I only have two more weeks left of student teaching!!!
I know that I am the type of person that would love to teach upper grades, but I can honestly say that I am going to miss my kids in a couple of weeks. I think this experience has helped me grow a lot and I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with them. Something they say or do makes me smile everyday, and smiling is certainly the best medicine if you ask me.
Quote of the Day:
Student: "I'm strong enough to eat chili, Miss. Hobbs."
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Arizona
Well, I know my loyal blog viewers have been patiently waiting for an update on the Arizona interview, so here you have it!
Matt and I got to the airport at 5:30 and our plane left at 6:20. By 7:40 we were getting off the plane into Phoenix. This might sound a little silly, because I am such a girly daydreamer, but I always wondered when Matt and I would fly on a plane together, and now that we have, it can be crossed off our bucket list. =)
Anyway, after we got the rental car and took off, we drove through Mesa and found my school in Gilbert. I HATE driving cars that aren't my little Acura Integra, so luckily Matt took over on the driving. After we found my school we went on a search for his in a cute little city called Queen Creek. We got a little bit lost but finally found it. It took about 30 minutes from my school to his, which isn't too bad.
We looked at apartments that we absolutely LOVED and were in our price range, so if we are offered the job and accept it, hopefully we will be able to move there. Then we ate at a local restaurant and sat in the car patiently waiting for our interviews.
Matt dropped me off at my school at 12:15 so that he had enough time to go to his site. I waited until 1:00 when two principals and an administrator called me into the interview room. They asked me some general questions and then they asked me to step out of the room for a minute (awkward!). After they called me back into the room they handed me a paper and said that I would be teaching a lesson to 2nd graders. They sent me into the principal's office and gave me a couple minutes to prepare. I had no idea what standards I was focusing on, where to start, or how to present in a way that was effective for the evaluators, but I went with it.
The lesson I was teaching was a reading lesson about a rich man and a poor man. At La Verne we were always taught to introduce the lesson in an interesting way, so when I got to the classroom, I began by having a discussion with students about whether or not they'd rather be rich or poor. Obviously, all of the students said they would be rich. Then we discussed some vocabulary words and finally, students read the story aloud. After reading, we discussed whether or not students would still rather be rich. Then I said thank you and left. It was very strange, I have never heard of teachers that are interviewing actually going into the classroom to teach a lesson to 30 kids.
After my interview I observed a third grade classroom while I waited for Matt. It was so interesting to see 3rd graders other than my own. I felt like I was watching robots. All of the children at the school sat perfectly still and were silent until they were asked to speak. At one point, I remember sitting in the room just thinking about how much I yearned to be back at Solorio listening to my 3rd graders and kinders talking about something silly while still proving to me that they are learning the information.
After the interview Matt and I parked under a tree and attempted to take a nap. We failed. Finally, at around 6:00 we gave up on sleeping in the car and drove back to the airport. It was 106 degrees at 6:20. SO HOT! We waited in the airport until 9:30 when our flight took us home.
WHAT A DAY!
Thanks for all of your love and support.
Matt and I got to the airport at 5:30 and our plane left at 6:20. By 7:40 we were getting off the plane into Phoenix. This might sound a little silly, because I am such a girly daydreamer, but I always wondered when Matt and I would fly on a plane together, and now that we have, it can be crossed off our bucket list. =)
Anyway, after we got the rental car and took off, we drove through Mesa and found my school in Gilbert. I HATE driving cars that aren't my little Acura Integra, so luckily Matt took over on the driving. After we found my school we went on a search for his in a cute little city called Queen Creek. We got a little bit lost but finally found it. It took about 30 minutes from my school to his, which isn't too bad.
We looked at apartments that we absolutely LOVED and were in our price range, so if we are offered the job and accept it, hopefully we will be able to move there. Then we ate at a local restaurant and sat in the car patiently waiting for our interviews.
Matt dropped me off at my school at 12:15 so that he had enough time to go to his site. I waited until 1:00 when two principals and an administrator called me into the interview room. They asked me some general questions and then they asked me to step out of the room for a minute (awkward!). After they called me back into the room they handed me a paper and said that I would be teaching a lesson to 2nd graders. They sent me into the principal's office and gave me a couple minutes to prepare. I had no idea what standards I was focusing on, where to start, or how to present in a way that was effective for the evaluators, but I went with it.
