The Balancing Act: Teeter- Totter

Student teaching has taught me a lot, most of all, it's taught me how to try and stay balanced. Between my own personal life and events, student teaching, being a student, working a part time job, I've had to learn how to manage my time by the minute.

In January, I realized, planning minute by minute was especially important when managing a class period of 45 minutes. The secret I found: routines. I consistently now know I will spend 5 minutes on bell work, 5 minutes on fluency, 30 minutes on my lesson, and 5 minutes on closing/clean up time. 

Quickly, it became essential to learn how to more efficiently manage my time outside of the classroom. I have no choice. 

I have the occasional slip up where things don't always go as planned (so life goes), but if there's one thing I would like to learn to do better is to: accomplish my goals, have a life, and be the best professional I can be. 

It's about that time of year where the end is so near, I can almost see the finish line. I'm scared, I'm nervous, I'm afraid of falling off of this thin-line that's taken up all of my time, efforts, and sacrifice. I've been having a reoccurring dream that I somehow end up substituting, the same class, over and over again. I'm not sure where the fear stems from.

I'm lucky to have a cooperating teacher that is encouraging, supportive, understanding, and provides me feedback daily. She pushes me to become better, suggests different techniques, and praises me for best practices. 

I feel as if I have gone through the “growing pains” of improvement in my professional aspect, but I still have a long way to go.

My passion for teaching and reaching students is my main drive. I think the most rewarding part of my student teaching experience are the students that excitingly share stories that they’re writing with me and ask me if I can teach 7^th grade at their school next year. A student just recently asked me two days ago to edit her “book” she’s been writing. There’s nothing more rewarding than to see your students passion ignited for reading and writing outside of the classroom.

I have students that confide, trust, and believe in me as a teacher. When a problem arises, they look towards me for the solution. When my cooperating teacher leaves the room, they no longer question my authority in the classroom. I am their teacher.

The most important part is to believe in yourself. It’s something I struggle with, but I’ve become more confident as time has passed. I thank the supportive friends and teachers I’ve had around me.

I’ve learned the importance to  keep honest and open communications consistently with the professionals, families, and students you are working with. Be open to receiving feedback, and appreciate it, above all. Take advice, reflect on yourself honestly, and be ready to apply it to who you want to become. 

The End of the Honeymoon Period: Let's Get Down to Business (Blog Post #2)

“In an effective classroom students should not only know what they are doing, they should also know why and how.”

 –Harry K. Wong

We all have heard teachers refer to the "honeymoon" period, right? I didn't believe it was true. When I first started this semester, I knew quite a few of my students already from last semester. I'm sure as many of you have experienced, the students were fascinated by you. They may have thought that you were the one on their side and sort of like a friend. Now that many of us are taking over a full teaching day, they may start testing your authority, if they haven't already. 

No, not Johnny. He was always such a nice kid to me! Well that's over now. He is now throwing pencils at the kid next to him and taking sticky notes off of my desk to write “Kick Me” signs on other student’s backs. Okay, it may not be to that extent but it seems to be much worse than when I had started my placement.  I'm not sure how many people are experiencing this right now, but, I can tell you that students are certainly testing my patience and giving me a learning experience in behavior management daily.  As teachers we realize the importance to self-reflect and grow daily. I came to realize it was time for me to apply my knowledge in my education courses collectively. As a future educator, it is my duty to give my students the most effective learning environment and using efficient methods to do so. Sometimes a method may not work, and that’s okay. It is a learning experience and I love every minute of finding out how to improve my instructional time as well as constructing a classroom environment.  

I found that talking to my cooperating teacher about difficult students and collaborating with other teachers has assisted me in finding solutions. The most important concept I've learned in behavior management and instruction: explicit instruction. It seems simple. Yet, the concept can become much more complex when a inexperienced student teacher doesn’t realize to the extent of the simplicity. For example, I’ve found at the middle school level that  students respond well to timers. It's a concrete way of keeping a pace in the classroom that is expected, and they realize that they don't have time to talk to their classmate about their plans this weekend. They have a specific task that they know they will be accounted for and a certain amount of time.

