Donut Party

I bribed my kids with a donut party if they brought their permissions slip back for my TPA lesson. I kept reminding the kids that if they did not follow directions they would not receive their donut.... so they were pretty well behaved.



My fieldwork supervisor came and observed me today. Before she came I gave a long speech about how they need to be on their best behavior for Mrs. Morris (Judy). When she came, they were doing a wonderful job participating on their carpet square UNTIL a little boy let out the LONGEST and LOUDEST fart you could possibly imagine. Of course, being kindergartners, students all laughed and made fun of him, and I couldn't help but let out a little chuckle too. As soon as he tooted, he looked at me and smiled. It was pretty funny, but I wish he hadn't done it while I was being observed.

As soon as I had a chance to talk to Judy about my lesson, the first thing she asked me was if my eye had twitched yet today. I started to laugh and told her that it usually begins to twitch at the end of the day. She could tell that I had an easier time connecting with the upper grades, but said my lesson was great with the kidners, so that is always nice to hear. I love Judy. I really couldn't have asked for a better fieldwork supervisor. She always gives positive comments about my lessons and is always willing to help if I have questions. Earlier this year I had trouble passing a test I need in order to get my credential. Judy helped me prepare for the test and helped me pass! You would be one lucky person if you had the opportunity to meet her.

Quote of the day:
Me: Why do you like your girlfriend?
Boy: Because I like her.
Me: Why, silly goose?
Boy: Because she feels my muscles and says I'm strong. (Rolls up his sleeves, flexes, and points to his muscle.)
Me: Oh wow, very strong.
Boy: (Smiles and nods his head.)

Week 2-Day 2- Kindergarten

Ask anyone and they will tell you that I am a freak about planning ahead and being organized. The world of Cassie cannot function without organization and planning. Although I am not as far along as I would like to be, I can say that I have finished writing almost all of my lesson plans for student teaching up until spring break! Woohoo.

I taught another lesson on shapes and which types of shapes roll, slide, and stack. The students loved being able to experiment using manipulatives which is always fun to see. During snack time they were even seeing which food stacked, rolled, and slid. That made me feel warm on the inside =)

During play time, several little girls picked dandelions and gave them to me as a bouquet. I told them they could all be my flower girls at my wedding and they laughed. Letty, my master teacher, said that I have officially won the girls over if they are bringing me flowers. They are pretty cute.



During centers a couple interesting things happened today. First, a little boy started crying as he was writing his letter to the "Tiger Cub of the Week" which is basically just a student that is picked each week to share information about himself and stand at the front of the line. When I asked what was wrong he said he was sad because he has never been tiger cub. Poor fella. During my afternoon class, a kid ran up to me and informed me that he had diarrhea all day yesterday and continued to inform me that he had to get shots in his leg and arm to help him. TMI? Yes, but I used hand sanitizer like a million times more today than ever before and stocked up on emergenC for added vitamins.

Nostalgia

You know how parents say that they love all their children the same, but we all know they have a favorite? Well that is how I feel. If a kindergarten student asked which class I loved more, I'd totally say that I loved them both the same, but deep down, I think we all know who I would pick.

I find myself trying to find reasons to walk over to visit my third grade classroom (Sorry for bugging Kristine). I know I shouldn't, but I feel like I need to hold onto them a little bit longer. I don't want them to forget about me. Today before school I walked to my car and two of the boys from third grade saw me. Together we cracked sarcastic jokes. I feel like my sarcasm will make a kinder cry, and no one wants that. I have serious issues with not being able to see my kids all the time. I guess they aren't really mine anymore, but I am going to pretend like they are. =)

I think all of the student teachers and I are having a hard time adjusting to our new classrooms. I have talked to a few of them and we all miss our old class. I understand we need to experience upper and lower grades, but it really does stink.

Kristine sent me pictures of me and my third graders from the last time I subbed. I decided to share a picture of me and one of my favorite students. He has such a big heart, and his mom is fun to talk to too. =)

Week 1- Day 3- Kindergarten

Kindergarten really does have the cutest kids.

Quote of the Day:
Student: I went to the cemetery to visit my grandpa last weekend.
Teacher: Did your grandpa pass away?
Student: Yeah... I really don't like going to visit grandpa though, he never really does much.

Week 1- Day 2- Kindergarten

I survived day two.

I am having a really hard time adjusting to this fast paced day! I am still starving by the time snack time rolls around because my lunch time is at 9:30. I am also having a really hard time getting used to centers.

