Week Three

Monday was my first day actually teaching. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be, I was only responsible for one class - Speech. I planned on spending a half hour of my eighty minutes doing fun "ice breakers"/introductions. I had the students go around saying their names and their favorite movie; after each student went I said something along the lines of "It's nice to meet you, [insert name here]." I found that this activity really helped me to get to know the students. I then had the students tell me the three people they would take with them on a deserted island. Finally, after warning students that everything had to be school appropriate or we couldn't continue to do fun activities like this, I had student come up with "Would you rather" questions that as a class we answered. Overall, I was pretty happy with this time. I feel that it helped me to get to know my students names - by the end of the period I had everyone's names down. Granted, 15 of my 32 students showed up - but still, I think it's impressive. We spent the rest of the hour going over the course syllabus and then a quotation activity that I made.

I had put together a hundred famous movie (mostly), book, and famous speech quotations. These quotations included quotes from "Gone With the Wind," "Pirates of the Carribbean," "Pride and Prejudice," "The Hangover," "Step Brothers," "Batman," etc. I then gave the students the rest of the period to first try to get as many as possible answered on their own and then in small groups. We ran out of time and Tuesday I let them use the computers to look up the rest of the quotes. Tuesday we also worked on a study guide for the chapter in the book. I was feeling pretty good about how my relationship with the students was going.

Wednesday, the first day I'd be teaching officially "full time" as I'd be responsible for two classes, Speech didn't go as well. The students were blantantly unresponsive to anything I threw at them. I tried discussing how class was going. I gave them the opportunity to vote on the order of nine speeches they would be responsible for giving. Finally, when I realized that no matter what I did they just weren't going to give me even a pity laugh or smile, I took them out in the hall and we played "electricity" followed by "the human knot." (I had disinfectant for hands.)

Finally, the students began to respond. I took them back into the classroom and was really excited about this second activity that I had planned. Each student was to find five famous movie quotations and write them down. Then, after breaking into teams of five, the students would read their quotes and the teams that identified the movie that the quote was from. The team that had the most answers would win a prize next Monday after the long break. I asked my CT (Cooperating Teacher) if I could bring in food before hand - and because I don't necessarily agree with giving students candy in the classroom, I have purchased a bag of apples and oranges.

This activity didn't go according to plan. First of all, they didn't follow the directions or the work sheet. So for many of the quotes they wrote down they couldn't identify the movie title, actor/actress, or character as hints for their fellow students. Some of the quotes I could help out with - being the movie buff that I am. When I could, I would give hints such as - "This movie stars Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom," or "This movie is based off a book series and is the first of four. The new movie will be released this weekend," etc. Also, the students weren't enjoying it - I could tell just by the look on their faces.

British Literature, my first day teaching, didn't go very well either. All seniors, these students didn't react to my attempts either. The students also hated my introduction/ice breaker ideas. Well, not all of them - the boys actually really enjoyed it. But  They stared at me and, unlike my speech class, continued to talk while I attempted to lead a class discussion. I am teaching "All Quiet on the Western Front," which I have yet to read yet (whoops!). So we spent the eighty minutes learning about the author Erich Remarque and the novel. Because I have to show that learning takes place, I administered both a pre and post test for both the author and novel. The students thought this is was absolutely ridiculous. But what could I do?

Finally, the dreaded vocabulary list. Students hate vocabulary. I hate vocabulary. "All Quiet on the Western Front" has 106 suggested vocabulary words. So, thinking I'm clever, doing them a favor, and saving my own time grading, I thought it would be nice to have a vocabulary pretest. I told them it wasn't graded and that if 80% of the students got a word right, I would cross it off the list. The students absolutely hated this - but they did it because the fewer words the better. I'm not finished looking at all the words, I've probably got through 25. But of the 25, I was able to deleted eight words! So, while I don't think this was a complete waste of time, it's a lot of hard work and analysis.

To conclude - this week was...odd. People ask me how it went and I don't know what to say. One day was great, the next I struggled. It's spring break so I have today and tomorrow off. I plan on definitely re-evaluating my strategy and coming up with a variety of different lessons for next week. It was great sleeping in today. My body woke me up at 7am (odd, because when I DO have school I don't roll out of bed until 7:20) but I went back to bed and slept until 10am. I then woke up, took my time getting ready, bummed around my room listening to "The Devil Wears Prada" and am now getting ready to go to my SECOND interview! Wish me luck!

Week 2 Recap

I know, I'm behind in my posts. Week two went by so fast because Thursday and Friday we didn't have school. Monday and Tuesday I continued to observe my cooperating teacher - which is pretty easy. I just sit there.