 I spent a majority of my time after conferences today, writing a list of very specific classroom procedures I expect students to follow. Something as simple as how I want them to turn in their papers can become a huge mess unless I have a systematic way of giving students instructions and consistent expectations. I've found that more than ever, I have to refer to my Wong text from our first year of the teaching program. I continue to use the texts given to me in my professional development hour at my placement, discussions in our seminar time, and the resources given to us throughout our teaching program to assist us in becoming successful educators. I love it. Tomorrow I implement my new “strategy” and I’m excited to explain how it rocks or it flops in my next blog. J

Online Reflection #1: An Overview of Thoughts at the Beginning of the Semester

The most important concept that I’ve learned so far is what a teacher is perceived as: by students, administrators, and the overall general opinion of society. A teacher is a counselor, a coach, a role model, and an instructor. The role of a teacher goes beyond the classroom.  Teachers have one of the largest impacts on their students’ lives as consistent adults that help guide them through their lessons and their own personal growth. I recall my first experience as a student coach my junior and senior year. The two consecutive years of Spanish 1 classes that I helped with were freshman and sophomores. Little did I know the large impact my students would have on me. Prior to my student teaching in the program at Wichita State University, this was the only teaching experience I had. It was enough of an inspirational experience to interest me in the teaching field.  Little did I know these past few weeks I have gotten to know all 120 of my students, it has made me realize how much I still have to learn about becoming a successful teacher. I am aware that I am still learning and I plan on continuing to be a lifelong learner.  What have I made my main focus these first few weeks?  I’ve reviewed classroom procedures, students’ names, and making sure that I’ve integrated myself as an active participant in the classroom. I’ve been lucky enough to have a sub twice. The best part was my cooperating teacher trusting me to manage all six classes on my own . The first day went over well because I know the students but I figured out quickly the mistakes I made that day and how to handle behavior in middle school. I learned that not every kid really has to go to the bathroom. Students will test you to see how much they can get away with. They can see someone with no backbone a mile away. You have to be confident and be known as a “stickler” for the rules.  Kids talk, and they will treat you how they read you. Rumors will spread, whether you’re the “easy” teacher to walk all over, or the one that deserves respect. Learn the balancing act. Get to know what they like. What they do after school. Know their favorite books.  Get involved in your school. Read Wong’s book of instructions on how to conduct your classroom and the first day of school. Make mistakes and create new solutions.  Keep up with the latest culture. Being respected is more important than being liked. Try to achieve both in the process. Read, read, read. Never stop growing, learning, and trying new ways of teaching and getting through to kids. Never think you are done. The journey doesn’t end at student teaching or your first few years of teaching. There is clarity in the madness. There is beauty in the process. Trust your instincts. Create new goals. Inspire a change.

Genre Reflection #2

How to Be Defeated From the Start: The Beginning of the End

(Genre Reflection #2)

First, try sleeping. Toss and turn. Try counting. Count the days of school you have left. 187. The beginning of a new year. Fall asleep. Turn off the blaring alarm. Roll out of bed. Grab your crooked, half broken glasses. Put on pants. They’re inside out. Try again. Look at the clock. Fifteen minutes left. Go time. Turn on the coffee pot. Burn the coffee. Grab a water bottle. Slip on your flats. Race for the door. Forget that you left the dog outside.

Enter into the desolate hallway. Smile politely at the janitor. Get stopped by the principal. Who decides to discuss the new Common Core Standards.  Listen to his ignorant commentary. Keep smiling. Just. Keep. Smiling. Slowly creep away. Mutter something incomprehensible.

Inspect your list of newcomers. Note the ones you’ve heard stories about. Have visions of desks being thrown. See a “Kick Me” sign in your near future. Prepare for battle. Get out syllabi. Open the door. Smile warmly at the sour faces. Ignore the kid who stepped on your shoe and spit gum on the floor. Breathe. 186 days left.

Talk about the importance of grammar. Listen to the boy in the back snore and smack his head on the desk. Laughter erupts the room. Keep calm. Continue on. 64 days left.

Admire the spring trees bloom outside your window.  The countdown is on. Bump into a student in the hallway. Take notice of the tears coming down their eyes. Sense frustration.  Ask the student if they’re okay. Look into their eyes. Feel compassion. Know something is not right. Invite them to your class. Let them speak. Let them be heard.

Realize students are human beings. Recall the reasons why you went into teaching. Allow the faint distant memory of the moment you knew.  When you once felt a passion for what you do. Try not to forget, students are human too. The difference starts with me and you. Try not to be tainted by the everyday view.

Organization...And Other Attributes I Wish I Possessed Blog #3

Blog Post #3

Various articles and books I have read say that organization is one of the number one indicators of success. First off, let me start by saying I am the last person who needs to be giving out advice on organization. Papers are piled on my desk; I find sticky notes on my clothes from time to time. I live in “organized chaos”. I’m confessing my greatest weakness to all of you in confidence that, prior to teaching, this unfortunate attribute to my personality will be gone by the time I become a professional teacher in my own classroom. What can I do to combat against my nature? I recognize this as a fatal flaw, and so I decided to speak to veteran teachers and colleagues on what they do in order to stay organized, effective, efficient, and not temporarily lose their minds in the process.  

The first step: Write in your planner.