The lesson I was teaching was a reading lesson about a rich man and a poor man. At La Verne we were always taught to introduce the lesson in an interesting way, so when I got to the classroom, I began by having a discussion with students about whether or not they'd rather be rich or poor. Obviously, all of the students said they would be rich. Then we discussed some vocabulary words and finally, students read the story aloud. After reading, we discussed whether or not students would still rather be rich. Then I said thank you and left. It was very strange, I have never heard of teachers that are interviewing actually going into the classroom to teach a lesson to 30 kids.
After my interview I observed a third grade classroom while I waited for Matt. It was so interesting to see 3rd graders other than my own. I felt like I was watching robots. All of the children at the school sat perfectly still and were silent until they were asked to speak. At one point, I remember sitting in the room just thinking about how much I yearned to be back at Solorio listening to my 3rd graders and kinders talking about something silly while still proving to me that they are learning the information.
After the interview Matt and I parked under a tree and attempted to take a nap. We failed. Finally, at around 6:00 we gave up on sleeping in the car and drove back to the airport. It was 106 degrees at 6:20. SO HOT! We waited in the airport until 9:30 when our flight took us home.
WHAT A DAY!
Thanks for all of your love and support.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hump Day
I am so glad today is Wednesday!!!
My kinders are at the stage when they must tattle on everything their neighbor is doing... "Miss. Hobbs, he is running." ..."Miss. Hobbs, she is sitting next to so and so" ..."Miss. Hobbs he keeps looking at me while I color." I want to yell, "SUCK IT UP KID!" but I don't because that is mean, and I am not mean to kinders... I would say it to my third graders though... HAHA.
I subbed today while Letty was at a meeting. They are so talkative when she isn't around, but I enjoy my one-on-one time with them. I have had really bad allergies this week and today I started to lose my voice while I was trying to get them to be quiet. I'm sure I sounded like a squeaky crazy lady, but we made it through the day successfully.
A little kid in my class has been giving me a hard time lately. When he got in trouble for not following directions today, he started to growl at me! It totally freaked me out... I had to do a double take just to make sure I actually heard him growl. His brother was in my 3rd grade class and when I told the older brother that my kinder had to pull his clip down today, the older brother said, "Why are you being mean to Miss. Hobbs? She is the best teacher... be nice to her." AWWWWW... my little heart melted. I just love my third graders.
Two boys picked a flower for me today. They are definitely trying to give Matt a run for his money ;)
My kinders are at the stage when they must tattle on everything their neighbor is doing... "Miss. Hobbs, he is running." ..."Miss. Hobbs, she is sitting next to so and so" ..."Miss. Hobbs he keeps looking at me while I color." I want to yell, "SUCK IT UP KID!" but I don't because that is mean, and I am not mean to kinders... I would say it to my third graders though... HAHA.
I subbed today while Letty was at a meeting. They are so talkative when she isn't around, but I enjoy my one-on-one time with them. I have had really bad allergies this week and today I started to lose my voice while I was trying to get them to be quiet. I'm sure I sounded like a squeaky crazy lady, but we made it through the day successfully.
A little kid in my class has been giving me a hard time lately. When he got in trouble for not following directions today, he started to growl at me! It totally freaked me out... I had to do a double take just to make sure I actually heard him growl. His brother was in my 3rd grade class and when I told the older brother that my kinder had to pull his clip down today, the older brother said, "Why are you being mean to Miss. Hobbs? She is the best teacher... be nice to her." AWWWWW... my little heart melted. I just love my third graders.
Two boys picked a flower for me today. They are definitely trying to give Matt a run for his money ;)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Monday
Monday is not a fun day.
Nothing exciting happened at all... I dread Monday and Thursday morning class centers because they have the most hideously annoying children in the groups that I work with. I swear this morning this child talked because he liked the idea of feeling like his mouth could open and close. I stayed calm though, but in my head I was on fire.
My throat is super sore today which is a problem considering my interview is on Friday. Please don't let me be sick during this week!
I need to be better before Wednesday, though, because I am subbing (yay).
Nothing exciting happened at all... I dread Monday and Thursday morning class centers because they have the most hideously annoying children in the groups that I work with. I swear this morning this child talked because he liked the idea of feeling like his mouth could open and close. I stayed calm though, but in my head I was on fire.
My throat is super sore today which is a problem considering my interview is on Friday. Please don't let me be sick during this week!
I need to be better before Wednesday, though, because I am subbing (yay).
