Student Teaching

This semester I've been busy doing my student teaching. I'm in a 4th grade class and its definitely been a learning experience. Its a difficult group of kids and they try my patience each day. I don't think I had a teacher voice before this semester but I got one fast. At the beginning of this semester I told mike that if I don't have patience by the end of this semester then its likely that I'm never going to get it.

I only have one week left in my college career and here are some things that I've learned during the last 11 weeks...

1.My love for my students is why I do this. Some days they drove me crazy but at the end of the day I love them and I want them to succeed. This is sometimes what kept me going back.
2. The kids who frustrate me are also the ones who teach me the most.
3. Any child can learn!
4. I have one boy in my class with autism and while he challenges me on a daily basis...he is also one of my favorites. He is the sweetest boy in the class and I have never heard a more sincere thank you than when he thanks me for the help I give him. While he may not have a long attention span....he is incredibly smart and has a huge heart :)
5. I can project my voice to be quite loud when necessary.
6. You NEED a quiet signal in your classroom....otherwise it sounds like begging when you want them to be quiet.
7. Their is simply not enough time in a day to do everything I want to do....(I have good intentions though)
8. Flexibility is key to good teaching
9. If I'm happy and excited about a subject...it will likely rub off on my students.
10.Get to know your students
11. The older students get the less parents seem to visit the classroom to help.
12. Don't be afraid to try new things and take a risk
13. Everyone gets nervous when they are being observed no matter how long they've taught.
14. Teachers gossip a ton!
15. Let your students get up and move every now and then. Plan fun activities into your lessons.
16. I still love teaching and watching my students faces when they finally get it.
17. Give your students the opportunity to serve and teach each other.
18. I believe in second chances (let them make corrections and give partial credit back)
19. Love your students...its the only way to get through it sometimes

The most important thing that I've learned is that I can teach older students. I am perfectly capable of teaching older students but I am better suited to young children. I was able to do it but I didn't love it. Sometimes I had to be mean and it just wasn't me. I feel like this is important to learn though but I am curious to see if it was just this class or 4th grade in general?

Overall its been a great experience and I've learned a lot and enjoyed more days than not. I really will miss the kids....(they're pretty sad about it too)

Christmas in Washington

So, first of all...yes I do realize that its the middle of march but this post is more for me to remember this past Christmas. Mike and I decided to go to Washington to visit his family this year. We had a great time! Here are some of the highlights.

I finally got to see Mt. Rainier! You have to understand that every single time before this that we were in Washington, I was never able to see that mountain! Its huge so its pretty amazing that it was able to hide from me all the time but this time I was able to see it and I was pretty excited.




We also got to go up to the top of the Space Needle! Mikes dad, Tony, Max, Mike and I went into Seattle one day and our first stop was the space needle. I thought we were just going to look at it but we were surprised to go up. It was a little chilly but a great view!


Max and I at the top of the space needle!


Max wanted to look through each of these binoculars at the top of the space needle! This time uncle mike held him up to take a look.


Max and I checking out how small the cars were from the top.









Another activity we participated in was Zoo Lights! It was sprinkling a little but it was great to spend time together and it was really pretty.







Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without tons of sweets! The girls spent quite a bit of Christmas Eve in the kitchen cooking. With so many people's traditions we had a lot to make and eat!

Max and Aunt Stacey making chocolate covered oreo's!








Our family nativity :) (Mike was Mary's donkey and a shepherd)




Christmas morning was great! We had a huge sleepover the night before and went to church together that morning. Then we came home and opened gifts together. We also finally got a family picture with everyone in it!