The First Entry

Well this will be short, just a quick thought to get my blog on the map.  I've been student teaching (rather student observing) for the past 3 weeks now, however it feels longer and shorter at the same time (if that's possible).  I realize now how little I actually observed last semeser, I mean I came to School X and did all and more of my observations, I wrote notes furiously and spoke with the teacher...but I guess it doesn't begin to really seem important until you are counting down the weeks til you actually take over these students.  Scary thought, right?

Some observations I've made from the past 3 weeks:
1.)  Teachers have a lot of work to do.  And I mean a lot.  I thought I knew and had an idea, and I know I was told about all these things, but once you actually see what it means to create 3 different lesson plans for 3 different preps that spread across 6 classes every day, plus the creating and grading that goes along with activities, the meetings after school, the hours, and the paperwork...PLUS if your teacher does extra clubs or mentors or is a team leader...you begin to see why maybe your teacher got frustrated with your class sometimes or didn't grade your test for the next day.

2.)  Middle schoolers are children that look like teenagers and attempt to act that way, and dealing and understanding them is a lot easier once you view them that way.  I always thought I would just absolutely hate teaching middle school.  I was a YMCA counselor for several summers and the week we had middle schoolers I would go home and cry every day.  But they really are just children, eager to learn but desperately trying to look cool.  When you get one on one with any of them though they desire praise and understanding.  I've found I rather like middle schoolers, at least in these classes.

3.)  I don't know if I belong here. 

More on that another time.