Week 1 Reflection

   Well the first week of pre-student teaching has come and gone. I know this semester will be over before I know it and it makes me sad. During this first week, I have started to make my mark on the students I am encountering. My first goal is that my presence will help not only the cooperating teachers but the students as well.

   I have been very pleased with the cooperating teachers I have received and so far they have been extremely helpful in enhancing my educational process. I had a goal to know all the students by name after the first day, so I asked for seating charts. I accomplished this goal and have begun to relate with the students in my classrooms. I have also started to see their personalities in the classroom. I can now see what it takes to make them a successful student in this class (ie: special instruction, sitting by them, or using a different tone). My goal with this information is to do what I can to help the students reach their own goals in this class.

 Over the last couple of days, I have been given the opportunity to be an active part of the teaching process while the students worked on some state standardized assignments. This was an eye opening process for me because it made me question the students prior teachers and what they taught. I know this is not the first thing I should question, but I could not help the thoughts from entering my mind.The students were given instructions for a persuasive writing assignment and then told to complete it. The students looked dumbfounded like they had never been introduced to the topic of persuasive writing. This concerned me, but looking at their writing made my concerns worse.
  
   After talking with one of my cooperating teachers, my concerns have now diminished because I realize that this assignment can only help the students and teacher. I now understand that it is this type of assignment that lets the teacher know what he/she needs to re-visit/re-teach so the students will understand what is expected of them on state testing and in the future during their educational journey.

    I feel this week was a successful beginning to a wonderful semester and I look forward to what else is to come. I have not set too many goals for myself just yet, because I have learned to play it by ear at least the first couple of weeks to gain my footing in this new classroom/position. I will begin to set more goals as I become more of a permanent fixture for the students.

First day in my new classrooms

Well, today was the big day! I had to drop my son off for his first day of day care, which almost made me cry, and then I headed to my placement school for my first day of pre-student teaching. I was eagerly excited to be placed in a classroom with a teacher that I already have a professional relationship with. The other teacher I will be working with has me convinced that this will be a great semester. I can only look forward to what is in store over the weeks to come. Stay tuned for daily/weekly/monthly reflections on my performance and experiences throughout this journey.