So I'm really liking student teaching. I miss BYU, sure, but since I'm not on campus, I forget how much I miss it. Student teaching is so fun. The BYU Math Education Department has designed student teaching so that each student teacher not only has a cooperating teacher, but they also have a partner student teacher. We still teach our own classes (we don't team teach), but then we have someone to colloborate with and it's super helpful. Anyway, I was randomly paired with one of my best friends, Bethany. I think I probably wouldn't be having as good of an experience if I was paired with someone random, but it so awesome being with Bethany. We just get along so well.
My new home
My cooperating teacher is so nice. She has made us feel right at home. She goes out of her way to introduce us to people and help us get to know the school. She even told the assistant principal to give us keys so now we are official. I can get into the faculty bathrooms (which are much nicer) and the teachers lounge--now does that make me cool or what? My cooperating teacher is also really good about slowly easing us into teaching. BYU has it set up that we just observe for the first 2 weeks and then we teach one lesson a week for a few weeks and then we take over completely. But she had us teach an entire lesson the first week. I think it is really good for us to get to know the students and begin teaching right away--without the pressures of having to plan the lesson and teach all day. So I've taught a couple times and it's gone alright. Obviously there are things I can work on, but I really think the lessons have gone well. The kids are getting more used to me, which is good. The kids are so cute! I just love this age. I have a few 7th graders, but mostly 8th and 9th graders. I think they're the perfect age. Still needy, but responsible enough to do what you ask. In 7th grade the kids are still getting used to middle school and getting organized, so it's a little harder to get them going. By 8th grade, they're good to go. But they still want the teacher to like them. And I like that.
3 comments:
Whoohoo! Good job Natalie! You're gonna be great :)
I'm glad it's going so well! And that the teachers are nice. I hope it turns out to be an awesome year!
ps. your 'About Me' picture so makes your hair look brown. It's really cute. :)
How nice that you are paired with your good friend. That really sounds like a great idea. I hope you continue feeling confident when you take over completely.
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