Saturday, September 12, 2009

Still Going Strong

Welp, I am still alive, never fear. I just have no internet to update this thing with a computer at my house. There really hasn't been that much to update about anyway, just life as we know it now.

Student teaching is going well. It is hard to believe I am heading into my 4th week of at my first assignment. I only have 2 more weeks left in first grade before I have to switch over to the 6th grade. I am really not wanting to leave at all. I feel as if I am just hitting my stride, getting the kids to really respond to me, and actually teaching halfway decently. I wish we didn't have to move classrooms at all. I know it will be good to see how an upper leve does things, but I am so much enjoying where I am at right now. My teacher and I get along so well, I am learning so much, and enjoy her as a person, while respecting her as a teacher. She does such a good job.

I talk to Mom almost daily about what is going on in the classroom, my funny story I have from the day (which I have at least 1 per day, just ask Mark haha), and telling her how much 1st grade really does matter in aspect of a person's education. Mom, who taught first grade for around 17 years, said her and the other first grade teacher used to say the students are "blank slates" that you get to right whatever you want on them. This is completely true. You learn so many core aspects that you will use for the rest of your life. I cannot tell you how many lessons I have started off with that saying. For example, when I was teaching them how to write the numbers 1-9, I told them, that if they dont learn how to do this then you wont know how to write any number over 10! Small as it might be, it is completely true.

I also got the joy of watching reading and learning to read certain words and a story click with a child! I wish everyone could have seen his eyes light up when he figured out he could read all these new words. He was ssssooo proud of himself, it was ridiculous! He put up his book when the teacher asked him to, only to pull the small reader he had in his desk out saying "I want to read this now". I also caught him later when we were supposed to be packing up, "reading" that same reader at the end of the day. This is truly one of the highlights of my college career!

Mark is doing well too. He told me the other day that he is feeling more comfortable going into the schools. He is getting to know more kids, so that always helps. Since school has started back up the attendance has risen some on Wednesday nights, which is always fun. I am enjoying getting to know the girls a little bit better. We started a new bible study last week, so I am looking forward to that.

That is about all that is happening in my corner of the world!! Hope everyone else has a wonderful week!

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