If you don't know what centers are, it basically consists of students being split into groups of 5 or 6. Each group goes to a different table for a half hour and completes an activity relating to the content standards. I think I just love whole group instruction, so teaching the same thing during centers all week long is getting old. I don't know how high school teachers teach the same thing for 5 periods a day. I think once I am able to make my own lesson plans for centers, I won't be feeling so weird about the whole thing.

I am getting to know my students better which is really enjoyable. It is funny to see cliques already forming in kindergarten. Today during snack time a bunch of girls and I sat together and discussed how we like each others hair and we talked about how we like to play with nail polish, etc. When I got up and sat with the boys, they talked about how they all didn't like girls but had girlfriends and how much they loved them. One little boy, a five year old, thought he was super rad because his girlfriend is a six year old that goes to a different school.

After school we had a staff meeting. I enjoy seeing all of the other student teachers from my program. When I taught third grade, my friend Katie was right across the hall from me and we spent our morning together talking and hanging out. This morning she text me and told me she accidentally walked to our old student teaching stomping grounds. I got slightly nostalgic thinking about it.

Tomorrow is day three!

Quotes of the day:
1.
Teacher: Where would you go in your hot wheels?
Student: A concert.
Teacher: Who would you see in concert?
Student: Diana Ross

2.
Student: Miss. Hobbs, my mom says "love" a lot.
Me: Does she say "I love you" to you?
Student: Yes, and I always say it back. I love girls.
Me: Oh, what a good son!
Student: Yeah, I love all girls... especially Ava and Madison!

Week 1- Day 1- Kindergarten

Well I made it through the first day of student teaching kindergarten! I am pooped! Who knew 32 kinders could wear you out so much? Yup, I said 32. 32 kindergarteners in one class. I about peed myself when I heard that. I only had 30 when I was student teaching third grade. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be though.

My master teacher seems pretty amazing. I feel bad because I am always a little shy at first with people I don't really know. I felt like I was being such an awkward llama when we were getting to know each other, so my goal for tomorrow is to try not to be so shy.

Everything in kindergarten seems like it moves at such a fast pace. The lessons are quick, the students are quick, the day is quick. I think it is going to take me a while to get used to. I am not quite sure how I am going to teach lessons to students because they are so quick. I am sure everything will work out though, it always seems to.

I am teaching afternoon kindergarten so in the morning we prep and then help out the morning kindergarten teacher. My lunch time is at 9:30 in the morning!!! Eating chicken at 9:30 in the morning was not the most exciting experience of my life so I had to reevaluate my meals for tomorrow. I packed a bunch of little snacks to eat throughout the day so I won't be starving by the time school is out.

I am beginning to remember a few of the student's names. One little boy reminds me of a kid I pictured as being a character in the book The Hunger Games so he will be easy for me to remember. Every time he smiles at me his chubby cheeks turn bright red. PRECIOUS.

There are two boys in my class that are identical twins. Today they wore the EXACT same thing too. My master teacher told me that she recognizes the difference between the boys because one of the boy's eyebrows are lighter than his brother's. I don't know how helpful that is because they never sit still long enough for me to get a glance of their eyebrows. One day I will get it.

After school a little boy from my third grade class ran into my kinder class and gave me a hug. I guess he knew that I started my first day in kinder. Seeing him was so wonderful. His hug made my day.

I think I keep comparing kinder to third grade. I need to stop that. The two classes are completely different. Although I loveeeee my third graders I need to make more of an effort to get to know my kinders or I am not going to have the great experience that I want. I just need to figure out a way to stop connecting the two classes.

Quote of the Day:
Student 1: "Bikes are fast."
Student 2: "Jesus is fast."

4th Grade

I only subbed one day this week and it was for a fourth grade class.

I subbed half day and as soon as I entered I could tell that the class was extremely energetic. Students were performing a play for their teacher about the outcome of the Grammy's from last Sunday.

The teacher seemed like she was really nice and explained everything I must complete with the kids. She also told me that there was a little boy with aspergers. For those of you that don't know, aspergers is a form of high functioning autism. Those that have aspergers are often VERY intelligent but lack social skills. This little boy had all of the math lessons in the book memorized along with a timeline of when each section in the book should be completed! I couldn't believe my eyes. He started to explain lessons in the book they hadn't even learned yet and told me the date of when they will complete it on. Wouldn't it be great if we could all memorize that much information?

I think that people too often focus on the negative impacts of a person that has special needs. Why not focus on their gifts? Yes, this student may lack social skills, but he is brilliant in other ways. I wish that we as humans could be more understanding and accepting of those that have special needs.

I start student teaching kindergarten on Tuesday for 10 weeks. I am feeling a bit nervous because I haven't had the greatest experience subbing for kinder. I guess we will find out. Prayers would be greatly appreciated.