Practicum Blues
feelin belittled!
Lemme give you some background information before I really begin this entry in earnest. I'm currently training to be an early
elementary school teacher (4 year olds to 8 year olds). In order to be certified as a teacher in my state, I have some
things I need to fulfill through my university and my state government. I'm in my last year, so the only thing I have left to do
other than passing the certification exams is work 300 hours in an elementary school- 100 of those hours are spent in kindergarten,
(4-5 year olds) and 200 of those hours are spent in 1st or 2nd grade (6-7 year olds or 7-8 year olds). I started in September and I
completed my hours in kindergarten near Halloween as I chose to do 100 more hours than necessary since I liked the classroom. I
started in 1st grade beginning in November, which is a much more academic setting than I was used to, since I had previous experience
working in a pre-school (children under 5 years old) where they mostly did play-based learning. The 300 hours (which is more like 400
for me) are UNPAID, and necessary to become a teacher in my situation.
So, background information out of the way...
Today, my usual supervising practitioner (SP, the teacher
whose classroom I'm currently in five days a week) was out for a professional development seminar today. She didn't let
me know in advance until this morning. There are two
other teachers in the classroom, though, and she let them both know far in advance about it. I know that I'm a
student teacher and not a payrolled member of staff, but stuff like this constantly happens where all of the teachers in the
classroom don't treat me with the same respect as they do to their colleagues. For example, if a teacher is leaving the room for some
reason she'll stop and tell literally everyone in the room except for me that she's leaving and why. My SP doesn't give me any real
responsibilities and the same goes for the two assistant teachers in the classroom as well. I feel so constantly disrespected
in that room and like I'm not actually learning anything. They treat me like an idiot! It's a stark contrast from my
kindergarten classroom, where my teacher taught me EVERYTHING and gave me responsibility when I was ready. It's especially frustrating
because I KNOW I'm a good teacher- I just need to learn more about behind-the-scenes stuff, which my SP is not teaching me about
at all.
Luckily, though, Friday is my last day. As long as my supervising teacher in the 1st grade classroom signs off on my hours, I should
be all set to never go into that classroom ever again~! I like the school itself, just not that SPECIFIC classroom. I'll miss the kids,
but they definitely got a hold of the vibe that I'm not treated with as much respect compared to the other teachers and that makes
them take me less seriously. That, and the fact that they're the oldest kids I've worked with, has made my own classroom management
not feel as sturdy as it typically does. It was definitely good experience, though! I could stand to learn more, just... somewhere else.
Other things that are coming up... My sister is having a baby! This week! That's right everybody, Lolo is going to be an aunt. I'm
ECSTATIC! No, really, I am. I love kids! In the springtime, I'm going to be the nanny for the baby boy- I'm getting my hours in early
to be the favorite. He'll have two uncles (my two brothers) on his mother's side, so I really gotta step it up to beat them. Or, at least,
one of them. My younger brother is kind of a moron. If he ends up being the favorite... don't even get me started.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 <3
Friskaloo
Feelin Woofy
My dearest Friskie is 15 years old this month! She's my special girl. I've had her since I was eight years old! This is a picture of her!
I love her dearly. She's got doggie dementia, though, so we've been thinking about at-home euthanasia options for her... It's really sad :( Right now
I can hear her tip-tapping around the house in a daze, which she'll probably do until I put her to bed. She often gets stuck in places and barks really
anxiously until someone can get her out. When I say "stuck", though... She mostly just needs to walk backwards and she can get out. But, because of the
aforementioned doggie dementia, she doesn't remember that and just gets scared. Because of that, she can't really get left alone in the house for too long.
Even with her ailments, she still loves going on runs and walks! And she still eats every day (and she'll eat until there's no more food left in the whole world)
so I think she's still got some life left in her. I love you, Friskaloo! I think she's just the cutest, so I wanted to tell you about her, too. Talk to you later!
Monday, November 24, 2025 <3
Two Years Later!
feelin tired -_-
Haha. Sorry for the long wait for the next entry.. I've been working my ASS off doing real-life stuff and not website stuff. It's crazy that two years has
already gone by!
In the past two years, I've had two internships, a big boy job at a museum, and now I'm doing student teaching at a public school in the city. I teach
kindergarten and first grade, which is the age group I'd like to end up teaching full-time once I graduate =) It's fun, it just sucks that it's unpaid. Frankly,
with all of my schoolwork, the teaching, and my health issues, I feel like I'm drowning. It's really hard to keep up with everything, but I'm trying my best. Putting
my free time into hobbies like this kind of makes it more bearable.
I don't have much to write, so I'll end this entry here. If anyone is reading this, I hope you have a lovely night/day!
Sunday, November 23, 2025 <3
Run Around on All Fours
feelin lazy -w-
I had the day off today -w- I cleaned the piggies' cage like I do every week, got so many grown-up tasks completed, and played a really good
game of League where got a B+ on Neeko in ranked. I started playing league cuz of my ex, and he taught me everything really patiently.
Even though the community in general is pretty toxic, I have a really fun time playing it with my friends!
I have my first day of a tutoring job for my neighbor today in around 30 minutes, so I'm writing this entry to pass the time. I'm becoming quite
the handyman in my neighborhood for odd jobs. I babysit my other neighbors children, I'm watching my friend's cat up the street, and I work at
a bakery in the area, too. It's nice making a difference for the people in your community.
The girl I'm tutoring is in 6th grade, and she reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age. It's a little scary, though, cuz I don't want her to
feel how I felt back then... I'm hoping that I can be a good role-model/positive influence in her life, so that she doesn't have to face the
struggles that I did without someone there who understands how she feels.
I did a lot of research on tutoring kids with learning disabilities, and the fact that I 1. have several, and 2. have been in disability programs my entire life is going to
be very helpful. Not only do I know what helped me when I was in school, I know what I wished my special education teachers did differently/considered
when they were giving me extra help.
Aaaanyway. More site updates coming soon! I'm finishing up the character section of my About Me page, then I'm going to continue on the Library. Look
forward to it!
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 <3
Maxin and Relaxin
feelin squashed
Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 <3
Spring Forward -_-;
feelin rainy v_v;
Two days after the clocks change, we're blessed with a horrendous noreaster. I was hoping to get started on my garden this week, but the
gods have decided to turn against me instead..
I've been a bit too busy to work on my site, because... I GOT GUINEA PIGS!! Their names are Roxy and Lettie, named after Roxas and Olette
from Kingdom hearts =3 They look really similar, especially Roxy, to their characters!! I'll of course, provide you with a wonderful
photo of my piggies. Here they are!!
I've also started to work at a bakery, which is nice, but really demanding on my bad knee, which is not so nice. Other than that, though, I've
been doing pretty okay. I can't wait to start on my garden and make my piggies an outdoor enclosure! I'm going to grow a bunch of vegetables for them
to munch on :D
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 <3
VIRTUAL INSANITY!!!
feelin sleepy..
Wednesday, December 28th, 2022 <3
Baby's First Entry
feelin sweet =3
Monday, December 26th, 2022 <3