Today this made me feel better.

"Chief among the obstacles. . . is a mistaken belief that anyone who takes a committed public stand, or at least an effective one, has to be larger than life figure, someone with more time, energy, courage, vision or knowledge than a normal person could ever posses . . . . In U.S. culture, role models are often expected to be superhuman or to possess character beyond reproach.  But heros are not perfect;they are people.  We must find a way to embrace human weakness and human accomplishment at the same time.  If we do not, what do we say about our own capacity to serve the common good?"    Paul Rogat Loeh

First Grader are Small

Today I stood in my 1st grade class ~ it's so small!

I stop to think, 

my class, so small,

may drive me 

right up the wall!

I wonder if they'll 

think I'm nice.

Or will they stare, 

quiet as little mice?

Today they play,

out in the sun.

Next week, school start,

Will it end their fun?

School will start

A new teacher, that me!

18 tiny little people, 

Who will they be?

I may not know,

I may feel small.

All I ask, is that 

I do not fall.

I've been assigned a school!

That would be the adorable school I will be teaching at this next year.  

Yes it does have a school bell!  I love it.  I will be student teaching in 1st grade and my practicum will be in 3rd grade.  Today we, two other MAT students are at the school, went and meet the principle.  I lucked out and my supervising teachers were around so I got to meet both of them.  It was good to go to the school but reality hit.  1st graders are small, 3rd graders are bigger and both classes are going to expect me to teach them something.   Sometimes when I stop to think about it I go into panic mode and wonder what was I thinking ~ me a teacher!  But I want this, I really want to do this so I'm going to take it one assignment, one day, one breath at a time.  One last panic, the worest part is that next year I'll be a first year teacher and just as nervous.  

random p.s.  I was a musical muse last night and didn't even know, I love the little surprises in life.  It makes me smile.

  

My thoughts of what a teacher should be. . .

A fantastic teacher. . .

Realizes what can and can't change.

Finds potential behind the faces, behaviors.

Bends to listen, to ask, to talk, to learn.

Laughs at surprises, craziness, disappointments.

Observes, plans, observes, changes.

Looks for unknown, potential, fun.

All this talk about kids makes me miss these ones

What Effective Teachers Know. . .

Only the second day of school and they already have taught me everything I need to know to be a teacher.   They are as follows:

1. content knowledge

2. curriculum knowledge

3. pedagogical content knowledge

4. knowledge of learners and their characteristics

5. knowledge of education purpose and values

6. general pedagogical knowledge

7. knowledge of education context

(If you are wondering, because I was, pedagogical is just a fancy way of saying teaching)

So why am I returning to my third day of school because I have no idea what those seven things are. . . I am not a teacher, not yet!

FIrst Day of School

Well, I survived the first day of grad school!  I can't believe I have finally enrolled in a teaching program.  I am going to be a teacher.   Real classes (today was just intros and explaining) start tomorrow and I can honestly say I am excited.  Who'd of guessed it!

It's funny becoming a teacher because it's a trip down memory lane.  It's even easier to take that trip when your living at home and your mommy drops you off at school.   Luckily, we joked about it and she told me to have a good day and make friends.  And asked me how my day was when she picked me up.

So I can report that I had a good day and I made friends.   Which is good because I am going to be spending a lot of time with these people for the next 10 months as we all work toward our Master's and teaching certificates.  I just can't wait for next year when I'll have my own class and get to be the teacher standing in front of the class.