However, on Wednesday, Mr. CT (cooperating teacher) had to leave early for a meeting so he left me in charge from 2:45 until school gets out at 3:10pm ... with freshmen.

This was not a good day at school. It was the last day of the term, all the grades were in, and I was left alone with the freshmen speech class. We were in the theater so there were students seated everywhere and we were doing impromptu speeches. I'd call a student up to the stage and they'd have to answer a question for 60 seconds. Questions were simply (probably a little too simple) and students had a hard time answering them longer than 15 seconds. So students in the audience would ask questions.

This didn't go well. The student were absolutely rude, not only to me but to each other. The snide comments and the "cliche-y" attitudes quickly started sinking my boat of excitement. I tried to bring the students back in, but it was no use. I could only wait for the bell to ring.

Disappointment quickly settled in my gut: "maybe this isn't for me," "how on earth am I going to manage my class," "how can I get these students to respect me?" etc etc. It was a very rough ride home. Immediately, I called my mom. She made me feel a bit better explaining that these freshmen knew they wouldn't see me again (unless I get the job) and that grades were already in so they really had no reason to respect or pay attention to me.

But still, I couldn't help but feel unprepared. During my junior field I didn't have a problem - the kids all listened to me and respected me. But, that school was a lot smaller and rather than 32 students in a class they had 20 at the most. Nonetheless, I was disappointed. I started thinking that maybe I'd rather apply for library specialists positions and take online classes to get certification. After all, I love books and I love talking books. Library media has little homework or preparation and the best of all - little disciplinary needs.

But after calming down a bit, I realized that I just need to find my own style of discipline. I don't look like an authority figure so I can't rely on my physical presence. But I'm sure I'll figure something out - I have too, next week I start teaching.

This is also nerve racking because Monday I'll be teaching the new Speech class. Unfortunately this class is filled with everyone who has already failed the class. I wasn't going to let that put me down - until four teachers came up to me apologizing for such a "tough break." This made me nervous so Mr. CT and I looked more closely at the roster. Every single student is flagged for behavioral (mostly attitude) issues. Furthermore, most people HATE speech. I hate speech and I went to State Speech. How on earth am I going to get this class to survive speech, much less like it.

Well, like I said, I'll figure something out - I have too. Overall, it's been a rough week that has really challenged my desire to teach. It will only get worse so "buck up."

Wish me luck. :/

Student Teaching Week 1 Recap

Well, week one of student teaching was anything but typical. First day, first interview, first illness as a result of many sick students (and one cooperating teacher).

Take a moment and laugh (for my sake).

But really, I'd say that the first week was a success. I recovered by Saturday morning (mostly) and by Week 2, no one would know I was sick.

Week Two: Observing

Student Teaching Days 2 and 3

Well, I've already mentioned that on Student Teaching Day 2 I had my interview at 10am. What I didn't mention was that at about 1pm during my prep period I got extremely sick.

Apparently, my cooperating teacher got sick that weekend.

At first I didn't know what was going on. I just had a stomach pain. I won't go into all the gory details but - let's just say I was miserable.

Thank goodness it was my prep period, so Teacher and I were in his classroom putting together materials for callbacks for the musical and my stomach was just not settling. I had to stop what I was doing and hold still. I then asked him, because they lock the faculty bathrooms down the the hallway, where his keys were, just in case.

He looked at me, "Really?"

Really.

He put his eyes on his desk and said if I need to - just go. About three minutes later (not kidding), I grabbed the keys and took off running. I barely made it - but I made it.

When I returned to the classroom a couple minutes later I felt so much better, but was in desperate need of gum. Teacher didn't have gum, only hard life saver candies. As stated, I was desperate.

Bad idea.

Ten minutes later -- again, I won't get into too much detail.

Needless to say, when I returned to class the second time, our prep period was almost up. Teacher looked at my sympathetically, "Why don't you just go home?"

"Oh no, I can make it one more class period." I sat down. Students started coming in, before they had even sat down I was grabbing for my things, "I'm going to go."

"Okay, if I don't see you tomorrow, I'll just assume your sick." Teacher said.

I was supposed to attend Read America with a class of mine at 4pm at the mall. This is mandatory if you want an A. So of course I went. The professor in charge of the course was not sympathetic, but an assistant professor who actually knows my family, was (thank goodness). She liked at me, all pale and sickly, and said, "Go home before you get us all sick."

I stuck it out for an hour; I even read to a couple kids from a safe distance. When that friendly teacher saw me still there, she approached me, "Reagan, what are you still doing here? Go home. You look awful" (Insert joke here).

