I subbed half day kindergarten today. I always get a little nervous when I sub kindergarten at schools I didn't do my student teaching at. Everyone has a partner teacher and when I don't know people very well I tend to be a little shy. Today wasn't too bad though. The kids were super psycho but it ended up working out just fine. I think it is really sad to see a student just starting out in kindergarten and he already refuses to do any work or interact with other students. I asked him to color a picture and he refused. I asked him to cut out his animal and he refused. It stinks to realize that a five year old already hates school. What is the rest of his academic career going to be like?
At the end of the day when I was about to leave the teachers turned to me and said, "You're so young... you remind us of what a real kindergarten teacher is... Us 20 years ago!" Hahaha I thought it was a funny comment to give someone. Anyway, TGIF!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Super Sub
What a DAY! I felt like I was back in college running around from place to place! Don't get me wrong though, I am glad today was busy.
I started out at my old elementary school from when I was a kid. It is always fun to go back there. There is a teacher on campus who taught sixth grade when I was there. You can just tell that she is the leader of the pack at that school. She is always so vibrant and helpful. Every time she sees me she yells "Boys and girls, we have a SYCAMORE ALUMNI teaching with us today!" It is super cute. The school has smart classrooms in every room. I love it but sometimes I feel really incompetent. I think I am semi-tech savvy but I am still not used to all of the different types of fun things smart boards can do. Today I could not get the sound on the computer to work for me at all! Luckily, that teacher came in and helped me get the sound to work. I just love her and she doesn't even know it. I hope I can become the kind of leader she is.
At my old school I subbed a 5th/6th combo class. I feel like kids just won't be quiet these days! The kids were super sweet which made everything go fast. We watched Cinderella which is my all time favorite Disney movie so it worked in my favor =). I love subbing at that school.
I had fifteen minutes to jet from my school in Upland to the school in Fontana. Luckily, I was only 5 minutes late and my kids were at lunch. I subbed for the third grade class I am going to be long terming for. They are a chatty bunch, and a couple kids like to push my buttons but I am already starting to love them. No one will be able to replace my third graders from last year, but I am excited to start building relationships with this new bunch. Today when the kids saw me they all ran up and gave me a huge group hug. It reminded me of last year when my third graders did that to me. I felt like I was in a mosh pit... but instead of hardcore rockers, they are little munchkins. Such fun kids.
I want to start spending time with my first graders, too, so hopefully next week I can sneak in there and help out for a while.
After work I had to speed over to tutor my kid from last year. I tutored him all summer long, three days a week, for two hours a day. I just love him and his mom. They are so fun to be around and talk to. He is such a smart kid. Seeing him today for the first time in about a month reminded me of how much I missed him.
Overall today was a great day but I am so pooped out! Tomorrow I am doing a half day kindergarten sub job. It starts a little later than usual so I can get an hour more of rest. Woohoo!
I just got off the phone with Matt. He had his first back to school night tonight and said it was a success! I am so proud of him. He can go on for hours about his day and how much he loves his job.
I am so thankful for this wonderful life of mine.
I started out at my old elementary school from when I was a kid. It is always fun to go back there. There is a teacher on campus who taught sixth grade when I was there. You can just tell that she is the leader of the pack at that school. She is always so vibrant and helpful. Every time she sees me she yells "Boys and girls, we have a SYCAMORE ALUMNI teaching with us today!" It is super cute. The school has smart classrooms in every room. I love it but sometimes I feel really incompetent. I think I am semi-tech savvy but I am still not used to all of the different types of fun things smart boards can do. Today I could not get the sound on the computer to work for me at all! Luckily, that teacher came in and helped me get the sound to work. I just love her and she doesn't even know it. I hope I can become the kind of leader she is.
At my old school I subbed a 5th/6th combo class. I feel like kids just won't be quiet these days! The kids were super sweet which made everything go fast. We watched Cinderella which is my all time favorite Disney movie so it worked in my favor =). I love subbing at that school.
I had fifteen minutes to jet from my school in Upland to the school in Fontana. Luckily, I was only 5 minutes late and my kids were at lunch. I subbed for the third grade class I am going to be long terming for. They are a chatty bunch, and a couple kids like to push my buttons but I am already starting to love them. No one will be able to replace my third graders from last year, but I am excited to start building relationships with this new bunch. Today when the kids saw me they all ran up and gave me a huge group hug. It reminded me of last year when my third graders did that to me. I felt like I was in a mosh pit... but instead of hardcore rockers, they are little munchkins. Such fun kids.
I want to start spending time with my first graders, too, so hopefully next week I can sneak in there and help out for a while.
