Woot for Student Teaching!

So I just returned back to my dorm room from visiting with my cooperating teacher for my Skyview Middle School placement.

Two words: I'm pumped.

Leslie was incredibly nice, open, and flexible.

She's very easy going and loves her students

(which was refreshing to see after this past semester...)

She teaches five periods of seventh grade social studies.

We went over what my role is going to be in her classroom.

I will spend the first week observing and getting a feel of the flow of things and my students.

Teehee.

My students. :)

Then I get to jump right in!

I will be teaching chapters nine and ten in their textbooks:

United States Imperialism.

I'm pretty excited.

I don't know too much about the subject, but it'll still be great!

I got a teacher's textbook, so I can already get crackin'!

I'm so excited to start planning activities and lessons!

She went on and on about how great her kids are.

She told me that at the school, they don't focus on letter grades.

Instead they focus on learning.

So this means students get attempts to retake tests or redo assignments until they understand the material.

They want the students to focus more on learning and less on grades and GPA, which I think is an awesome thing!

I also got to meet the principal.
Although I don't remember her name.

She seemed extremely nice as well.

Very smiley, very friendly, and very open.

I liked her a lot too.

Ah! I'm just so excited! I can't wait to be a teacher!

And now next week I will be meeting with  my other cooperating teacher, Mr. Davids, at Blaine Senior High.
That placement I'm much less excited for.

One, my teacher doesn't seem very friendly in his emails.

Two, it's my high school placement.

Enough said.

I'm really nervous for high school.

One: I don't think I have the right personality for teaching high school students. I think I'm much better suited to teach middle school.

Two: I'm not as enthusiastic about the material in high school; there's economics, and government/civics...those don't appeal to me at all..

Three: The students in middle school are bigger than me. The students in high school will tower over me. I'm nervous about having authority. I know that what it all comes down to is confidence in myself, so let's hope I can find that confidence before March 28.

But, all in all, I'm very excited.

Stoked, even.

I think I use that word too much, stoked.

Anywho, yup. 

That's my day today.

Woot! For student teaching! :)