I looked at her. "I want that A."

She smiled and told me that she would vouch for me with that hardened professor.

I left.

I slept.

I slept.

Wednesday I woke up, considering going to school. I felt okay. As a student teacher, I only get three absences before I have to make them up. I checked my phone (I get my email to my blackberry) and had an email from Teacher, "Don't come to school today. You're probably feeling better, but in about three hours you'll hit absolute bottom. It's fine. Sicknesses are excused." Relieved, I fell back to sleep.

I slept the rest of Wednesday.

Thursday I returned to school, not quite 100%, but close. I was still extremely tired and would lose my breathe easily. But my students, who had only been with me a day and half, all looked at me sincerely and asked how I was feeling.

It felt amazing to be missed - even though I just sat there Monday and that bit of Tuesday and observed. It felt like they were my students.

First Interview

Last Tuesday I went to my very first professional job interview. I wasn't very nervous - had to much going on (what with it only being my second day of student teaching) so really even think about it. I was confident (but not overly confident) and I was ready.

When the time came to head down to the office (as I applied to the same school where I student teach - the Dream Job school), my heart began to race and I started to sweat. When I got to the office I introduced myself and took a seat, waiting for them to call my name. I, of course, got there fifteen minutes early and, the nerd and bibliophile that I am, did not want to wast fifteen minutes just sitting there. So I came prepared with a copy of "All Quiet on the Western Front," the first book I'll be expected to teach.

Amazingly, with each sentence read my heart beat slowed and my breathing returned to normal. I can't recall anything that I read, but the familiar act of simply reading calmed all of my nerves. When the Assistant Principal came to get me, not only did she find me reading, she found me relaxed. She walked me into the interview room; by that time, I didn't have time to be nervous.

I sat, I smiled, I laughed, and I talked passionately, appropriately, honestly, and accurately.

The interview went extremely well. I am happy with everything I said; I'm glad that if I don't get the job it won't because I didn't interview well due to nerves.

After that interview, where we mostly talked about me being a teacher, I headed to Interview Part II, with the Principal. This interview, while I'm still happy, didn't go as well as the first. I think I still did well and I still represented myself in the best and most honest way possible; it was just a different setting.

They said they'd let me know by Friday (that was last Friday). Each day I get less and less anxious and assume more and more I didn't get the job. I won't be extremely upset if I don't get the job, as there is another job opportunity about twenty miles away, but we'll see.

A principal that I worked with during my Junior Field last spring called and told me that the just got off the phone with a principal at the other school district hiring (the one twenty miles away) and told him that he highly recommended me. He told me to get my application in and they could let me know right away.

So, I'm getting my application in today. It's already sealed.

Let whatever happens - happen.

Needless to say - the cartoon doesn't depict how I felt during my interview. I just thought it was funny.

First Day of Student Teaching

 

My first day of student teaching was an...experience. This is how it went:

Well, first of all, I need to explain. I don't like florescent lights so I only use lamps in my room. I have a lamp on my book case and a lamp above my desk and mini lamps all around. The lamp on my bookcase is my primary source of light.

I wake up, about 6:00 on Monday morning, breathe in deep (I am so ready for this day), reach for my lamp, and .... nothing. My light went out.

Okay, I'm not going to let this get to me. So I get up, turn on the other lamps and get ready to go to the shower. Remember, I'm an RA in the dorms; I grab my robe, a towel (for my hair), my basket full of shower things, and (of course) my shower shoes! Now I'm generally not up this early, so I didn't expect that everyone (and practically their mothers!) showered at that time. Needless to say, I have the coldest shower I've ever taken. BRRR! I then go to brush my teeth and do all that business, but when I go to grab a paper towel - there's nothing!

But, that's not a big deal. I return to my room, get pretty, and gather my things to leave. Now, like any nervous young student...er teacher (oxymoron much) I had everything out for me: my first outfit, my packed lunch, my ID, a book (just in case). I take everything and look at the clock, 7:20am. A little behind, but I'm only a couple blocks away. 

I head outside and...whoops, I forgot that I live in South Dakota. Frost covers my entire car. As I am scraping off the white flakes as fast as possible, all I can think of is "If I get this job full time, I'm getting a garage. I don't care how much more expensive it is. I'm getting a garage."