After work I had to speed over to tutor my kid from last year. I tutored him all summer long, three days a week, for two hours a day. I just love him and his mom. They are so fun to be around and talk to. He is such a smart kid. Seeing him today for the first time in about a month reminded me of how much I missed him.
Overall today was a great day but I am so pooped out! Tomorrow I am doing a half day kindergarten sub job. It starts a little later than usual so I can get an hour more of rest. Woohoo!
I just got off the phone with Matt. He had his first back to school night tonight and said it was a success! I am so proud of him. He can go on for hours about his day and how much he loves his job.
I am so thankful for this wonderful life of mine.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
RSP
I was so scared for my day today! I subbed an RSP class at a middle school. I thought I was going to die when I got there. I was seriously dreading the students I had to work with, and I always feel a little weird as a sub when I work with aides. BUT the kids were amazing and the day went quite well. I had a few autistic kids that came in and needed help, but it was no problem. I enjoyed being able to talk to students about how they liked sixth grade and I enjoyed working with the kids in such a small group setting.
For part of my day I had to go into a math class and help out. I know that I am no genius at math, but I can understand sixth grade math. The substitute that was in there was even confusing me! She was older, probably retired, and kept telling the students that she had a special way of teaching math. Ughhh, it just confused them! There were at least 5 RSP kids in the class who were totally lost the entire class period. I was so frustrated but I didn't want to tell her that kids didn't understand how she was teaching it because I would have felt like I was stepping on her toes.
Overall, it was a very good day.
For part of my day I had to go into a math class and help out. I know that I am no genius at math, but I can understand sixth grade math. The substitute that was in there was even confusing me! She was older, probably retired, and kept telling the students that she had a special way of teaching math. Ughhh, it just confused them! There were at least 5 RSP kids in the class who were totally lost the entire class period. I was so frustrated but I didn't want to tell her that kids didn't understand how she was teaching it because I would have felt like I was stepping on her toes.
Overall, it was a very good day.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Crimes
Testing kindergarteners this early in the year should be a crime. You're probably wondering how kindergarten work can be such a challenge to test, but believe me when I say IT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE EVER! I felt like I was talking to a wall half of the time. God bless all kindergarten teachers in the world. Seriously. They deserve a gift.
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Land of the Babes
I love the school I did my student teaching at. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I feel like staff members go there because they want to be there. Every time I step foot on campus I feel welcome. It is such a nice feeling.
My friend Katie is doing a long term sub but she had a meeting this morning so I covered for her class for a little while. They are a squirmy bunch but they are fun nonetheless. I am glad I was able to help out. On my way back to kindergarten I said hi to my friend Kristine. She told her class that she is the queen and I was her princess. All of the kids laughed and giggled at that statement. Later in the day I went back in the class. As soon as I walked in they all said, "Hi, Princess" or "Oh look, it is the princess!" So funny!
At this stage in kindergarten, I can't help but laugh at all of the chaos. It is so funny to watch kids try to sit still or focus on what is being taught. I feel like I am the most impatient teacher in all the land so I feel bad when I have to tell kids to hurry up. Letty always assures me that I am not a psycho impatient person though, which is always refreshing. I feel like too many funny things happened today and as I write this entry, I can't think of anything to write down!
I think what I like best but also get kind of frightened by at the same time is how brutally honest kindergarteners are. They always tell me when I look nice or if they like my shirt. What is going to happen in 30 years when I am a hideously fat teacher who wears moo-moos to work? Will they say, "Ms. H, your rolls are in the way of my learning..."? I hope not. Last week when I subbed for third grade Letty said students love me because I am the human barbie doll to kids due to the fact that I am always perky and excited... I hope I can stay that way throughout my journey as a teacher. (Letty, you are so sweet!) ;)
Quotes of the day:
1.)
(After I came back to third grade...)
Me: Let's take a quick quiz... Who remembers my name?
Student: Well, Mrs. Burke always calls you Ms. Hobbies...
2.)
Student: If you are the princess, who is your frog?
Me: My bf, duh!!!
Student: Ew, that's disgusting!
3.) (During share time)
Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Kindergartener: A six year old.
My friend Katie is doing a long term sub but she had a meeting this morning so I covered for her class for a little while. They are a squirmy bunch but they are fun nonetheless. I am glad I was able to help out. On my way back to kindergarten I said hi to my friend Kristine. She told her class that she is the queen and I was her princess. All of the kids laughed and giggled at that statement. Later in the day I went back in the class. As soon as I walked in they all said, "Hi, Princess" or "Oh look, it is the princess!" So funny!
