Field trip

Today was our first field trip of the school year. We went to WVU for a day on campus. When I was in elementary school I remember being so excited for field trips because it was a day out of school. Now as an educator I look at it as an opportunity to extend students knowledge and motivate them to what to achieve something more. When I found out our trip was to WVU I became extremely excited. Many of my students show interest in everything WVU and many have dreams of going on to college. However when we arrived at WVU my dreams were crushed. We saw several things and did many activities but everything was so rushed. The saying "less is more" is completely appropriate in the situation. Students felt so overwhelmed and before they could adjust to their new surroundings they had to leave again. I suppose this is where I assume the "teacher" role. I just see these opportunities differently now that I am on the "adult" side of the situation.  Students should be given every opportunity they deserve and I think today didn't live up to that.

Parent/ Teacher Conferences

Today was parent/teacher conferences and it seemed weird being on the "teacher" side of things. The other Intern at my school and I set up a Professional Development table in the hallway and she stayed at the table for most of the night, because I had conferences. My mentor teacher told me that I needed to be at all the conferences because I have been with the students for the same amount of time she has. During the conferences my mentor teacher would look at me and ask if I had anything to add to what she was saying or if I should explain what she was trying to say in a different way. In one case, the student responds better to me, and I have somewhat taken this child "under my wing". During this conference my mentor teacher said "I think Ms. Kulchock can explain the situation because she is dealing with him the most". This really made me feel like apart of the classroom and like what I had to say mattered. In another conference, the mother said "oh you are the famous Ms.Kulchock, that's all my daughter talks about". This made me feel extremely important and truly apart of the classroom. Throughout this whole night all I could think of was how in my tutor year I didn't feel like I was a part of the community at all, and now I feel like this is the only place I belong!

Standing my ground.

While teaching my math RTI class, my students were being extremely loud and talking over me. I began by giving them warnings, starting out my voice soft but affirmative. Next I tried giving them another warning just a little more loud and harsh. After, my students continued to talk and ignore me. I then made students clean up the game we were playing, right in the middle of it. Students seemed confused and began to give each other odd looks. As I walked around collecting student materials many of them tried to talk with me. As hard as it was I just ignored them (my mentor teacher had done this in the beginning of the school year). Students then got somewhat more quiet but some were still talking. I then went over and picked up the worksheets I had run off for "emergency" situations. I then passed these out and began doing something else. Students became very confused. Students began calling out "can we work with partners" and I just continued to ignore. At the end of time I explained to students that they needed to hand the worksheets to me on their way out. Many students handed me their worksheets and said "I'm sorry" and one student even said "it makes me sad to see you sad". At this moment I knew I had "accomplished" my goal. As much as it made me sad to ignore my students and to stop playing a game in which we were all having a good time, it was something I had to do. My students were not responding to me being nice and giving them gentle warnings so I had to take action. My mentor teacher even told me my actions were completely necessary. I'm truly glad that I was able to stand my ground... I have a feeling these students are going to be much more complient with what I am asking.

Teaching all day!

On Thursday morning I got an unexpected call from my mentor teacher. She had explained that she injured herself and would not be at school that day. She couldn't get ahold of the subisute that is usually in the classroom when my teacher is out, so there was a new substitute when I arrived in my classroom. She asked what parts of the day I was teaching and I explained to her what I was teaching, but that I felt comfortable enough to teach most of the day if she would like me to. She was much appreciative and allowed me to teacher the whole day. I realized how appreciative I am of my mentor teacher because she is so organized. Every night before she leaves work she gets out the materials that she is going to need for the next day. She also opens her lesson plan book so it is right to the next day. Also, my mentor teachers lesson plans are so detailed that it paints a clear picture of what she was thinking about doing that day. I think it also helps that I have been in the classroom since day 1 so I have a full understanding of how the day runs. I think this is an extremely important quality to have when teaching. You have to be organizesd and prepared for anything that could possibly happen from day to day. When you leave your classroom for the night, anything could really happen. You just never know what will happen before the next morning arrives. If you are prepared for anything to happen, then having to call off unexpectantly isn't so horrible for the person coming into your classroom.