Day One.

WELCOME! 

I feel awkward starting this blog because I've never blogged much before. Where do I start? How do I jump in to talking about my student teaching experience without it seeming unnatural? This blog is intended to take the place of my teaching journal this semester, and hopefully it will live up to that expectation of mine. I feel that it is vitally important to be self-reflective (and, yes, self-critical) as a teacher at any level, so putting all of these reflections in one place where I can look back and reflect on myself and my experience teaching will be useful for me.

(A forewarning: I have a feeling this entry might be more detailed than most because obviously, a lot happens on first days and there are a lot of...um, thoughts? that go along with what happens.)

Now...Let's talk about Day One. This was a day that I have been anticipating excitedly and dreading terribly since I first entered the College of Ed. I was tossing and turning all night just awaiting the moment I'd get to walk into my classroom of 20 kindergartners at Hoover Elementary, and when that moment finally came I felt surprisingly calm. My cooperating teacher, of course, had something to do with the easing of my nerves - I can already tell we are going to get along! She has already been so helpful even just in the few hours I was there today, printing out and going over a schedule with me and giving a great deal of honest, anecdotal advice for me as a new teacher. Her classroom management is impeccable and I hope to be half as successful in that by the time I head teach (in 6 weeks...ahh!).

I learned a few things today before I even got to the classroom. First, be prepared. I gave myself a solid 15 minutes to drive from my apartment - which is less than one mile away - to the school. Naturally, with some unforeseen circumstances like me pulling into the wrong parking lot, getting momentarily lost, not finding a parking spot, looking for street parking...I was rollin' into the building at exactly 8:00. I wasn't late by any means, but if I hadn't given myself those extra "buffer" minutes it would have been a different story. Tomorrow, I'm planning on giving myself an extra five minutes to get to school...just in case.

Second, be open.  I am not an expert teacher. I do not know all of my students' names yet. I don't know what specific classroom management strategies are going to work with my students. I don't know all that I need to know about the building I'm teaching in. Simply put, what I don't know massively outweighs what I do know. And for now, that is perfectly okay. I am here to learn and to experience; I am a sponge. As my CT put it, I am here to get messy and to screw up. I couldn't love that advice more! I dread the day my first lesson completely tanks, but I look forward to it in a strange way as well because the most I have ever learned as a developing teacher has come from those experiences that you just have to take a deep breath, reflect, and move on from. Being open to all kinds of experiences, both the good and the bad, will be what makes or breaks me this semester. Going into this teaching experience with that mindset is so important to me - and I think it will make it easier on me, too. :)

Anyways, back to my day. Honestly, I was there/with the kids for such a short amount of time today that there isn't a whole lot to talk about as far as actual "teaching" goes. I planned a little bit of what I'll be doing with my cooperating teacher, and re-met the students (some of whom were absent when I first visited last month, so that was nice). Today was mostly an observing, assisting, and random side work day. One of the best things I've noticed about my cooperating teacher is how she carries herself in front of the large group - I honestly don't think I've ever seen a kindergarten teacher talk so quietly and have so much attention from the class. She does not talk over anyone; she is incredibly calm and collected; she always ties positive and corrective feedback to the expectations she has at the front of the room (which are tied to the PBIS standards the school has in place). This is the kind of teacher I've always aspired to be but always find my loud voice getting in my way, so observing her will be really great for me.

Other than that, I did a few little things like making snowmen out of wooden Popsicle sticks with individual students, monitoring during literacy centers and during lunch, and handing out behavior tickets to students during calendar time. This day was mostly me getting acquainted with the school and with the students, and I hope tomorrow I get to do some meaningful observing as I will be seeing the afternoon half of the day.

I have totally outdone myself with this post, so I think I'll leave it at that. But the gist of this? I had an awesome first day. I know I'll be learning a lot from my cooperating teacher and, more importantly, my students! And last but not least, I know this will be an amazing learning experience and that I'll have to work hard, but I know it will be worth it. :)

Until tomorrow!