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Beat It
I have had "Beat It" stuck in my head since Thursday's choir performance. I hope I don't bust out singing during church today...
I cannot believe Matt and I will be in Arizona for our interview in five days. I will be saying more prayers than usual today. Any prayers from my fellow readers would be great. Please pray that we both are offered the job in Gilbert.
Have a great weekend, friends!
I cannot believe Matt and I will be in Arizona for our interview in five days. I will be saying more prayers than usual today. Any prayers from my fellow readers would be great. Please pray that we both are offered the job in Gilbert.
Have a great weekend, friends!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Rain, Wind, and Hail, OH MY!
Mother Nature was not listening when I told her to stop feeding the kids crack. In fact, she upgraded to heroin. Not only was it raining today, but it hailed and had a little bit a thunder at the end of the day. Ughhh. After reading buddies we practically ran back to the classroom because the hail came pourin' down. Don't worry though, we made it.
Letty and I went to Panera today. I saw a mom of one of my third graders there and as soon as I walked up to her she said that her son missed me and talks about me all of the time. This student is definitely one of my favorites, so when I got back I went to visit the class. The poor kid had to end up getting a hard cast on his arm. It makes me sad. He gave me a one-armed hug today and squeezed my neck so tight I started to choke. It was pretty funny.
During play time today a little girl made me a diamond to put on my finger. The big joke with me and a few of the teachers is that my favorite shape is a diamond because I want Matt to put one on my finger. So now all of the kids know that my favorite shape is a diamond. The little girl is so cute. I just love her.
I have been thinking a lot about questions that I will be asked during my interview. I have a feeling that they will ask me to name weaknesses and strengths that I have. I feel like I can become too emotionally involved in the kids lives that I have. If I hear that my students are upset about something, I feel like I need to make sure they are ok. No other student teachers check on their kids all the time like I do with my third graders. Is being too attached to these kids a negative trait, or a positive? I think I have been going into 3rd grade less than normal so I won't be super annoying, but I still go in often. I need a 3rd grade fix. Today I was thinking about how they are soon going to be in 4th grade and my kinders are going to be in 1st! It is crazy to think that they are going to grow up and forget all about me. I wish that with classes like my third graders, I can take them all up to fourth grade together, and be their teacher... then take them all the 5th grade and be their fifth grade teacher. I don't want them to forget about me. I know I will never forget about them.
Quote of the day:
My funny student from third grade said this to me today...
Student: Gosh, Ms. Hobbs sure eats a lot of chocolate.
Me: ...Are you calling me fat?
Student: No.... not with those things.
I was too frightened to ask which "things" he was referring to so I just laughed and shook my head.
Letty and I went to Panera today. I saw a mom of one of my third graders there and as soon as I walked up to her she said that her son missed me and talks about me all of the time. This student is definitely one of my favorites, so when I got back I went to visit the class. The poor kid had to end up getting a hard cast on his arm. It makes me sad. He gave me a one-armed hug today and squeezed my neck so tight I started to choke. It was pretty funny.
During play time today a little girl made me a diamond to put on my finger. The big joke with me and a few of the teachers is that my favorite shape is a diamond because I want Matt to put one on my finger. So now all of the kids know that my favorite shape is a diamond. The little girl is so cute. I just love her.
I have been thinking a lot about questions that I will be asked during my interview. I have a feeling that they will ask me to name weaknesses and strengths that I have. I feel like I can become too emotionally involved in the kids lives that I have. If I hear that my students are upset about something, I feel like I need to make sure they are ok. No other student teachers check on their kids all the time like I do with my third graders. Is being too attached to these kids a negative trait, or a positive? I think I have been going into 3rd grade less than normal so I won't be super annoying, but I still go in often. I need a 3rd grade fix. Today I was thinking about how they are soon going to be in 4th grade and my kinders are going to be in 1st! It is crazy to think that they are going to grow up and forget all about me. I wish that with classes like my third graders, I can take them all up to fourth grade together, and be their teacher... then take them all the 5th grade and be their fifth grade teacher. I don't want them to forget about me. I know I will never forget about them.
Quote of the day:
My funny student from third grade said this to me today...
Student: Gosh, Ms. Hobbs sure eats a lot of chocolate.
Me: ...Are you calling me fat?
Student: No.... not with those things.
I was too frightened to ask which "things" he was referring to so I just laughed and shook my head.
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