ALMOST DONE!

2 MORE DAYS! 2 MORE DAYS! 2 MORE DAYS OF STUDENT TEACHING!!!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!

It has been a long crazy semester, but it's almost over! I am SO excited to be done! It's kind of weird that I'm going to be graduating soon though... Disney World, here I come!

A Glimpse of Sunshine

Today I got a glimpse of sunshine in the world of teaching middle school. It was by far the best and most enjoyable day I've had so far teaching at my middle school placement. It's not that the school is bad or even that the teachers are bad. Those are both great, but the kids have just been very disrespectful and rude.

I had fun with the kids today! I was able to joke with some of them and we shared stories at the end of one of the classes. I even had one kid draw me a picture and another one make me a paper bracelet (of course I wore it all day!). These kids can be so sweet. I saw that sweetness today. I saw their fun-loving side today. It just makes me sad that I only got to see this enjoyable side of teaching middle school at the end of my placement.

I also think that my attitude today made a HUGE difference. Last night I was in a terrible mood. I was upset about some things and when I woke up this morning, I didn't want to go to school. However, I have two wonderful friends who helped remind me that my attitude could be changed, and that in changing my attitude, I can make my day SO much better. So this morning when I was on the way to school, I decided that I was going to have a great day. I was going to enjoy the day and not worry about all the things that made my night before go so terribly. It worked! In changing my attitude, I was able to have the best day of my middle school student teaching experience! We CHOOSE happiness. We can CHOOSE to be joyful. It just means being intentional about that attitude!

I have 3 more days of student teaching left! It's SO exciting, but kind of sad now that I've had a record breaking count of 1 day that I've enjoyed. I can see how teaching middle school would be fun. It has taken me a long time to see this, but I'm glad I've come to this realization. I would have hated to leave this placement and not have gotten a glimpse of sunshine while teaching these students.

Some of these kids need adult figures in their lives. Some of these kids need a kind word. Others need discipline, while still others just need love and attention. I hope that in my last 3 days, I am able to convey this change of heart to them. I hope that my actions are able to show them that I have come to this great realization.

Teaching these students takes patience and lots of love. I think I have finally achieved the level of patience I need to effectively teach middle school. This does NOT mean that I want to teach them, but I have definitely learned a lot at this placement. I'm so thankful for this experience and I'm sad to see some of these kids go, but I'm excited for what my future in teaching holds!

Living in sunlight,
Katelyn

Becoming Bitter

I have been teaching middle school for student teaching for the past 4 weeks. I have learned a lot of things about middle school teachers as well as middle school students. This whole experience has taught me a lot, but I feel like it has also made me a very bitter person. I NEVER want to teach middle school. Every day I have to yell over students who don't care if I'm talking. I have to give instructions 501 times. I have to keep students from poking each other with pencils and hitting each other with books. These kids do not respect me. They do not listen. They are not motivated. And they flat out just don't seem to care.

I feel like everyday I come home, I am a more angry bitter person than I was the day before. Each day, some of my happiness and joy in teaching lessens. It flat out sucks! I love teaching, and I really loved teaching my high schoolers at the beginning of student teaching, but it's a struggle to wake up every morning and feel motivated to teach these students who don't seem to care about anything.

Now I realize not all the students are like that. I have some amazing students that keep me sane while I'm there every day. To them and their parents I am SO grateful! I wish I could have whole classes full of students like them. They help me see the joy in every day. They are definitely the bright moments I've found in teaching middle school.

I don't want to be an angry teacher. I hate yelling. I don't like having to lecture a class on listening to instructions. I don't enjoy telling students over and over to stop talking. I especially don't like be backtalked and disrepected. Why can't parents just discipline their children at home?! What ever happened to good values and morals at home? Parents blame the teachers because their children aren't doing well or are misbehaving in class. They say that the teacher isn't doing their job, but could it be that it is something at home? Why can't parents partner with teachers to make sure their students/children are doing well? It's not always the teacher's fault. Before the blame is thrown on this underpayed and underappreciated teacher who is trying to educate your child to be the future of America, take a look at your own methods of raising your children? Are you teaching them respect? Are you disciplining them? Are you teaching them the importance of a good education? Don't leave it all up to the teacher. Yes, we have your children for 7 hours a day, but a good foundation begins at home.

I am ready to be done with student teaching. I look forward to the day that I get my own classroom and my own students, but it makes me sad to know that these types of problems will always plague teachers. I pray that God keeps my attitude positive and keeps me from becoming an old angry bitter teacher. I hope that I can enjoy teaching all the days of my life!

Trying to stay joyful,
Katelyn

Biology? Really?

I'm having to teach 7th and 8th grade science for my middle school placement in student teaching. I was nervous about it. When I got there today, my teacher was super nice! BUT... 7th grade science is apparently 80% biology. BARF!!!

I hate biology.

Seriously? I couldn't get a math placement? Really?

I'm almost done.

And it doesn't help that I miss my high schoolers SOOOOO much from MLK.

