Learning

I am learning SO much during this crazy process called student teaching. WOW! This has been an eye opener for me! Simple things can make a train jump the track. Simple things must be thought through to have the best learning opportunities provided for the students. Students do not listen :-) You can make directions clear as day and they can still be ignored. I care more about my student's grades than they do! But because I care, there are times they start to take interest. I love when a student decides to do it just because they know it will make me happy. This tells me that I'm making good relationships. Sometimes a student will perform just because they respect you and what you are trying to teach them. I am happy when they want to learn for the sake of learning, but realistically that isn't always the case. Having them try because they know their effort will be recognized is HUGE.

I love teaching. I love that I'm learning so much EVERY day. I hate my mistakes but realize that I must make them to be a better teacher. It is strange to have your cooperating teacher watching and allowing you to make a mistake -- she allows it because she knows that is how I will learn. Being a student teacher is humbling. You are standing there naked in front of your cooperating teacher letting all of your flaws show. The great thing is that if you have a good cooperating teacher you will learn to sew your own garments so that you will never be as naked again.

I'm so glad I have a good cooperating teacher! She is a great teacher -- I hope I'm half as good when I get my own classroom permanently!

Now if I could just get excited about grading these essays!