My first week......

of my illustrious career - over!

Teaching (more like observing) 5th grade was actually a blast.

I really liked it.....and I think - when I get more used to things, I'm really gonna like it!

Yeah!........it would not be good at this point if I hated it.

1st day - I did an activity based on my science unit - traits, and I learned everybody's name.

I now know ALL of them......and I am so glad. It is hard to teach when you don't know anybody's name, I did that last quarter, way too many times.

2nd day - I taught science. I always get assigned science. Does any regular teacher like to teach science? Twice, I've been introduced to a mentor teacher , who immediately asked ........."uuuuh - how would you feel about teaching a month long science unit, and how'bout starting on Monday ?" I gulp - and say okay (do I look like a scientist?).

My science lesson went great, and I learned how to use the elmo, and I KNEW everybody's name.

3rd day - My mentor teacher had "something come up" (she really did), and had to leave me alone with the class. No warning. I just told myself that I was a 43 year old mother of five - and I knew exactly what I was doing - hmm. I went ahead and did the spelling bee that was scheduled for 11:30 - fun. My "use the word in a sentence " sentences, were exactly like the one I just wrote. Luckily, no one seemed to care.

Next, - I taught gym. LHM!!! 6th graders and 5th graders - at least 40 of them.......sliding all over and paying no attention to me - whatsoever!
I screamed my guts out for 40 minutes straight.

Hint: Don't ever take on this project your 3rd day of student teaching - bad idea for self esteem and positive thinking, and "love of the game".

4th day - I taught another science lesson with well behaved 5th graders. Who knew? I also discovered the teacher salad bar. I'm not really good at preparing my lunch in the morning and , school lunch is really "quite yucky" - but I love a good salad - so that will work for me. Too bad, I had already eaten shrimp poppers and......I can't remember. I also learned to bring my own crushed ice - it reminds of my old life and by 12:20, I need a diet coke.

5th day - No teaching. Just preparation for my school meeting that afternoon. I really like my supervisor and my group. I cannot complain!

6th day - Today. Saturday Jan 9, 2010. I had to take the Praxis test for elementary school teachers (7:30 am). I am pretty sure I flunked. If I would have just asked Olivia what range, mean, mode, and median meant before taking the test......maybe I could have go that question correct......................... Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

Oh well.......I'm on my way.