Spring 2009: lil' bits about school right now

I am in only one education class this semester. I miss the feeling of being submerged in it all. I like all of my classes this semester for different reasons (linguistics, geology and lab, a women's studies class, and an assessment course), but I still feel like less of a "teacher candidate" than I did last semester. I have so much to look forward to- Ireland in May and Block (for me, elementary specific teacher ed classes...the real deal...and two semesters away from student teaching, three semesters out from graduation) in the fall. I am doing my best to enjoy this semester...

I think the best part of the previous semester was networking with fellow teacher candidates. I think that played a big part in how it FELT to take all education courses and to fulfill a number of challenging requirements that I needed to fulfill in order to progress in my program. It was almost as if we all did it together- got through it together. I love that feeling. It reminds me of what school used to be like when I was a teenager. I am glad that I finally found that in college.

I have been reminded over and over exactly why it is I want to be a teacher because I have been able to volunteer in my daughter's classroom on Fridays. Sitting in much too small chairs and looking at all the great artwork on the walls make me happy. I have been doing just random things for her teacher, but it's all about experience, experience, experience. I need to train myself to cut out various shapes at a much faster pace! It's also great to pick up on ideas here and there- I watched a quiz show/ review. It looked so fun that I wanted to play. She also turns her vocabulary words into dominoes. Fun fun! I love great assessment ideas like these.

I want to use this blog this semester as much as I can to reconnect to my intense passion for teaching. I have been doing things here and there to remind myself that I am a future teacher- like I put together a very organized binder of Tennessee State Standards for grades K-6. I also bought a minerals kit from the geology club at my university yesterday. I think it would be a neat thing to have in my future classroom. My daughter was intrigued so I think I was on the right path with that decision. I love collecting things for my future classroom and imagining what it's going to be like...one day...