Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving approaching in just a couple short days, I suppose I ought to think and figure out what I'm thankful for this year.
So, what am I thankful for this year?
The first thing that comes immediately to my mind is my time in the classroom. I spent twelve days in a fourth grade classroom with 11 amazing nine and ten year olds. It was a truly amazing experience, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to be in their classroom. These kids made me feel so old at times. They were so frustrating with the fact that they never seemed to have a pencil when they needed one. Being quiet in the hallway was pure torture for them, and doing independent reading was worse than walking in the hallway. And I'm pretty sure the sentence I repeated the most while I was there was "Your shoes need to be tied." Well either that or "I hear too many voices! I shouldn't be hearing your voice right now." But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being in the classroom. I always feel like I grow so much, as a person and as a teacher, when I spend time in the classroom. At the end of my Block I experience, I felt that I was more confident than I had been. But now? At the end of Block II? I truly do feel like an entirely different person in front of the classroom. I am so, so, so much more confident. I know that I still need to improve on writing lesson plans, but I've improved leaps and bounds on that as well. And I feel like I've learned more of how to talk to older children. Every experience I've had in the classroom has been in the early childhood - kindergarten or first grade. When I found out that I was in fourth for this semester, I was terrified. I didn't know how to talk to older kids. I wasn't sure I knew how to teach older kids. But really, it wasn't bad. It was actually a really great experience. Right now, I can say that I still don't want to teach older students. But you never do know, and I may end up changing my mind in the future. I am so beyond thankful that my wonderful mentor teacher requested me back for my second student teaching placement next semester. I will miss my wonderful young fourth graders, but I will be with them again from March until May. And for that, I am so thankful.
I'm thankful for my friends - the ones who aren't still mentally stuck in middle school. I lost a close friend recently because of stupid reasons. Truth is I do still care about him. And truth is part of me hopes that someday we might be able to be friends again, despite the fact that I don't ever see that happening. But you know what? If he's going to be stuck in middle school, I don't have time for him in my life. I was sad, I was angry, but now? I'm just done. And I'm glad to be done. But my other friends? I love them and I'm so blessed to have them in my life. My friends up at Potsdam were there for me, with hugs and listening ears, when my dad died last month. My friends supported me and loved me because I needed them, and they knew that. And I would do the same for them. I can honestly say that I don't know where I would be right now without them.
Do I give the corny answer at this point? The scripted answer everyone expects? Because I am. I'm thankful for my family. My mom is the most amazing, strongest person in my life. My (pretty-much) step-dad sees Nikki and I as his daughters, and I love that. I havethree four fantastic siblings who mean the absolute world to me. Nikki and I are still going down to Alabama for Christmas because our step-mom invited us to still go down there. My family is so important to me.
And Australia. I didn't get picked to student teach in Australia, but I am still going there this summer. In the Spring 2014 semester, I am taking a study abroad course. In the spring, those of us who were accepted into the program will meet to learn about Australian life and culture, and learn what it will be like when we go to Australia. Then, in the summer of 2014, I will be spending three and a half weeks abroad in Australia. I'm thankful that I was considered for, and accepted into, the study abroad course. I have a page set up on GoFundMe where people can, if they so choose, donate to help me to be able to afford to go overseas. People, some of them complete strangers, have donated a total of $110 so far. That blows my mind - that people who don't know me at all have donated. I am so thankful, so very, very thankful, for this.
So, what am I thankful for this year?
The first thing that comes immediately to my mind is my time in the classroom. I spent twelve days in a fourth grade classroom with 11 amazing nine and ten year olds. It was a truly amazing experience, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to be in their classroom. These kids made me feel so old at times. They were so frustrating with the fact that they never seemed to have a pencil when they needed one. Being quiet in the hallway was pure torture for them, and doing independent reading was worse than walking in the hallway. And I'm pretty sure the sentence I repeated the most while I was there was "Your shoes need to be tied." Well either that or "I hear too many voices! I shouldn't be hearing your voice right now." But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being in the classroom. I always feel like I grow so much, as a person and as a teacher, when I spend time in the classroom. At the end of my Block I experience, I felt that I was more confident than I had been. But now? At the end of Block II? I truly do feel like an entirely different person in front of the classroom. I am so, so, so much more confident. I know that I still need to improve on writing lesson plans, but I've improved leaps and bounds on that as well. And I feel like I've learned more of how to talk to older children. Every experience I've had in the classroom has been in the early childhood - kindergarten or first grade. When I found out that I was in fourth for this semester, I was terrified. I didn't know how to talk to older kids. I wasn't sure I knew how to teach older kids. But really, it wasn't bad. It was actually a really great experience. Right now, I can say that I still don't want to teach older students. But you never do know, and I may end up changing my mind in the future. I am so beyond thankful that my wonderful mentor teacher requested me back for my second student teaching placement next semester. I will miss my wonderful young fourth graders, but I will be with them again from March until May. And for that, I am so thankful.
I'm thankful for my friends - the ones who aren't still mentally stuck in middle school. I lost a close friend recently because of stupid reasons. Truth is I do still care about him. And truth is part of me hopes that someday we might be able to be friends again, despite the fact that I don't ever see that happening. But you know what? If he's going to be stuck in middle school, I don't have time for him in my life. I was sad, I was angry, but now? I'm just done. And I'm glad to be done. But my other friends? I love them and I'm so blessed to have them in my life. My friends up at Potsdam were there for me, with hugs and listening ears, when my dad died last month. My friends supported me and loved me because I needed them, and they knew that. And I would do the same for them. I can honestly say that I don't know where I would be right now without them.
Do I give the corny answer at this point? The scripted answer everyone expects? Because I am. I'm thankful for my family. My mom is the most amazing, strongest person in my life. My (pretty-much) step-dad sees Nikki and I as his daughters, and I love that. I have
And Australia. I didn't get picked to student teach in Australia, but I am still going there this summer. In the Spring 2014 semester, I am taking a study abroad course. In the spring, those of us who were accepted into the program will meet to learn about Australian life and culture, and learn what it will be like when we go to Australia. Then, in the summer of 2014, I will be spending three and a half weeks abroad in Australia. I'm thankful that I was considered for, and accepted into, the study abroad course. I have a page set up on GoFundMe where people can, if they so choose, donate to help me to be able to afford to go overseas. People, some of them complete strangers, have donated a total of $110 so far. That blows my mind - that people who don't know me at all have donated. I am so thankful, so very, very thankful, for this.
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