1st Week

My first week is finally over. It seemed like a very long week. I'm not sure if it was getting up earlier (5:40am), getting home at 6:030pm every night after practice, or running with the kids during practice. I have a feeling that it is probably a combination of all three.

The biggest thing for me this past week was actually starting to teach some periods. I spoke with my cooperating teachers about mostly observing the first week and easing into teaching. I had watched the first section of Computer Business Applications and helped out a student with the same assignment in the Computer Skills class the next hour. So after lunch, I was supposed to observe CBA again. I don't know why, but I turned to my cooperating teacher and asked her if I could teach the lesson. She said sure and I was off and running. It went very well; so well in fact that my cooperating teacher left the room for a little while. Instead of that concerning me, it actually gave me confidence. It was validated once the period was over and she told me nice job.

My low point came during my 8th hour Intro to Business class the second day. I already had taught Intro 3rd hour and didn't realize I was speeding through the lesson during 8th hour. So I got to the end of the lesson really early. I had 10 minuted left and didn't know what else to do. It was not enough time to launch into what we had planned for the next day, and I had just finished going around the room and having the class introduce themselves to me. My cooperating teacher and I were unsure of what to do, so we just let them talk for the rest of the period. I really hated to do that because I don't want to send the message to my students that if they don't talk during the lesson and we get finished early that they can just blow off the rest of the period. But I fear that that is exactly what happened. So we will see how the semester pans out with that class.

First Day

Wow, what a day. It began early enough at 5:40 am. I joked to the head cross-country coach that I haven't seen 5:40am on an alarm clock in quite some time. But I didn't even need an alarm clock, what with waking up at 3am, then 4am, and I was pretty much awake from 5am until finally getting out of bed at 5:40. But enough about the times.

I was able to get to school when I was aiming for and started right away with the finishing up prepping for the days activities. I was concerned because there was still so much that I hadn't covered with either of my cooperating teachers, but we finalized what we had. When 1st period started, we only had just a few small hiccups. The only issues were having two teachers, and both of us figuring out when to start and stop talking. But other than that, it all went very smooth. It was nice to have lunch with a handful of people, as opposed to how I would have to eat by myself at my previous job. Plus, it allowed my to meet some other teachers in the building. They seem like an entertaining group.

The highlight of my day came during 7th hour during Computer Business Applications (CBA). I had had a few sections of CBA earlier in the day and was pretty well rehearsed on what we were doing for the day. So I turned to my cooperating teacher and asked her if I could take it. She said sure, and I was off. I was able to hit all of the main points in the course overview piece and was able to talk to class through all of the steps for the pre-test from memory. I knew I was doing a good job when she left the classroom for a little while. When the class was over, she complimented me on my performance.

I like how my day is laid out for me, (so fay anyways). It is nice to have 9th (final) period off, as it gave me a chance to get ready for tomorrow, and also ready for cross-country practice. Cross-country was pretty long today because we had to get to a lot of miscellaneous things like handing out uniforms and picture order forms. When you throw in the 5 mile fartlek run I did during practice, it all made for one long day. But I can't complain because all of my classes went smoothly today and thier doesn't seem to be any major issues with any students, (again, so far).

Am I ready?

I have so busy with helping coach cross-country that I haven't taken the time to reflect in quite a while. It's weird; I feel prepared, and at the same time, not even close. I am just wondering if there is more that I can be doing right now to start the year off better. I reviewed my classroom management plan and have my outline for my syllabus ready to go.

I shifted my focus from Computer Business Applications(CBA) to Intro to Business (Intro). My cooperating teacher told me that we will pretty much take CBA lesson by lesson. So now I have been pouring over the Intro book, trying to find ways to incorporate more cooperative learning, groupwork, and activities, instead of the lecture route. I also have been frustrated because I haven't been able to find a suitable icebreaker for the needs/wants lesson of the first day. I met with both of my cooperating teachers last spring and the one who teaches intro told me that she was looking for a new icebreaker for the needs/wants section. All that I have been able to find are aimed at elementary students. The last thing I want to do is start off the school year by talking down to my students. Hopefully, I will come up with something before Thursday, when I have a district and school-wide meeting and prep work afterwards.

Diving In Head First

Well, I finally took the plunge. I quit my job last week, and I couldn't be happier. But I also have to admit that the feelings of freaking out and nervousness are starting to replace the feelings of excitement that I used to feel.

I can't wait to meet with my cooperating teacher to get some concrete plans for the upcoming school year. I feel like I am going to be unprepared and disappoint her if I don't show her all of the things that I have going on in my head regarding the type of teacher I want to be. For example, I want to show her my classroom management plans and also a rough draft of a syllabus. Is this too much? Not enough? I am going to error on the side of preparedness and show her what I have. Suddenly the golden rule of teaching (You can never be too prepared to teach) flooded back into my brain as I typed that last statement.

I am also excited about starting my coaching duties. I am lucky enough to have to opportunity to help out coach the boys cross-country team. On top of that, the coach has won a state title before, so I am getting to learn from a proven winner. Practice starts in a few days and I have so many question marks. Am I in good enough shape to run with the kids? What exactly will be my duties? Will I have any of these athletes in my classes? Who knows, but I can't wait to find out.

Welcome!

This blog is going to be place for me to record my thoughts, feelings, observations, and the highs and lows as a student teacher. I have a lot in my head about what kind of teacher I want to become and figuring out how to get there is what I want to record here.

For a little background about me, I will be student teaching in the business education department. I am 28 years old and have spent the last five years working in the business world. I started out selling TV commercials, but the last four years I spent as an assistant branch manager of a nationwide bank. I am hoping to use all of the knowledge I gained during that time to help better prepare my students.

The thoughts and items posted in this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the other employees or the school where I am conducting my student teaching. I will never use the real names of anyone involved in my posts, especially my students for obvious reasons.

I am so excited to be finally embarking on this journey. I have been preparing for this for so long and I can't believe it is here. I look forward to providing an inside look at what goes into student teaching, with some coaching thrown in for good measure. Welcome!