I look back on my first meeting with the licensure coordinator. In her calm, kind voice, she spelled out for me all the requirements of the four years to come. She must have seen the fear in my eyes after she told me about the culmination of the psychology & education major: two weeks of lead teaching. She reassured me that by the time that comes, the students are ready for it, but I was wary.
I look back on my first day in the practicum. It was a whirlwind. I spent most of my day sitting in the back of the classroom during whole-group instruction or next to Mrs. M during independent work, trying to internalize the routines, the students’ names, the culture. I was brought along to an RTI on three students I had barely met, meeting half a dozen more school professionals. I was completely overwhelmed, but also exhilarated by the challenge.
I look back on my first day of accidental lead teaching. I was stressed out of my mind. I spent all of lunch in the classroom, grading center work. I stayed for two hours after school, catching up on grading and prepping next week’s center work. Mrs. G across the hall urged me to go home—but Mrs. V was out again the following week, so my work was well-timed!
I look at where I am today, as my practicum draws to a close. I think of all those former selves, and I wonder how they all added up to become who and what I am today. All those past versions of Grace would doubtless be amazed by the teacher I have become, as am I. The two greatest experiences for my growth were during lead teaching. Leading an entire day without another adult in the classroom is so different from leading one or two lessons with your CT sitting back behind your students. I tried things that worked, and I tried things that didn’t work. I discovered my style: positive, calm, authoritative, encouraging. Developing and implementing units for different disciplines was also a great learning experience. Social studies was carefully developed and planned far in advance; math was adapted from an existing curriculum; reading was based on a chapter from Growing Readers; writing was planned out day-to-day with my CT and the ELA specialist as we observed student progressed and determined their needs. It was so interesting to explore all these different methods of planning and figure out when and how each can be used most effectively.
As I look toward the future, I know there is plenty more to learn ahead of me; every teacher I have spoken with agrees that they never stop learning. I have learned to constantly set goals for self-improvement. I have learned that mistakes are an essential part of the process, and can be extremely helpful if you critically reflect upon them. I have learned that if something doesn’t work, just stop doing it and try something new. I have learned to find things to love in every student, even on the days when they’ve found my last nerve. I have learned to see the whole child and develop home-school connections to deeply understand where a student is coming from. I have learned that for me, education is a passion and a calling, and I am extremely blessed to be have discovered such a love for my chosen profession.
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Currently reading: okay, I've been busy knitting a baby blanket for my CT. It has replaced my reading time. So sue me.
Current high: I found out yesterday that I will be my class' baccalaureate speaker in a few weeks :)
Current low: ONLY TWO AND A HALF DAYS LEFT.
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