyways, before I taught my very first math lesson, my MT and I spent a good half hour trying to find all the materials and everything that goes with it. It came time to teaching my math lesson and holy crap! I didn't have enough materials. I figured "no sweat, we'll just do it all together as a class on one paper." Uh... no. That didn't work out so great. I got really flustered and the kids caught on really fast. Let's just say that my first lesson was a bust. Lesson learned: Count your materials!
I learned from this crappy first lesson and improved my next few lessons. My MT evaluated me every lesson that first week and by my fourth lesson she had a tough time trying to give me criticism on what I need to improve on. So, I have been trying like CrAzY to make sure all my lessons match that lesson. One way I have achieved this is by rearranging my students schedule. We use to do math in the afternoon, however now we do math at 9:30 in the morning and that has mad a HUGE difference in student participation and focus. I actually think that my MT might consider keeping this schedule after I'm done with student teaching.
Today was my first day of the next stage of student teaching. Today I have started teaching two subjects everyday. I know teach math and reading, as well as have taken over many of the daily routines. Now, my teacher moves freely in and out the classroom (more out recently because we're testing for progress reports and such), and it's so exciting for me! I love when it is just my students and me. My site facilitator came in to observe me during my math lesson. Last semester, she thought I didn't teach, but today was a surprise for her! She gave me awesome reviews and said that she enjoyed my lesson! It is really comforting knowing that I'm doing something right and that this (being a teacher) is really what I want to do. I'm enjoying it every minute! And I am learning so much and I will never ever forget this experience!
Oh! I'm also using and becoming comfortable with the SMARTboard! If you don't know what that is, it is like an interactive whiteboard/ touchscreen computer. It is so much fun! I mainly use it for math because enVision has many of the interactive components of their program online. My kids absolutely love coming up to the board just even to touch it. So, I use this to my advantage. Haha! It makes sure I have the 100% participation 100% of the time, which is the big main goal. And many times I am reaching this goal because of the use of the SMARTboard.
So, my next step in student teaching will be in two weeks. This step is the bulk of student teaching. I will be teaching all day every day for three weeks. It is going to be such a rush! I can't wait!
:)
