So, it's official! I am a TEACHER now! I finished school last month and landed a really great job at this middle school as the 7th and 8th grade science teacher. School started January 7th, so I've been busy as a bee creating lesson plans, getting to know the students, talking to parents, getting my classroom together, trying to find something that resembles organization, pretty much just everything that a new teacher needs/has to do to get started. It has been a crazy hectic month for me so far. I don't have time for anything that's not school related :(
The first week I came in, I had to finish their science projects with them. Fairly easy, no fuss. At that point, I'm thinking, "Cool! I can do this!" Week 2 rolls around. I have my lesson plans ready. I'm strolling to class, "I'm the teacher, they're students. They'll listen to me. Alriiiight, we can get through chapter 1 pretty quick." WRONG. It took a solid 2 weeks to get through chapter 1. Which would be okay, but they claimed to have been familiar with the material so I assumed it'd be an easy review.
So, here I am at the end of week 3. "What did I get myself into?" is a daily thought, lol. I am tired and not getting enough sleep. Still trying to finish moving, adjust to being away from my boyfriend, and figuring out a routine for this new life I'm living. I need to work on lesson plans for the coming week and write the chapter 1 test for my 8th grade classes to take on Monday. It doesn't look like I'll have much of a social life for the next few months. I can barely get around to my missed calls let alone a social activity, lol.
Overall, I am enjoying my experience. The kids are sweethearts, although they can be monsters at times. I've had to write a few detentions already! I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks will bring!
~Miss Haywood
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, July 8, 2010
It's Still Not Over !
Now that I'm here even after the kids are gone, it's a pretty cool experience to see how the school is run from behind the scenes.
There's alot to be done in the administrative office! Sometimes I kind of thought admins were left sitting around with nothing to do, but that is far from what happens in here! Answering calls from parents of students and prospective students, development projects, putting together the 1st newsletter to go home, ordering school supplies, getting student files together; that means updating current students, creating new students, and finding space for former students. Basically, just making sure that everyone gets taken care of in whatever ways they need.
It's all good exposure to what I'll be doing someday for the rest of my life! :)
~Miss Haywood
There's alot to be done in the administrative office! Sometimes I kind of thought admins were left sitting around with nothing to do, but that is far from what happens in here! Answering calls from parents of students and prospective students, development projects, putting together the 1st newsletter to go home, ordering school supplies, getting student files together; that means updating current students, creating new students, and finding space for former students. Basically, just making sure that everyone gets taken care of in whatever ways they need.
It's all good exposure to what I'll be doing someday for the rest of my life! :)
~Miss Haywood
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day 15 -- FINISHED
I know I'm late, with the holiday weekend and all, you have to excuse me!
But overall, I'm glad to have had this experience. I feel that it's definitely invaluable to my future! I'm glad that the staff invited me over to come share this experience with them.
I don't want this to be a short post, but I really don't have the words to express how happy I am to have some classroom experience! I really appreciate the time I've spent with my coworkers and what they've taught me!
I can say that it's a good position to be in. Having been where these kids are now, they have a solid example of what the school can do for them if they stick with it and do their best. Not only that, but an example of how far they can go in life no matter where they come from or the troubles they face in their home life.
~Miss Haywood
But overall, I'm glad to have had this experience. I feel that it's definitely invaluable to my future! I'm glad that the staff invited me over to come share this experience with them.
I don't want this to be a short post, but I really don't have the words to express how happy I am to have some classroom experience! I really appreciate the time I've spent with my coworkers and what they've taught me!
I can say that it's a good position to be in. Having been where these kids are now, they have a solid example of what the school can do for them if they stick with it and do their best. Not only that, but an example of how far they can go in life no matter where they come from or the troubles they face in their home life.
~Miss Haywood
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Day 14
Student selections.
It's been one of the longest days so far. It basically boils down to the students who do well as far as behavior, academics, and their social skills. It was pretty easy to decide who stays. The tough part was deciding who goes and why.
Some students aren't strong academically. Some students don't want to be here. Some students are too much of a behavior problem. The most sad is the students who don't have the support from the parents and families. It's really hard to hear those stories about what their home life is like. Some of these kids have been through and seen things that a child that young should never have to! My heart is heavy for those kids. As bad as you want those kids to have a positive environment, you can't do anything to change it. No matter how bad they want to succeed, their surroundings have everything to do with whether they will or won't and why.
As a teacher in a private school where the kids are chosen, the school has an ability to get rid of the problem children. When you teach in a public school where everyone has to go somewhere, I don't know (and have to figure out) how those teachers deal with those students. WHat more can you do for them? I think that my compassion and sensitivity to those students will be great characteristics that will make me a great teacher to all kinds of kids.
