2nd week of full-time teaching

This is the middle of my second week of full-time teaching. Everything seems to be going pretty well! I am adjusting to the fact that 5 classes is a lot more to keep up with than only 2 classes! However, I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I've already learned all of the students' names and faces (which was no easy task!). I've also gotten to about the middle of my inquiry project. I've done 3 out of the 4 strategies and I'm about to start the cycle again. So, things are in full swing!

In teaching full-time, I feel that I am learning quite a lot. I now see why so many teachers get overwhelmed because it is easy to do! With grades, lesson plans, assignments, and so many other things it can be easy to become overwhelmed. I think the main thing is that you have to remind yourself to take one day at a time. That's what I've been doing and it seems to be working out pretty well for me.

I can feel myself progressing and I am so excited about that. I remember during my tutor year thinking that I would never feel confident enough to command a whole classroom and now I'm doing 5 a day! My teacher demeanor is right where it should be. Students know that I'm the teacher, but that they can still joke around and be comfortable with me. I try to maintain my mentor teacher's classroom atmosphere and rules as much as I can; however, it is sometimes difficult when we have two different teaching styles. I am doing my best though and I think she knows that.

I've had a lot of fun these past two weeks and I hope that the fun continues. I really like my students and I can see that they have so much potential. I also really like my mentor teacher and I think that helps make the days go by easier. I'm really looking forward to continuing my teaching and my progression and I can't wait to see how good I am in the end of my student teaching!

First week of full-time

I have made it through my first week of full-time teaching without losing my mind! I think that is considered success. I am now teaching 5 classes of 9^th graders. I have 2 English 9 classes and 3 English 9 Honors classes. So far, it has been hectic; however, it has been a great learning experience. I’ve gotten to know most of the students’ names and I’m becoming familiar with their skills. Thus far, I’ve had students complete tests, quizzes, writing assignments, artistic assignments, and a research project. This has been mostly with the English 9 classes because this week is the first week that I’ve taught English 9 Honors.

My action research is in full swing and I’ve already completed 2 out of my 4 vocabulary strategies. I’ve come across some new ideas along the way and have decided to also focus on review within my vocabulary strategy. With the first set of 4 strategies, students will be able to review before the quiz. When the second set of strategies rolls around, students will not be using review before their quiz. I have noticed that students really liked working with flash cards and they really did study together when I asked them to. I noticed a change in their behavior during this strategy and I hope to see even more. I am interested to see what happens with the study!

Within my first week of full-time teaching, I’ve started to feel like the teacher inside of me has come out. My mentor teacher tells me that I’m a natural and I’m so excited that she feels that way! I feel like I have pretty good control of the classes and I’m working on the content that I need to deliver. At this point, I feel that my skills are improving and I’m hoping that they continue to! I am excited for the rest of the year!

Getting ready to go full-time.

This week marks my last week of only teaching 2 classes. This coming Monday I will officially be into my full-time teaching and I'm sure it will be hectic for the first couple of days. I am picking up 3 English 9 Honors classes, so that'll mean I'm teaching 5 classes total. I am feeling pretty comfortable with the regular English 9 classes, but my anxiety is certainly kicking in for the Honors classes. I'm nervous about the rigorous pace of the Honors classes. I do, however, think I can manage.

Within my two weeks of only teaching 2 classes, I've began to see just how much work goes into teaching! Aside from planning lessons, I have to create all of the materials that I want to use (unless my mentor has them on file), grade papers, keep up with my action research, and still find time to breathe. It is becoming a bit overwhelming and I can feel myself becoming exhausted. However, I feel that this learning experience is so beneficial. I've already learned so much this semester and it's only the 4th week of school! My mentor teacher has really shown me how to deal with issues that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to deal with. She's really opened her classroom and her resources to me and I cannot thank her enough. She has imparted some great advice and I truly appreciate that!

These past few weeks have shown me that I have already progressed in my abilities as a teacher. Just today I surprised myself with my progress. In 2nd period I have a student who has an IEP. He's very bright, but cannot stay organized and never wants to write anything down. I'm not sure of his exact disability, but he seems to me like he may be autistic. Anyways, he didn't want to do the assignment that I'd given him which was to write a creative story about a setting that he'd already chosen randomly out of a hat. His setting was the frozen tundra. He sat at his desk and did nothing when I gave students time in class to complete the writing. So, I went up to him and asked him what the problem was. He told me that he had no idea what to write about. I know that he's super into videogames so I suggested he write about that. He wasn't satisfied with that. He didn't have any details of the game. So, I opened the laptop and told him to find some information. He looked on the internet for a while and then when I checked in on him, he'd told me that he could now perform the task at hand. Of course class was about over, so I told him that he'd have to complete it for homework. Whether he does or not, I'm not sure. He usually doesn't turn anything in when it's supposed to be homework. However, I felt that I had really helped him relate to his interests within my assignment. I tried to reach out to him and I think he saw what I was trying to do and hopefully he respects me for it. The progression in myself is evident because last semester, I would not have known what to do in such a situation!

Progress...

This week has been my first week of teaching the regular English 9 classes. It has gone well so far in that I haven’t lost my sanity to anxiety! I’ve been prepared for each lesson and have turned in my lesson plans well ahead of schedule for approval from my mentor teacher. I feel that the students are beginning to warm up to me in my 2^nd period, however, my 7^th period seems like they could care less. They won’t talk to me when I ask them questions and I literally have to call them by name to get any sort of response out of them. It is frustrating, but I’m learning to deal with it by planning for less talking in the activities I do.

I’m really enjoying my relationship with my mentor teacher as well. At first I was a bit skeptical if things were going to work out, but they are working fabulously and I’m so glad that I get to work with such an inspiring and knowledgeable lady. I can feel myself shaping into the teacher that I want to be and I think Mrs. Adams is certainly helping me push that along.

My teaching is getting better, but I know it still needs work. I really need to focus on being able to think quickly on my feet. Students are very questioning of me because they want to know what I know and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by that simple fact. Sometimes I really have to stop myself and take a step back to realize that I am an adult to these students. I am someone they look up to and that’s hard to wrap my head around given the fact that I’m just a student myself at this point. I do feel that the ability to see myself as a teacher and an adult will come with experience and time and I am very excited about that. I can feel myself progressing and I’m very anxious to see how it all turns out by the end of my student teaching.