 Daily, and stick to it.  This is a struggle for me. I begin every year religiously copying down every task and checking off every item as I complete it. As the semester progresses, however, I become less mindful. I realize that as a teacher I will have to become much more proactive with my planner and have materials planned ahead of time, ready and prepared to battle any mishaps, interruptions, or potential needs for a sub along the way.

The second step: Have your space organized. 

My books clutter my car, tossed into an oblivion of a dark hole that I must go digging and searching for the last place I had read it. Perhaps it’s in the back seat of my car, I recall reading it prior to class in the parking lot? This is a common trend of thought for me. A word of advice from my colleagues and mentors is to have a specific bag, place, and an organizational technique that becomes a habit. Not only does it allow me to locate where the book is, but it creates a pattern of organization. A habit that will lead to successful , clear thought. Imagine that. 

The third step: Be prepared. For anything. Ahead of time.

Again, I always start off strong at the beginning. The middle is always alright, and the end smacks me in the face. It’s because I do not prepare ahead of time. When the curve ball is thrown at me so to speak, I am not ready for it. This is not acceptable as a teacher from what I’ve been told. One must be flexible, have material ready to go in case the lesson runs short or be able to condense important material in a short amount of time because a fire drill may have interrupted your class, leaving you with half the time you had planned on having.

I have recognized my weaknesses. The number one being organization, an essential key to a successful career and life. To be scattered and all over the place will no longer be acceptable. It’s time for a change. So here’s to beginning a journey of student teaching with a new mindset and preparing to work on my weaknesses and turning them into strength. Fierce. Ready. Like a warrior. Like a teacher. For anything. 

 What’s your weakness, and how will you make it your strength?

KATE Conference

What an experience! First of all, I would like to say that I love my English Education family dearly, and just to be with them for two days straight (even though I see them all week) was wonderful within itself.  It was truly inspiring to be around so many enthusiastic teachers and to be exposed to a variety of strategies that I can use in my student teaching classroom as well as my future classroom.

  I found it refreshing that a majority of the keynote sessions I attended embraced and encouraged the integration of technology within the classroom.  A session that I attended on accident, with a lovely lady who didn’t want to stay, but I convinced because of the comfortable seating arrangement, was the most memorable one. In the session two teachers discussed the benefits of a classroom blog. It reminded me of what we are currently engaging in our own class. The session also allowed me to realize that there’s an opportunity to connect with students via technology as well as connecting with one another, not just in college, but in high school as well.  

After attending the behavior management session, I began to worry about my own classroom management skills. Although I have not had any troubles in my practicum, I know that I may be too lenient due to my own personality. It was a nice refresher in previous concepts that we have learned in our first year of student teaching. I would like to strive to be the “balanced” disciplinary teacher. Maybe in a perfect world, right?

Seeing Mrs. Megan Springs present was one of the highlights of the KATE conference! What an inspiration and what a nerve to present at such an event. I thought that she did an excellent job and I can only hope I have the guts to do such a presentation in the future. She also touched on the subject of further engaging students by embracing the technological advances in education that we are seeing implemented today.

Taylor Mali was quite an exciting experience as well! The readings that he did for us were entertaining and he seems like a down to earth, genuine person.  I’d have to say my favorite part of it was when he took Destinee’s phone and tried to take a video of himself. His accomplishments allow me to dream that someday I may be able to not only be an English teacher, but have fun with my own writing and exhibit that for my future students. 

In summary of all of the sessions that I attended, I would say that one major takeaway I had was this: education is dynamic, forever changing and molding as we progress in our society. We must be flexible and open minded in all aspects. Teachers have the largest impact on molding the future minds of tomorrow. Personally, I believe this to be an exciting challenge as a teacher. What a beautiful process and journey.  The secret to never growing old, is to become a teacher! 

Genre Reflection #1

The Bell Rings

How do we instill into the young minds

In such a short span of time?

Inspiration, motivation, dedication.

Understand the meaning of the syntax and inflections.

Going in the upward direction

Of higher learning, always concerning ourselves

With the meaning, constructing, creating, debating

The varieties of texts we are translating.

Why do we love what we do

How did the love of learning become within you?

Its not for the gratitude

A treat or a grade.

The answers lies in the progress we made.

Confidence in the words that you speak,

Literary analysis in the book we critique.

A never ending maze

Of well written essays.

The joy of a child when learning clicks

The ability to identify, analyze, and predict.

The future of tomorrow lies in the prize

Of a spark of excitement in a student’s eyes

When the concepts come together anew

And they push on to pursue

A better tomorrow for me and you

All that began with the seed of a gift

The key to learning is to always persist.

So when you ask me what I do

With only forty five minutes time of pushing through

Lessons, reading, and writing

Putting a spin on the lessons to make it exciting

And you ask me why I love to teach

It’s the accomplishment of taking a student where they dare to reach.