Long story short, I had to add a 3 credit class in order to receive financial aid this term. I decided to do another practicum (basically just volunteering, observing, etc.) to get some extra practice. Since I added the class late, I met with the teacher a week ago individually to go over what I missed and get placed. Well, little did I know that Amy (the placement specialist) was on top of it and placed my practicum in the same room that I'll be student teaching the rest of the year....meaning I'll be in there the whole year!! Which is rare...and a great opportunity to get to already know my kids BEFORE I start student teaching.
I have already gone in once in the classroom and have gotten to know the kids a little. It is a little crazy: since it is dual immersion, there are 2 classes that rotate back and forth every week (elephants and giraffes). They are learning in Spanish with another teacher the other week. So I met the elephants this week and next week I'll get to meet the giraffes. There are 30 kids in each class, with exactly half being Latino/ELL.
I LOVE THEM!! I have to say I'm pretty proud that I remember 26/30 of their names with faces ;). It is a bit crazy though. I got to lead two different reading level groups, with about 6 in each. I got to use the smart board and go over phonemes and words and did some creative activities that I think they liked. Later I walked around and talked with different table groups and got to know some of them. There are a few severe ADHD kids, which will hopefully help me prepare to be a more well-rounded teacher :-) I was talking to a few more extraverted kids who kept talking to me in the lunch line and one was saying I wasn't a real teacher because I didn't have a picture of myself on my nametag, LOL, and then another said he wished I worked there! :) Anyways, needless to say I am very excited to be there.
Annnnd my cooperating teacher, Mrs. F, is great! She is pretty chill and funny and nice. I'm very grateful that she wants my input and ideas, and when I student teach she said she wants me to be able to "do my thing" and not feel I have to do everything her way. I feel reassured as she said it will go successfully :-) It was funny because one kid, with spiked blonde hair and glasses, had a shirt on with Justin Bieber on the front and "future Justin Bieber" on the back. He had gone to the concert the night before. She had him stand in front of the class and took some pictures. Everyone starting blurting out, getting really excited about J. Biebs. It was really funny.
It's gonna be a hectic term and year, but I am prepared. In addition to the 10 hours I'll be spending at South Shore each week, I have 4 other pretty demanding classes. I am also grateful to have a nannying job to a 18 mo old boy (who I speak only Spanish to), which takes up another 12 ish hours each week. It is also super nice having a car now! The house and roomies have been really awesome too.
Well, that's all the time I have for now, but will update more within the upcoming weeks!
Thanks for reading!
