Can we do it?

This week has been a very busy one for me. I've been trying to complete all of my practicum hours as the RISE center so I can start my clinicals with gusto and 3 hour increments. Between work, classes and student teaching life is busy. I feel as though I've stretched my self too thin! I have advising Monday, and will know what my graduate school schedule will be! I'm really excited! Also, two weeks from Saturday (March 12) I will be taking the Latin Praxis. I'm really nervous and really excited! If I do really well and pass it this will be my last standardized test! I tend to freeze and panic on standardized tests, so we'll see how it goes!

This Is Why They Call It Service LEARNING

Today when I walked into RISE I was nervous. Not nervous because I would be dealing with special needs 2-year-olds, but nervous because I would be dealing with 2-year-olds in general. I'm really afraid to be around kids, because I feel like they're so fragile and that anything I say or do will irreparably break them physically or emotionally.

Of course I got off work late and missed my bus so I had to trudge my way across campus to the building. I was late. I'm one who when they're late they feel as though they've committed a felony. I walk in expecting to be lectured or given the cold-shoulder, but I'm congenially escorted to my room which is filled with 13 kids and 5 adults. I'm thrown into action. I go and sit amongst the kids in a circle and we read a book, (I can't really divulge too too much because that would be a breach of my confidentiality contract)we play, we eat, we nap, I leave.

After leaving there I was sure of 3 things: #1 Secondary Education is the place for me, #2 Inclusion is the best thing for Special Education students, #3 I can't wait to have kids of my own.

Let me expand on these 3 things...

Firstly, without a doubt secondary education is the place I'm meant to be. I feel I can connect better on a scholarly level with kids grades 6-12. Also, not too many elementary schools have Latin, so I'm going to aim where I can find a job.

Secondly, inclusion is awesome. It teaches two different lessons at the same time. The special education children are able to have profound social experiences with "normal" kids that help them show improvement in their development, while the "normal" kids are able to connect to a special education student and learn that there aren't really very many differences between them. I know when I was in school we never had special needs kids in our classrooms, which made them a commodity. I think introducing special needs kids in the classroom helps kids learn that picking on someone who is different in any way is wrong, that everyone is ultimately the same inside even if we learn/look/dress/speak/express ourselves differently.

Lastly, I've always been kind of afraid that I would be a horrible parent. Mainly because I poked my brother's soft spot when he was a baby. I know that's a silly thing to base an entire fear over, but I can't help but feel bad. I think I'm mainly afraid that in some way I'm going to emotionally scar the kid or break it when I pick it up. I pretty much see children as living porcelain dolls. Being in class today and connecting with those kids help me learn that I will be a good mother. No one spontaneously burst into flame when I touched them and no one burst out crying when I played with them. I think this service learning assignment has helped me come in contact with tat mother inside me and I'm so very excited to one day have a family of my own, which I don't think I'll break.

I can't wait to go back next week and see the little kids again. I know the second time will be a ton better, because I won't be as nervous.

Just Chugging Along.

Today is my first day working at RISE. I'll be working with 2 year olds. Some are special needs and some are regular students. I'm really excited about working here. I hope they allow me to get my 10 hours done sooner than expected, because my clinicals are going to take up quite some time. I'm just excited to be working with these kids, and have heard that it's a really fun experience!



Speaking of fun... yesterday during service learning I couldn't have been prouder. The students in my Social Studies class told me they wish I was their permanent teacher, which made me happy. Also, last week there were two students who didn't really want to work and were really closed off. Yesterday, however, they both saw me and got out their textbooks! They were really smart too! I actually feel like I made a difference, and helped them apply themselves. I had a great time in my afternoon tutoring too (I think my group had the most fun!)




On another note... my TEP (Teacher Education Program) interview was yesterday! It went really well I think, though I was somewhat confused by his graduate assistant. She seemed somewhat flustered, because she was late and didn't really make sense when asking me questions. It was also really awkward, because my advisor/interviewer asked her to introduce herself, but she never did. I know I should've taken the initiative and said my name, but I didn't want to fluster her even more. She asked some question about ESL students and I answered in the best way I could. Fortunately while I was there my advisor said he would recommend me for the second round of the Fellowship process. I'm rather excited! Maybe I'll get it this time!

Bonjour Français!

Since there are so few places that are teaching Latin nowadays for my clinicals I have been placed teaching High School French! I'm actually pretty nervous seeing as how I've never taken one day of French in my life. I will be required to teach a lesson to the class, which means I'm hoping it will be a lecture about French history in English! We'll see how everything goes for this girl who knows Latin, Greek and Italian in a French classroom!!

My First Time

Hi blogosphere! This is my first post on my first personal blog! I'm really excited to be sharing my experiences with you. This blog is basically going to be me talking about my life as a teacher in training, and maybe occasional exciting news from my non-professional life. In the fall I'll start getting my Alternative Masters in Secondary Education: Latin, and am excitedly exploring the world of service learning and clinical experiences as we speak (or type!). I'll know where I'm placed for my clinicals this afternoon, and am really excited. So far I'm doing service learning with an 8th grade Social Studies class and a 7th grade after-school SAT prep class. I'm also working with 2 year olds at a special education center on my campus. I've always wanted to be a teacher and nothing is more satisfying than going into the classrooms this semester and feeling a sense of belonging there. I know for certain that this is my calling. Next step: getting funding for graduate school,YIKES!

I haven't been too lucky in my search for fellowships/assistantships. My first assistantship position fell through, though I'm not too sure how adamant the professor was for me to get it, and my fellowship fell through. I've applied for 3 other assistantships and will apply for my fourth and final assistantship this week. I hope something comes up, because I've been booted from on-campus living and can't afford an apartment. I'm probably going to be living at home and driving the 3 total hour trip here and back every day.

I'll be sure to keep you guys updated to what is going on!