~Miss Haywood
It's been one of the longest days so far. It basically boils down to the students who do well as far as behavior, academics, and their social skills. It was pretty easy to decide who stays. The tough part was deciding who goes and why.
Some students aren't strong academically. Some students don't want to be here. Some students are too much of a behavior problem. The most sad is the students who don't have the support from the parents and families. It's really hard to hear those stories about what their home life is like. Some of these kids have been through and seen things that a child that young should never have to! My heart is heavy for those kids. As bad as you want those kids to have a positive environment, you can't do anything to change it. No matter how bad they want to succeed, their surroundings have everything to do with whether they will or won't and why.
As a teacher in a private school where the kids are chosen, the school has an ability to get rid of the problem children. When you teach in a public school where everyone has to go somewhere, I don't know (and have to figure out) how those teachers deal with those students. WHat more can you do for them? I think that my compassion and sensitivity to those students will be great characteristics that will make me a great teacher to all kinds of kids.
~Miss Haywood
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Day 13
Two days left!
At this point, staff (including myself) is working on the student selection process. This is the part where we decide who stays and who goes. It's hard for me because I think that all students, no matter their background or issues, just deserve a chance. BUT that's just not possible (sad face, I know!). Some of the 5th and 6th grade classes have up to 26 students and only 15-17 can stay!
Making decisions for 5th grade has been pretty easy so far because their all new and some stand out already as excellent students and others, not so much. 6th grade is harder because some of them were here last year and feel entitled to their seat. I think of what their parents might say if they can't come back next year. At the same time, it's up to the student. They have to want to be here.
I'm a little nervous on this part. My opinion on these kids really counts. The meeting for student selection is tomorrow! Let's hope all goes well.
~Miss Haywood
At this point, staff (including myself) is working on the student selection process. This is the part where we decide who stays and who goes. It's hard for me because I think that all students, no matter their background or issues, just deserve a chance. BUT that's just not possible (sad face, I know!). Some of the 5th and 6th grade classes have up to 26 students and only 15-17 can stay!
Making decisions for 5th grade has been pretty easy so far because their all new and some stand out already as excellent students and others, not so much. 6th grade is harder because some of them were here last year and feel entitled to their seat. I think of what their parents might say if they can't come back next year. At the same time, it's up to the student. They have to want to be here.
I'm a little nervous on this part. My opinion on these kids really counts. The meeting for student selection is tomorrow! Let's hope all goes well.
~Miss Haywood
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Days 11 & 12
This week I am with a particular teacher, instead of grade. I am sitting in on the girls' and boys' math classes. It's pretty boring for the most part...lol...But the interesting part is still getting to see the teaching styles. These two teachers are like night and day. As far as that goes, I've been watching and taking notes trying to figure out what type of style would suit me. It has to work for classroom management in general as well as the personality of the teacher as well. I'm super nice and I think that's a disadvantage at times. The kids will definitely test you to see how far that niceness goes (trust me, I know from experience LOL)! I don't like to be mean or strict, but sometimes that's just how it goes. I suprised myself in the beginning, but you have to crack that whip a few times to let them know you mean business!
At this point, I've learned the ropes. Dealing with the kids is routine now. I feel pretty confident and comfortable with them. The only thing that scares me is handling them on my own. With some more experience, I'm sure I'll conquer that too.
I feel like this experience has been absolutely beneficial to me. What I've learned is invaluable to my future. I'm just glad I could get this type of experience this early on. I'm getting into my education courses in school so when I read about these things in the texts, I can come back to this and I'll know exactly what's what in there!
~Miss Haywood
At this point, I've learned the ropes. Dealing with the kids is routine now. I feel pretty confident and comfortable with them. The only thing that scares me is handling them on my own. With some more experience, I'm sure I'll conquer that too.
I feel like this experience has been absolutely beneficial to me. What I've learned is invaluable to my future. I'm just glad I could get this type of experience this early on. I'm getting into my education courses in school so when I read about these things in the texts, I can come back to this and I'll know exactly what's what in there!
~Miss Haywood
Day 10 -- End of week TWO
Fridays are always a little more hectic so bear with me here when I miss Friday posts.
I wouldn't have had much to say. By this point, it's very obvious who will and won't be staying.
That's it for Friday's post...not much here. Everything I needed to sum up for this week was done in Day 9's post.
~Miss Haywood
I wouldn't have had much to say. By this point, it's very obvious who will and won't be staying.
That's it for Friday's post...not much here. Everything I needed to sum up for this week was done in Day 9's post.
~Miss Haywood
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