At this stage in kindergarten, I can't help but laugh at all of the chaos. It is so funny to watch kids try to sit still or focus on what is being taught. I feel like I am the most impatient teacher in all the land so I feel bad when I have to tell kids to hurry up. Letty always assures me that I am not a psycho impatient person though, which is always refreshing. I feel like too many funny things happened today and as I write this entry, I can't think of anything to write down!
I think what I like best but also get kind of frightened by at the same time is how brutally honest kindergarteners are. They always tell me when I look nice or if they like my shirt. What is going to happen in 30 years when I am a hideously fat teacher who wears moo-moos to work? Will they say, "Ms. H, your rolls are in the way of my learning..."? I hope not. Last week when I subbed for third grade Letty said students love me because I am the human barbie doll to kids due to the fact that I am always perky and excited... I hope I can stay that way throughout my journey as a teacher. (Letty, you are so sweet!) ;)
Quotes of the day:
1.)
(After I came back to third grade...)
Me: Let's take a quick quiz... Who remembers my name?
Student: Well, Mrs. Burke always calls you Ms. Hobbies...
2.)
Student: If you are the princess, who is your frog?
Me: My bf, duh!!!
Student: Ew, that's disgusting!
3.) (During share time)
Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Kindergartener: A six year old.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Meet N Greet
I met the students I will be long term subbing for in March!!! So excited! For the most part the kids are pretty amazing. There is one little boy that I know will be a real challenge for me, but other than that, I am really excited for what is to come. At the end of the day the class asked if I was going to come back to their classroom... I wanted to say, "YUP! Ill be your teacher for two months and I almost pee my pants with excitement every time I think about it", but instead I told them that maybe one day I will be able to come back and stay a little longer ;).
This morning while getting dressed I was worried about sweating to death, but then it rained all day! It was kind of nice to be able to walk around without feeling disgusting from the heat, but at the same time being on inclement weather isn't fun for teachers OR students. The only good part about inclement weather was that I was able to get to know students a little better. I was secretly trying to memorize names today but with 30 kids and only one me, I was only able to memorize a select few.
I felt kind of bad for my kids today because I felt like a chicken with her head cut off. There was so much work to get done and I know I could have had a more successful day if I had been more organized throughout the day. I think I feel so bad because normally I am overly organized and today I just felt so off my game (boo). Tomorrow is a new day, though and Im sure I will keep things more organized in the future.
I had duty after school today and I ended up taking over crosswalk duty. As I was walking kids across the crosswalk, a man (probably my age) backed up from a parking spot into a big white truck. I saw the man in the big white truck begin to fume with anger and I thought I was going to have to call for some assistance, but the two calmly pulled over, got out of the car and exchanged information. I'm sure if the two were not at a school, the kid my age would have been screamed at by the older gentleman. Ahhh, scary.
This morning while getting dressed I was worried about sweating to death, but then it rained all day! It was kind of nice to be able to walk around without feeling disgusting from the heat, but at the same time being on inclement weather isn't fun for teachers OR students. The only good part about inclement weather was that I was able to get to know students a little better. I was secretly trying to memorize names today but with 30 kids and only one me, I was only able to memorize a select few.
I felt kind of bad for my kids today because I felt like a chicken with her head cut off. There was so much work to get done and I know I could have had a more successful day if I had been more organized throughout the day. I think I feel so bad because normally I am overly organized and today I just felt so off my game (boo). Tomorrow is a new day, though and Im sure I will keep things more organized in the future.
I had duty after school today and I ended up taking over crosswalk duty. As I was walking kids across the crosswalk, a man (probably my age) backed up from a parking spot into a big white truck. I saw the man in the big white truck begin to fume with anger and I thought I was going to have to call for some assistance, but the two calmly pulled over, got out of the car and exchanged information. I'm sure if the two were not at a school, the kid my age would have been screamed at by the older gentleman. Ahhh, scary.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
4th Grade
Matt's aunt called me this morning and told me that her sister needed a sub ASAP! I was really excited because I didn't think I was going to get called today.
Although today was a half day and I didn't get to spend all day with students, I can honestly say that this class was one of the most well behaved classes I have EVER worked with. Students were respectful and quiet. They asked questions by raising their hand or walking over to me. I am really glad that I was able to work with them today.
Tomorrow I am subbing for the class that I will be long terming for at the end of the year! I am so excited to meet them!!
Although today was a half day and I didn't get to spend all day with students, I can honestly say that this class was one of the most well behaved classes I have EVER worked with. Students were respectful and quiet. They asked questions by raising their hand or walking over to me. I am really glad that I was able to work with them today.
Tomorrow I am subbing for the class that I will be long terming for at the end of the year! I am so excited to meet them!!
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