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

Love and Marriage... and Divorce?

I was in West Palm Beach for one of my best friend's wedding this weekend. The wedding was beautiful and so was she. Even though this was the second wedding I've been in this summer, I still can't believe that I'm at the age where everyone starts getting married! Also while I was there, another one of the bridesmaids got engaged. It's just crazy to me.

As I got to thinking about engagements and marriage and all the excitement that comes with it, I started thinking about divorce. This sounds depressing and terribly pessimistic, I know, but I let me get to my point.

Around this time last year, a lot of my friends began getting engaged. They all started showing off their pretty rings and picking out wedding dresses and attending bridal showers. I don't want anyone reading this to think I'm just a jealous pessimistic single girl. I was so excited for my friends and I love them all dearly; however, I began thinking about the stuff that most people don't think about when it comes to getting married right out of college.

There is so much emphasis on the bridal showers and the wedding planning that I think the reality of marriage being something that takes work gets lost in the mix. Obviously I don't know the extent of this work and commitment that marriage takes since I'm not married, but I've seen my parents work at marriage for 30 years. I hate that there is so much emphasis on all the "fun" stuff that surrounds the beginning of a marriage and not very much emphasis on the preparation it takes in the areas of spirituality, finances, emotions, etc as well as the changes it means making. Yes, I realize, and I want to continually emphasize that marriage is a joyous occasion. No, I have not found that person that I love and want to spend the rest of my life with, but I am so happy for my friends that have. I just pray that they are taking marriage seriously since it is a huge commitment.

I pray that all of my friends who have gotten married this summer don't ever experience the evil of divorce, but it is sad to think that some of those people getting married right now won't be willing to stick by each other during the hardships of marriage. One of my favorite teachers at Lipscomb, Dr. Wells, is also a mentor of mine. I look up to him and respect him. He gives me tons of advice, most of it about relationships because he always tries to get me a date (hasn't worked yet), but he said something to me once that really stuck with me. He told me that him and his wife didn't get married until he was 30 (I think). He said that some of these people getting married now will probably be divorced by the time I am happily ready to commit to the man God has for me. I know that sounds hateful and pessimistic, but it has some merit in it. I think about getting married right now and there are so many reasons why I would not ready even if I had found that man of God. I pray that God is preparing a man after his own heart for me. One day when I am ready to be committed in marriage to that man, I know that God will bless that marriage.

I feel like my thoughts are real scattered right now, but the point I want to get across is that marriage is a commitment. It's not just based on this "feeling" called love. It is so much more. Once you get married you have to think about so many things, lots of them I'm sure I can't even imagine. I just know that I see so many people around me getting engaged and married who clearly aren't thinking about how they will support each other or how marriage will affect them each spiritually. I hate that marriage at my age has become all about "the wedding" and not about the lifelong commitment that you are making to someone and to God.

I pray that myself and others can not be blinded by the worldly "fun" excitement surrounding marriage and that it can be taken more seriously. If this were to happen, maybe there would be less divorce in our world. What an awesome change that would be!

Praying for a change,

Katelyn

Woah!

It's crazy how many things can change in an instant! In the past few days, so many things have happened and changed around me. It's been insane. I've had a best friend get engaged, 2 different friends get broken up with, a friend get a job, that same friend not be able to be in our other friend's wedding next week because of her job... needless to say, it's been crazy! It's just helped me to see that I'm not the only one dealing with change. I don't really have an aim in writing this blog so I'm just going to keep babbling.

Other things going on in my life... I'm going to Cedar Point this weekend! I'm pretty pumped about that! It's going to be AWESOME! I've never been, but I've heard it's amazing if you love roller coasters... which of course I DO!

Also, I am getting really excited about student teaching! I have to go to Lipscomb on the 9th and 10th for orientation, and then I start at East on the 11th! I don't even know the teacher I've been assigned to yet, but I am just really excited to get started. Especially with my friend getting an art teaching job, I am just really anxious. I really wish I knew my high school placement, but my advisor is being a little slow with it.

Well Andrew McCarthy in "Pretty in Pink" is calling my name. Then time for bed!

Happy as a clam,
Katelyn

A Different Kind of Vacation

It's 3am and I don't know why in the world I'm still awake. I got back from vacation around 1am yesterday morning. It was awesome! We saw so many things and went so many places in the few days we were in Washington D.C. It was probably one of my favorite vacations. There were a few things I noticed about this vacation...

1. My brother and sister and I didn't argue hardly at all.
2. It felt more like a vacation for all of us instead of a vacation for us kids.
3. I love history.

It was really interesting how much my siblings and I did NOT fight. Usually as a vacation goes on, tension grows and we're all ready to be home and not be cooped up with each other anymore. This vacation was different. I mean, yes, we did argue some, but it was very minute compared to previous vacations. It was rather nice. I think it's a good sign of all of us maturing. Thank goodness!

This vacation also felt different in a way. It wasn't like other vacations where we go to the beach because that's where Holli wants to go, or we go to Disney World and ride the rides that I want to ride because that's what I want to do. We all got to do and see things that we all wanted to do and see. Hunter got to see the Air and Space Museum. Holli got to go the Museum of American History. I got to go to a Baltimore Orioles game. Daddy got to see the Vietnam Vets Memorial. Momma got to see the Holocaust Museum. It was really nice. I liked how this vacation seemed like a vacation for 5 adults who love each other instead of a vacation for 3 kids who the parents are sacrificing time for. Not that that's a bad thing. When kids are younger, parents watch the Sesame Street Live shows and go to Disney World for their kids because they love them. They want them to enjoy their childhood, but it's not necessarily fun for the adults in the same way. It's more fun for them to see their kids enjoy it. However, this vacation was fun for all of us. We all learned. We all laughed. We all got to enjoy the vacation together in the same way. It was a fun new experience for me and I hope to have many more vacations like it.

I also found out that I LOVE history. Nerdy, I know, but just being around all the history of our country that is so present in D.C. was great! I hate history classes in school, but being around it and seeing it and experiencing it was TOTALLY different! I loved it! It was great to see things I've always seen on t.v. and have always heard about. It was just a feeling I can't really explain. Seeing the original Constitution and being in the White House and hearing all the stories of history in all these places and about all these things was just really cool. It's something that I wouldn't have traded for another ordinary trip to the beach.

I'm so grateful that I got to have this time with my family. It was really a different kind of vacation that I hope we can have again!

Loving new experiences,

Katelyn