After my car is free of frost, I'm finally on my way. T created a wonderful Beatles CD for me for Valentines Day and I thought it was the perfect music for the five minute drive there. As I park, grab my bookbag, lunch, and water bottle, I look at the school with wide eyes and begin walking towards it. This is the moment I've been waiting for. This is what the last three years of my life has led up to. This is it. I enter the doors and head towards the office. I sign in as a guest, being as polite as possible to the secretaries (my mom always said the people you want to make friends with on the first day are the secretaries, food service staff, janitorial staff, and aides). I put my "badge" on and leave the office.

The school is beginning to fill, students loiter in the commons area. Some are reading, most are chatting.  Don't freak out, I think. I make my way to my, well my cooperating teacher's, classroom. The lights are off. 7:35am. He's not here. Perfectly, there is a chair outside the door. I sit down, extremely conscious of all the students staring at me as they walk the halls, pull out the book I was reading, "Alphatudes," and read at my leisure. 

At 7:50, my cooperating teacher walks up and says, "Oh, how long have you been here." I smile sweetly and (of course) say, "Oh only a couple minutes." Turns out, the classroom wasn't locked, so I could have walked right in. He doesn't have a desk set up for me, but I was prepared for this. There is a student's desk sort of away from the others that I designate as mine. I take off my coat, put my lunch down, empty the important things from my bag onto my desk (planner, pen, notebook, and "Alphatudes"), and sit. Ready for the day to begin.

First class. 12th grade British Literature. They are reading Macbeth - pretty much the only Shakespeare play I haven't read. They all stare at me. I introduce myself, for the very first time out loud, as Miss Remmers. A flash of something crawls up my spine. It wasn't entering the school that I had been anticipating. It was this. This simple recognition that I am, without a doubt, Miss Remmers. I've been known as Miss Remmers via the blogosphere and Twitter for about 8 months. But I have never been "Miss Remmers" out loud, in 'the real world', until now.

I continued to observe the rest of the day. Students continued to look at me and I continued to sit their awkwardly. My cooperating teacher, the great guy that he is, had the tech fellows set me up with my very own official email account through the state! This was extremely exciting as I now receive all official school emails (I love emails). After school, I promptly configured the email to my Blackberry (I love my life).

Lunch was ... different. T helped me pack an extremely healthy lunch. I had grapes, water, a peanut butter sandwich, apple fruit leather, a CLIF bar, some raisins, and some carrots. I'm generally not a very healthy eater - but I was so hungry I ate it all! 

I was then informed that auditions for the musical, Annie, were at five. Now, my cooperating teacher (also the Theater Director) did not ask me to participate in his extracurricular activities. But, if I am to teach in a rural area, it's generally on the English teacher to be in charge of theater. So I'm definitely going to need the experience. Also, my "Dream Job" is at this school - it will only help if I involve myself in extracurriculars. And finally, I want to be involved with my students outside of class. 

After school I headed back to campus to check my mail (I received a couple of books) and to run some other errands, before returning to school for auditions at five. I had to return to campus by seven as I was duty, but I stayed for two hours - watching students sing, dance, and read the parts they so desperately wanted.

At seven when I returned to school - I was utterly and completely exhausted.

I have never felt such exhaustion before.

Job Update 2.26.10

Big BIG news everyone! 


First of all, I just finished my last day of classes. Monday I enter the classroom FULL TIME as a student teacher. I'm coming in at the right time, the end of their quarter is Friday. So next week will be mostly observing. But then starting on Monday the 8th, I am teaching an entire unit in British Literature all by myself. The book I've chosen is "1984" - if you have any lesson ideas, let me know!

So that's a pretty big deal, but it gets better.


I love my blog. But I want to be able to talk about other things than books - like my teaching experiences and my job hunt! So I've created a secondary blog, The Adventures of Miss Remmers. This blog won't be updated everyday, but I will be putting up the adventures of mine in the classroom while student teaching, different lesson plan ideas, job hunt stuff, and anything else having to do with my life in the classroom - obviously all pertinent information will be confidential, so you'll be seeing a lot of Student Y and School X ect.


And FINALLY the BIG BIG news!


I have applied for two positions, same school district, one at the middle school and one at the high school. This school is my TOP choice as its the school where I'm student teaching and it's right in town next to the college. This is important because I want to continue my education, and what better way of doing so than by living in a college town, I love the area, I love the community, it's close to family, and of course it's where T (boyfriend who is a graduate student) lives. So it's an all around GREAT opportunity.


Wait for it....


I just got a call asking for an interview!














Breathe.






I go in next Tuesday (the SECOND day of student teaching).




Wish me luck.  If you have any suggestions, hints, tips, or ANYTHING that would be helpful for my first interview, please let me know! I'm already getting a little bit nervous. I mean this isn't just ANY interview - this is my dream job!