Almost there,
Katelyn

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Today was my last day at my MLK placement. I wasn't quite sure what to expect emotion-wise. I was worried I would cry my eyes out, but also worried that my excitement to get a new teacher would overshadow my sadness of leaving my kids. I love those kids so much. I developed such close relationships with some of them. I have so many great memories from that short 7 weeks. It really makes me sad that I may never see them ever again. I pray that I've left an impact on them. I tried so hard to get to know all of them, but it's hard when you have 108 kids in your classes. I just know that they way they interacted with me and showed their love and kindness towards me most definitely left an imprint on my heart.

5th period was my favorite. I tried so hard not to have a favorite class, but they were so awesome. I mean, there were kids in other classes that were great and I loved being around, but there was something about that one class. I was sad to leave them. Today in 5th period, they kept telling me how they wanted me to teach them on my last day. They also kept telling me that they didn't want me to leave and how much they were going to miss me. One girl even made the whole class cupcakes since I was leaving. Another girl brought snacks for the class. One guy in the class said we shouldn't be celebrating since I'm leaving. It was more like a funeral. That made me giggle, but also warmed my heart. They loved me and I was only there for 7 weeks. It's crazy how close you can grow to someone in such a short period of time. So at the end of class, the kids all came up and gave me hugs. They kept saying they would miss me and that I needed to come back and visit. I will admit, I cried.

In that last 5 minutes of class, I realized how much of an impact I'd had on them. Along with that, when I was tutoring two girls yesterday, they told me they didn't know how they were going to pass physics without me. Not only did I show love and compassion for them, but those two girls gave me confidence that maybe I had taught them even just a little bit about physics, something I was worried I wouldn't be good at (crazy, but true). I was changed during this placement. God really showed me how much of an impact students can have on me. He also showed me how being a patient kind teacher can have an impact on students. I was worried that I would be too strict or that everyone would hate me, but they have led me to think that maybe I did something right. I am so thankful that I got to be at MLK with those kids. I'm sad to leave, but I know God will continue to bless me and my student teaching experience.

Loving what I do,
Katelyn

Baby, I'm Ready to GO!

I am SO ready to go! Not "ready to go" as in leave student teaching, but "ready to go" as in ready to get out in the teaching world. I'm ready to have my own classroom! I want to spend every moment I am awake teaching students about physics and building relationships with them.

I LOVE student teaching. It wasn't really a full experience until I began full-time teaching. And now I see the whole beauty of teaching these wonderful high schoolers!

I just finished up my first of two weeks of full-time teaching. These kids are amazing. They give me a reason to get up in the morning. I can't wait to talk to them and help them learn something new each day!

There were several students that at the beginning sent me the wrong signals. They wouldn't listen in class; they weren't doing well, and they just all out got on my last nerve! But now, with some of them, things have turned completely around. I have one student who is now coming to me for tutoring on a daily basis. She is excited to speak up in class now because she understands it. I love that I can help students find confidence in what they know! I've also formed a relationship with this student where she trusts me. We can talk about things and she knows that I will listen.

I also like to have a conversational tone in my teaching. I like the students to know that I'm a real person too, so I throw in fun stories and ask them about their lives. I have one student who was baffled that I liked football. He just couldn't believe that I recognized names from the NBA. Another student asked me if I was going to the Titan's game Sunday since I went last week. These bridges that I have formed connecting their culture to me have helped me develop strong relationships with my students that make me smile every time I think about them.

It's these relationships that make my career more than a job. These relationships help me live out the calling of Jesus when he said we were to love one another. It's also these relationships that brought me to tears the other night...

I love my students so much. Yes, there are those kids that will never stop talking. Yes, there are those kids that can't seem to keep their eyes open in my class. Yes, there are those kids that just can't seem to grasp it. But every single one of those kids is an individual that has walked into my life and for that I will never be the same. God placed every single one of these teenagers in my life for a purpose. I hope that during my few weeks of being at MLK, that I've been able to love them and show them love like Christ did for me. Because I know they have helped change me and my heart in a way I could have never imagined. So anyways, the other night I got to thinking about my kids and how I don't have that much time left with them and I broke down crying. It really upsets me that I may never see any of these students ever again. They all have a special place in my heart and I pray I may never forget them nor the lessons they've helped teach me.

It's kinda funny how we go into the classroom intending to teach our students, but then we come out learning so much more from them than we probably taught them.

God knows just what we need.

Sad for change, but ready to GO into the teaching world,
Katelyn

1 Week Down, 5 to Go!

Thank GOODNESS it's Friday! I just finished my first week of teaching at MLK. Every morning it's a push to make myself get out of bed, but once I'm there, I've found that the day goes fairly quickly and the kids are a blast! Right now I'm only teaching 2 of the 4 honors physics classes, but trust me: that is PLENTY for now!

I have already begun to see how some classes just seem to bond more with you as a teacher than others. Not to pick favorites, but I think some personalities just click, and others just don't. I think also that some kids need to see that they can trust you and that you care before they will make that effort to get to know you. I've been teaching 5th and 7th periods. 5th is right after lunch, so those kids are all wound up. Then you have 7th period which is at the end of the day, so those kids are already mentally checked out. It's a rough combo at times.

