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!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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
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
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Just About the Time...
Why is it so hard to give things up to God?! It seems like just about the time I lay something down at the feet of God, I try to pick it back up again. I don't want to do that anymore! I want God to take complete control of my life... all areas of it! I say that, but then again, I always have that frame of mind that if I want something, I need to go for it and get it done myself. I would just like, for once, to be able to fully accept that God is in control. Even when I think I am, he still is. It's so difficult.
Why am I on this earth and single and going to Disney in the spring? Like, what is my purpose? What am I supposed to do? While everyone else is getting married and living their happy little couple lives, I stand watching as a bridesmaid and best friend to all of these. What is my purpose that I seem to be missing out on?
No. I'm not ready to get married, but a date would be nice. I do love my life. I have a great family and great friends and a great God who make my life worth living, but why is it that I have these desires for a relationship within me? It feels like a tease! I wish it were so cut and dry, but I guess this is something that I'll have to really work at laying down at his feet. I won't know my purpose and the reason for all of this until I do.
Patiently (or unpatiently) waiting,
Katelyn
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
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
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
Friday, October 1, 2010
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
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
Saturday, September 18, 2010
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
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
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