Oh my goodness!! It's has been a LONG time since I actually posted here! Last semester was just a whirlwind and I can't really believe that it is over and I am all that closer to graduation and actually having to get a REAL job!! I went through so many different emotions last semester...from absolutely loving what I was doing to questioning myself as to if I can really do this.
I taught my first "real" lesson in front of the class early in September and while it went perfectly in my head (of course because there were actually no real students in my head) it was almost a disaster in the classroom. I had to teach a poem lesson and we were learning about the water cycle so my student's were going to write a poem about the water cycle. I figured the most effective poem to teach was the acrostic poem (where they write a word down the paper and write a phrase or word for each letter of the word they choose about the water cycle) but my teacher who assigned the lesson said that was the easy way out so I decided we were going to write a shape poem and my students were so lost they had no idea where to start. My mentor helped me recover and save my lesson but I was ready to be done at this point. I did not think I had what it took to be a teacher. I had myself convinced I was just going to mess these kids up. Thanks to lots of pep talks and encouragement from some great friends I got through my first semester of student teaching in one piece.
While it takes time and really knowing your students and their abilities I have learned how to plan my lessons to reach my students more on their level. I spent most of the semester teaching math (which made me want to throw up each time I got up there to teach it- I have not had very good experiences with math but I got through it and the tests proved my student's were learning!!!) and my biggest unit of the solar system was a HUGE hit! The kids came back to school each day telling me new stuff they had learned that night by reading on the computer or books all on their own. And I am sure some of them even knew more than I did about the solar system! My third graders will always be my first class and I will love them for that! They all wrote me a nice "thank you for being my teacher" letter and it was the sweetest gift ever! In about two weeks I will begin my adventures in 5th grade. I am a little nervous for this...17 students in 3rd vs 27 in 5th...more attitude form older students and harder math! But I am excited and I know I will survive and LOVE it!!
The kids have been just as busy running with me everywhere this semester. Kole played his first year of football and really enjoyed it. He loves to play quarterback and will talk his dad into practicing hiking the ball in the middle of the living room. Knock on wood we have no broken items from this taking place! I really think my son sleeps with a football in this hands. His favorite football team are the Kansas City Chiefs and he is always a Chief's player when he is practicing. I keep telling him he can go to K-State and play football there and then play for the Chiefs but he just tells me he is going to play for the Chiefs..he doesn't quite get it that K-State is college and the Chiefs are pro and I also haven't quite convinced him that it's ok for guys to wear purple if it's KSU!
Ali has had a rough time this semester with being away from me all day. I am very happy though that my friend is able to watch her and she isn't in a daycare center. This makes the transition easier on her (and me knowing she will treat her the same way I would). We had our days where she was more than willing to go play with her friends but then there were days where she refused to go and just wanted to stay home with me. We got to where we were counting down the days to Christmas break when she got to stay home with me. I am hoping next semester is a little easier. Ali thinks she is a real princess and insists on wearing her Halloween costume of Snow White or Ariel everyday. She gets very upset when you tell her she can't wear these dresses out of the house. She is my little fashion diva! She loves her skirts and dresses and her sparkly shoes. We are going through a phase now where her nail polish has to match what she is wearing that day. I don't think I am looking forward to the teenage years if these phases continue!
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