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!