I have gotten e-mails from two students since yesterday afternoon, after school. Spring break just started... come on sweetie-pies, Miss Hurst needs a break.
AND, it's very weird signing a reply e-mail with "Miss Hurst," rather than Julie Hurst. It's going to take some time.
I love teaching fifth grade. Love it, Love it, Love it. I love what they learn in fifth grade. I love teaching math, science, reading, AND social studies. I love it all. I love the age group. They're old enough to appreciate engaging, hands-on lessons and will really get involved in them. I love that they think I'm sort-of cool, but they also know I'm teacher.. not friend. That's been well-established since day one. The only time during the day when I will talk to them as a "21-year-old" is recess, when they need advice for dealing with friendships. After recess, I'm teacher again. I love that the boys all have dreams of playing professional football, and the girls all want to be teachers. I love that those students who are receiving accomodations for Special Ed. don't know they're different and their classmates don't either. I love lunchtime when it doesn't matter who is sitting at the tables.. the kids just love each other. It makes me sad to think that as they grow older, their lunch table friends will change, based on who is involved in which activities and what classes they're in each day.
I screamed at the students one day. They were not listening to me, my teacher was having surgery, the sub was not helping at all, and I was at my breaking point. It scared them... three started crying because they all try to "impress" me with their good behavior and good work so much, and they knew they disappointed me. I haven't screamed since.. I haven't had to. They've been incredible every since. Two have asked to be placed in "my sixth grade class at Milam" next year. :) (Their hope is for me to be teaching 6th grade at Milam... I haven't even begun distributing resumes & applications so no job yet.)
It's been such an amazing experience. My favorite part of the experience is math.. I am a case study for one of my professors from last semester. She's observing me and keeping up with how I teach math this semester and next year (during my first year of teaching), and she and another professor are co-writing a publication based on first year teachers and how they teach math. I am so excited because math is my favorite, and it's fun working with those two professors.
Student teaching has def. been a positive experience. It's been stressful beyond belief -- everything is due at the very same time -- but I have learned so much about classroom management and being professional. I know I'm much more prepared for next year than I was before the experience.
When Spring Break ends, I will teach a ten-day lesson unit on the food pyramid and the effects of starvation in the poverty-stricken countries of the world. The students are really excited. I interviewed them last week to find out what they already know about the lessons. One said his favorite vegetable was "banana," and another said the countries that are poverty-stricken and starving are, "Asia, New Orleans, and Africa." I have a lot to teach them, but it's going to be fun! I'll post pictures when all is said and done.
After those ten days, I'll begin sending out resumes & applications to district offices and school principals, beginning with Tupelo schools and working my way throughout north Mississippi. I'm thinking I'll probably go as far south as Rankin County and as far north as Marshall County. I'll have three BIG projects due that week for my Ole Miss classroom management class, my portfolio will be due, and... I'll just ride out the remainder of the semester with student teaching. I think my last week, I'm supposed to observe other classrooms at Lawndale and check out other grade-levels. I'm planning to observe a Challenge class, a fourth grade, sixth grade math, sixth grade English, and a fifth grade class across the hall from my class.
I have so much to do, but I know it's so good for me. :) Spring Break will be good prep time for all that is to come.
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