Week 8

     My goals last week were to incorporate song & to hone routines.  I've had many chances to practice this because my teacher was gone Monday and Tuesday.  I enjoyed the time with the kids so much, and they were very well behaved. I even taught them a few things I learned from my first placement and they loved them :  put a bubble in, and help your neighbor.
     One of the goals I want to continue this week is to be in prayer for my cooperating teacher. I felt a check in my own spirit because when I'm stressed and anxious, or thinking of needs of my friends, it's so much easier to pray for myself, and people I love.  This week I felt god kind of leading me to pray for this teacher.  I can honestly say its a different perspective, and I've seen results from it which may seem small but let's me know this is how it should be.  Her disposition has been more kind and encouraging toward me and I appreciate it so much.  I totally attribute it to God.  I am so thankful that he's walking me through this experience.  I couldn't do it on my own, that's for sure.
     One word to describe my week would be trust.  I feel things getting a little easier, and I'm feeling more of myself coming out. I didn't realize how regimented and anxious I'd become until I started feeling myself relax and enjoy what I'm doing.  I want to remember that my trust in god and giving up on my own efforts is what got me here. I'm just praying I don't start trying to do it on my own again, because his Word is what's been giving me peace and any confidence I have in this growing time.
     One of the prompts asked if there were any similarities between the first and second placements.  I have seen a lot of differences and similarities.  I think there's more room to be creative with the curriculum and how it gets taught at my First placement.  I think that lent to more time needed for planning, but that's one of the things I love.  Spending all that time, and putting everything into it, and creating lessons that are meaningful and engaging.  On the other hand, it's nice to not have all that work far into the evening. I've been benefitted by having more free time in my second placement.  One thing I miss from the first placement is the focus on no bullying.  They try in my 2nd placement, but I feel like the approach is different and I think kids will respond better over time o the 1st placement's methods.  That's just my opinion.
    I know of several things I will steal from both teachers.  That's their behavior techniques, some of their organizational aids, and a more laid back attitude that I've seen modeled by both of them.
   I think my cooperating teacher is a great example of a teacher-leader.  She is someone that many teachers go to because she's very organized and take charge.  She handles things and organizes them for many teachers at different grade levels.  This week she also overheard another teacher having a rough morning, and asked the teacher if she wanted to step out for a second.  Her compassion and reliability make her someone that I think the other teachers on her team look to for help/input.
     My supervisor should know I pretty much taught Wednesday and Thursday full day at the teachers request as well.  I showed up and the teacher said she wanted to see how I was after two days alone with the kids.  So I literally had 10 mins to look over all plans for the day (thank god it was a half day) and then start the day with them.  I know it sounds crazy but I was able to do it, with confidence, and then when I got there the next day she asked me to do the same thing.  She said she thought I'd done a great job and so she thought I should do it again.  Ha!  I had no planning time, but was able to look at the order of what was being taught, and use what I had to think on my feet.  At the end she told me I'd done a great job, which was nice to hear.
     This week Ill be starting my take over.  There will be a few days where she introduces guided reading & touch math but I'll be full time other than that.