Just a random post that doesn't have much to do with anything except ranting

  A random thing happened to me today, and oddly enough made me reflect upon my "teaching career" so I thought, hey, since I have this blog thing and all, why not write about it.  It frustrated me, and perhaps writing about it will make it less frustrating.  --I think i'm starting to understand why people actually enjoy blogging--  Anyways ... so, as several know i'm in a sorority, however I am what you would call "inactive" this year.  Basically, what this means is i'm obviously still a member and I still pay my national fees, I just don't participate in the meetings and activities anymore.  Several factors played into this inactive status such as my job this semester, block, student teaching in the spring, my dad had surgery and is out of work, and other odds and ends, but either way i'm not really "participating" for my last year. I give you the background of my involvement in the sorority because that's kind of where my reflection comes from.  I may be inactive from my chapter, but I am still a member. I still love my chapter and love my sisters.  We recently went through recruitment and during this time you chalk the sidewalks around campus. Well, apparently one of our girls, while chalking, misspelled a word.  I know .. it seems like such a small error right?  Oh wow .. a word was misspelled .. big deal.  Well you would be surprised at how much criticism i'm hearing about it.  The word misspelled was "their" .. and it was spelled "thier".  I had a conversation with an old friend from highschool about it today who didn't realize I was a member, and did apoligize for the rude comments about it once he found out, but some of his obnoxious friends were being very mean about it .. saying that person is dumb and our chapter is dumb .. etc ..
  That's where my reflection came in ... oddly enough. There are chalkings all across campus.  Beautiful ones ... from all chapters and all other organization .. however no one ever stops to praise the good work.  They are up and ready to jump on the mistakes, though.  Thinking as a teacher .. in a classroom point of view, you see that happen a lot.  Often times, the good and great work gets looked over.  Never intentionally acknowledged.  Never praised. But when a mistake is made, it is the first thing to be brought up.  The first thing to be pointed out.  Thinking in that point of view, I don't want to be that kind of person, and I don't want to be that kind of teacher.  I don't want to be the one who seeks out the mistakes and only points them out.  I want to be the one who praises the good work, while weaving in how an "accident" could be corrected.
  I know ... it was a rant .. but it was good to get it off my mind :)  It was just an accident that could have been corrected.  Nobody's perfect, adults or children, and those things happen.  And I think we'll see that often.  We just have to go about it in a kind and understanding way.
  *Sorrrrrrry for the rant :)*

Social Studies ..

Have you ever had one of those classes that seem to ease the day?  A class that is full of information yet the information is given to you in such a way that it is actually FUN to learn it?  A class where you walk away with all of this new knowledge and these amazing new ideas, yet you still feel refreshed ... like this super ton of pressure that is on you from other classes isn't added to?  Well, Dr. Meier's social studies class is that kind of class for me this semester.  In the few meetings we've had so far ... I have learned soooo many new ideas!  The taxation "game" we played last week was a new experience for me.  Heck, all these games we're doing in class are new for me.  I come from a small town out in the country, with a small school.  We didn't do any type of activities like this ... ever.  Social studies and History are the two main subjects that, when I graduated High School, I felt the least prepared for coming to college because they were so looked over in my school system.  It was all book, note, and lecture.  My favorite idea i've had come out of the class so far, though, is the classroom "pledge" activity we saw earlier in the semester.  The one where they agreed upon the rules, the teacher wrote it up, the students signed it, then they hung it in the hall.  I LOVED that!!  I'm also pretty excited that we have been/are discussing diversity in the classroom this week because, as mentioned when we had to bring the baggies of stuff the represent us that one day, I really like the Think. Live. Respect. campaign on campus.  As a Preview/Orientation Leader, we support the program to the fullest and wear their T-Shirt as one of our work shirts.  If you have never heard of it, you should look it up.  It is an amazing program that focuses on becoming a more understanding, accepting, respectful campus, creating an enclusive environment where everyone is valued.  I hope to carry that with me into my classroom :)

AMAZING!

Well I just got home about 10 minutes ago from my first full day at my placement site.  I am in a 4th Grade classroom at Happy Valley Elementary, and I LOVED it!!

As noted in my previous blog, I was nervous going into this placement, but I am very pleased with where I have been assigned.

I already love the students in my classroom.  They already know me as Ms.Rachel, already started asking me questions, and seemed to automatically warm up to me being in their classroom.  Students can act up, or act differently, when guests are in the classroom but I believe the preparation my mentor teacher did with them prior to today really eased that tension.  I believe that in itself can be a learning experience.  Explaining and talking with students about things that will be going on in the classroom or others that will be present ahead of time, and reminding them of it as it draws nearer.

I also really like my mentor.  I feel like I will be able to learn a lot from her classroom, whether it be things I like or dislike.  She was very welcoming to me, answered any question I had, and gradually throughout the day explained their processes to me, such as how they do things and reasons why they do it that way.  She was also very helpful in the fact that periodically throughout the day she would throw little pieces of information my way that she learned from her mentor when she student taught or lessons she's learned throughout her first few years as a teacher.  And all of this was just in day 1!!  I am sooooo excited to see what is in store for me and all the new things I will see and learn every Tuesday from here on out!!

Best of luck to all of you on your first days at your placement!! Can't wait to hear (or read) all about it!

And we're off .... to field placement, that is ...

So ... the time is finally here.  I begin my 60 hours with my teacher tomorrow.  I don't know about anyone else, but I find myself feeling anxious about this placement.  It's not like I haven't been in a classroom before (obviously we've all had field experience to make it this far) it just seems a tad bit more stressful this time.  Who knows, it may just be this work load that seems to be slowly piling on.  Not to mention that we will be spending a lot more time with the teacher and the students in this placement then we have in any other placement before.  I'm sure once I get in there, meet my mentor teacher and the students, and get into a groove of the classroom structure all will be fine, however for now the anxiety will be building until 7:50 tomorrow morning.  I guess all I can say at this point is "bring it on" :)

In the Beginning ....

Hello Friends!!

  So ... here I am, typing my very first blog entry in my life (i'm not counting the one on D2L I once used, seeing as how it isn't exactly a "blog").  But anyways .. I can honestly say that I never -ever- intended on creating a blog, but now that I have it isn't a terrible experience.  It is a quite enjoyable one, in fact.  I've had an interesting time browsing the site and learning all the new and different things that can be done with a blog.  Who knew!?

I would like to say that I will only be using this blog for school and class purposes, but I'm pretty sure that would be a lie. (Hey, I took the time to make it .. might as well get the full experience, right?)  So sure, school and class stuff will be my main purpose, however you're more than likely going to get some random posts, pictures, and information about  my life in general throughout this process.  Hope you don't mind!

Well I suppose it's time to close out the very first blog of my life. I work tomorrow *I waitress at a local cafe at home on the weekends* and should probably have a tad bit rest. 

--I promise, next time I will actually include something relating to the most exciting things happening in all of our lives right now (that we all have in common that is) .... block, student teaching, graduating ... finding a job! .. and having a classroom of our own--

But for Now,
Thanks for reading!  Join me again soon, yes?  :)