Week Eight....The Final Stretch!

Week eight was probably the busiest week of them all. Even though I was beginning to release responsiblity back to my cooperating teacher, there were still a million and one things to accomplish. To begin with, the children practiced every morning for their Temples and Tombs musical that they formally performed for their families on Wednesday evening. Of course that meant that I was at school from 7:15 in the morning until 8:00 in the evening. To say the least, it was a long day, but it was well worth it!



Next, I requested to observe kindergarten, first, third and fifth grade teachers during my last week at John B. Dey. All I can say is....amazing! There was one teacher in particular that I was truly in awe of. What a talented and skilled teacher; I hope to one day be just like her! I took a gazillion pictures of her classroom so that I could implement similar ideas and strategies in my very own classroom. Take a look at her phenominal classroom....







Finally, I had planned a poetry book signing party on my last day. Poetry was one of the units that I taught the students during my time at John B. Dey. From the very beginning of the poetry writer's worshop, I had told the students that I was going to "publish" their very best poem in a class poetry book. They participated in a poetry writer's workshop and wrote three varieties of poetry (free verse, cinquain and couplet). I must say that the students were so excited and really put forth their very best effort knowing that there was an exciting reward in the end. So week eight was the week that I was pulling it all together, creating their poetry book and purchasing items for the poetry book signing event. I was at school on Thursday night until 9:30 PM. I wanted this event to be totally over the top because the students had worked SOOOOOO hard, and now it was time to share their work with their parents, grandparents, assistant principal and principal. I cannnot even begin to put into words how successful this event was. However, I think the pictures below say it all.









Friday was a bitter-sweet day. I was excited to be half way through my student teaching experience, yet it was hard to let go and move on to another school. I will greatly miss my second grade students at John B. Dey Elementary School! I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had to serve my cooperating teacher, second grade students and administration. The memories that were created in my first placement will forever be engraved in my mind.

Random Ramblings of Week Seven

Week seven.....wow! This past week I kept on telling my cooperating teacher that I am in total denial that I am going to be moving on to another school in nearly a week. It has been such a wonderful and positive experience that I honestly do not want to leave!

At the beginning of week seven, I started to think about what the future holds, or what it does not hold. I spoke with my good friend, Monica, about how I felt so defeated and hopeless due to the overall economic status of the economy. I have worked so hard to try to get this degree. Not to mention the fact that it has been a long haul between going to school full time and working full time. Now that it is time to go out and apply all that I have learned in a new found job, well, there may not be a new found job because there aren't any jobs! I think I have heard it all. From "What a time to graduate" to "Good luck in finding a job," it seems like the future does not look too promising. Nonetheless, God dropped Philippians 4:6 into my spirit while I was driving to work one day. It says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

I am now looking forward to what the future may hold. Although it seems like nothing is too promising, I know that my God has my future in His hands. He is a miracle worker, and He can do what everyone else around me says is absolutely impossible. It is exciting to know that He is already beginning to prepare the school, the classroom and the hearts of the children who I will be able to touch once I graduate. So I am awaiting my miracle because I know that as long as I am faithful to God then He will be faithful to me!

The Adventures of Week Six.....

Week six has been yet another great week. Once again, I cannot emphasize enough that teaching has its ups and downs, good days and bad days. Well, Tuesday was one of those bad days that just so happened to turn into a really great day. I came in Tuesday morning feeling like I was simply "flying by the seat of my pants." I was exhausted and in a funk. Not to mention the fact that the children were not acting like themselves. They were a little bit more roudy than normal. Well, I took them to art class, which was first thing in the morning at 8:15. To say the least, it was a nice break first thing in the morning, especially since I was in a funk. I picked them up from art class around 8:50, and I could tell that they were still a bit roudy. Wel, when they came back in to the classroom, they immediately went to work. So at this point, who do you guess comes strolling in to the classroom!? Yep, you guessed it....the assistant principal. She was completing a random lesson plan check. No big deal, but again, they kids were CRAZY! In all honesty, I really just wanted to ball up in a corner and cry!

While she was in there, I sat there and thought to myself, "She might as well sit down and observe me while she is in here; it can't get much worse than this!" So I invited her to sit down and complete the Regent evaluation form right then and there. The assistant principal observed me for nearly thirty minutes, and then left me a sticky note on my desk that said, "Lauren, You are doing a wonderful job! You are very confident and concise, too! Come by and see me today during P.E. time." Of course I am thinking to myself, "This can't be good; my lesson was a disaster; my reputation is ruined!"

The rest of the day seemed to creap by. I was so thankful when it was time to take the children to P.E. because I felt as if I could finally just put my misery to rest. So I made my journey down to the principals office. When I sat down, the first thing that the A.P. asked me was, "so how do you think you did?" I looked at her and said, "honestly, it was one of the worst lessons ever, and I felt like it was nothing but a disaster!" She immediately look perplexed and told me that if that was a bad day then she would like to observe me on a good day because my bad day is comparable to some teachers good days. At that point, I had no idea what to say because she completely took me off guard! She proceeded to go over my evaluation, which was very, very good. Then she asked me a few questions about when I would be graduating, receiving my lisence and when would I be on the job market. So to say the least, after our meeting, my extremely, horrible, no good, very bad day turned into a wonderful one!

Week Five....REALLY!?

Week five has emhasized the importance of flexibility. Snow days, student assemblies, staff meetings, you name it, you just have to learn to be flexible and adjust acordingly in order to be a successful teacher! To say the least, that is what I have done so far this week! I honestly feel like I have revised daily lesson plans at least a million times! Uggg!

Today was our first day back since last Friday's half day. Wednesday and Thursday will be half days and Friday will be a full day. It was SO nice to be back in the classroom again. I did not miss the long drive to the beach, but I missed the students dearly! So now the race begins...the race to complete everything that needs to be accomplished for the month of February.

It is so hard to believe that we are half way through week five. Time flies, doesn't it? I must say that as I was riding home from work this afternoon, I was thinking about how sad it is going to be to leave the children and staff at John B. Dey. It is amazing how close I have become to the children, parents and staff in only one month. They have been so good to me! From teacher to teacher collaborations to a birthday surprise party with cake, cards, balloons gifts and all, my first experience has certainly been a memorable one!