From One Place to Another

Yikes! I didn't realize it had been a month since I last posted. As a quick snapshot of my past three weeks, March 3-8 was my last week at E. Middle School; 11-15 was technically my first week at my second placement but it was Spring Break; and 18-23 was my first official week back at P. High School. 

My second placement is back with my CTA teacher, Mr. Cosine, who I have been with since my sophomore year. With this relationship as well as student relationships established, I was able to teach two periods of Math 1 on Tuesday and Thursday! Granted it was more directing from one activity to the next and checking over answers, but it was still something and it was much better than observing the whole time. This week I will be starting full time tomorrow! Nothing like starting off with a bang. It has been interesting to transition back to the high school because I am having difficulty re-instating my role with some of the students I've seen for the past two years as a student teacher as opposed to an observer or helper within the classroom. Thankfully the Freshmen class, Math 1, I only know a couple students so I am able to start fresh with them. They are also a good buffer between what I had been experiencing--7th graders--and who I will also have to teach--11th graders. It has certainly been fun to see both the physical and cognitive differences between all three age groups. Although I miss some of the (odd) personalities of the 7th graders, I am looking forward to the higher maths and ability to ask and answer more difficult questions. 

As far as my last week at E. Middle School, it was hard to leave. A good chunk of the students verbally said they didn't want me to leave which spoke well to my ability to teach them in the classroom and the relationships I had made with them. On the last day, March 8, it was a bittersweet day because it was also my birthday. That being said, I made my students some pretzel treats for my birthday but I also gave them some pins that read "you are loved" as a going away present so as to remember that I truly loved them and was blessed by them letting me teach. While I gave gifts, I also received gifts too! My cooperating teacher gave me my first piece to place on my desk when I get a classroom of my own--Minnie Mouse holding a 2+2=4 chalkboard. Then from my students, two classes wrote me cards, one girl gave me some chocolates, and three students wrote me personalized letters. Can you say I felt loved too? (letters on previous post) I certainly did. 




Thankfully, it is according to God's plan that I will be back. But more details on that at another time!