Being in charge of 30 high school juniors 2 times a day is tough for me not having much experience. I was afraid I was going to be a jerk teacher, but I'm finding that I'm having a little bit of a hard time being an authoritative figure. I DO NOT want to be a pushover. Now, I understand that part of the reason I'm hesitant in being authoritative is because my teacher is still in the class and I don't want to overstep my boundaries as a student teacher. I'm hesitant to punish kids or whatever. It's hard to know what each group of kids needs from you as a teacher. Until you show them that what you have is valuable to them, they just aren't going to listen.

We've been doing some easy stuff in class and yesterday was a review day for their test they had today. Some of the kids were just talking the whole time. I tried several things that my teacher does and suggested that I do as well. It just wasn't working. They did NOT care at all. I felt so disrespected and frazzled. I just wanted them to pay attention (which is a term that my teacher tells me not to say to them...).  The class was extremely loud for a majority of the class period. My teacher stepped in a couple of times to help settle them. After that class, we had a chat about things I should do differently. I just felt really discouraged yesterday after school.

I will admit: I went and sat in my car and cried.

I was just at a loss for what I could do that would get them to listen to me in class. I called 2 of my friends that are high school teachers. They each gave me some good advice and things to try. It's just hard with it not being my classroom. I'm just so concerned I'm going to do something my teacher will not like.

Anyways, they had their test today and it went well. I talked to one of the kids after school who pays very good attention during my 7th period class. He is so sweet. I asked him about football because he's on the team and they have a game tonight. He seemed to like that I was taking the time to talk to him. I wish all the kids would let me love them and care for them. Right now I just feel like there are some kids that have a wall built and are just not going to let me tear it down.

I pray that next week goes better than this week and that I can have an impact on just one kid in my class.

Wanting to make a difference,
Katelyn

Where I'm Supposed to Be

I know that teaching in a high school classroom is where I'm supposed to be.

It's always hard to say whether you are in the right major when you're in college. At least for me, I feel like its hard to know for sure that you are in the right major until you actually get into the workplace. That kind of stinks because at that point you've paid all that tuition money (or gotten all those loans) and taken all those hours of classes just to find out that you don't enjoy what you thought you wanted to do.

I haven't been completely sure that teaching would be for me. I've wanted to teach, but after not getting to do very much teaching in a high school classroom while at Lipscomb, it was hard to say for sure. I haven't gotten to teach in my class for student teaching yet, but a few things have helped me already see that this is where I belong...

1. After interacting with some of the kids in my classes, they are really fun to be around and make the day enjoyable! I realize that it's not all fun and games and that you have to learn while in school, but just being around these teenagers makes my day so much better. I just love working with them!
2. I went down and helped Mrs. Jarrell, the biology teacher, today. She is so much fun! We were helping the kids with their labs. I just loved interacting with the students! They made me feel like I'd been in that classroom for a whole year. It's hard to put into words, but after just being down there in that room and helping the students with their labs, I knew teaching in a high school classroom is where I'm supposed to be.
3. I also see the relationships that my mentor teacher, Mr. Wright, has developed with his students and how much the students love Mrs. Jarrell, and it makes me excited to jump in and develop those same relationships. Now, I know that you can't be the students' friends. I understand this, but there's a difference in being their friend and being an adult mentor that they can look up to and trust to care about them. I am ready to be that adult! I'm ready to display Christ in my actions towards every teenager that comes into my (future) classroom. I've been on the flip side and I can tell you that the way Dr. Wells and Coach B and a few of my other teachers have cared for me and really invested time into a healthy student teacher relationship with me has had an impact on me that will last forever. This is the kind of impact I want to have on my students. This drive helps me know that I am called to be here!

I am SO excited to get started teaching next week! I can't wait to be in a true teacher's position where I can begin to develop good relationships with the students in my class. May God bless my time at MLK with these high schoolers as I search for ways to serve them and love them.

Called to serve,

Katelyn

Welcome to the real world!

I have officially started student teaching! This week was mostly filled with meetings and inservices. I had my first day at school on Wednesday. We didn't have kids yet so we just had meetings and worked in our room all day. My mentor teacher is really cool. He actually wasn't trained to be a teacher. He was a mechanical engineer who came out of the field and decided to go into teaching. 

So super weird: my mentor teacher is like the spitting image of my friend Stephen. He acts like him. Talks like him. Was a mechanical engineer like him... it's just really uncanny. My mentor teacher is Stephen in 15 years for sure!

Anyways, we had a half day yesterday. All the kids really seem to love Mr. Wright! He's definitely going to be a fun teacher to work with. Today was just another work day with meetings; no kids. For some reason I've been completely exhausted even though I've been going to bed at a reasonable time. I guess this is the life of a teacher in the real world. Getting up early and going to bed early. I'm excited to start out the real school year on Monday! Even though I'm exhausted and I haven't had the most fun with inservices, I'm hopeful that God is going to assure me that this really is my calling in life!

Up too late,

Katelyn