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.
BLOG OF HOPE :3
Practicum Blues
