Thursday, May 27, 2010

HIGH SCHOOL HAS ENDED!!!!!! My last day was Tuesday and I just had 2 exams in the morning and I was done by 8:30 :) Except before leaving I forgot to turn in my Alg 2 notebook and textbook.. :( Had to go back to turn that in today. This friday is graduation rehearsal and the senior picnic and then next friday is graduation!! I'm so happy for this year to be over. It's been a great year and all but still. Tuesday in teacher academy we all had to write valediction speeches (goodbye speeches) plus brought in food so that was a good way to end it. It was good to hear what everyone had to say.

Some of the things I said were: I started off this year not really knowing what to expect. Before last August I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do as a career but luckily Teacher Academy helped me answer that question. I never expected to learn as much as I did from Teacher Academy or from my internships as I did. I can't say that I have any complaints about this class and I'm really glad I chose it.

How could I sum up what I've learned? That could take ages! From always being the student I never really thought about all that a teacher does and all the preparation they have to do. It just never occurred to me to think about those things. After talking in class about what makes a good teacher good it made me look at teachers in a different light, appreciating what they do and of course sometimes thinking what they could do better. I never really cared for school but being on the other side of the spectrum and being as a teacher was much different. I looked forward to my internships and enjoyed them a lot.

In my teacher academy class we accomplished so much. 24 essays, 11 chapters, 6 internships and lessons. We worked together in class often and scaffolded off one another. It was a lot of work and I totally wasn't used to it but I'm still really glad I did it!

I interned in 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th grade and special education with 5th and 8th grade. I realized that 1st grade was too young and 8th grade was too old for my preference. I liked 4th and 5th grade the best. Each internship has brought different experiences. It really helped to have experienced teachers there to ask questions about anything I was thinking about. Having the feedback they gave me on a weekly basis and for my lessons helped me to know what I did well on and what I could do to improve. Using that feedback to correct problems for the future definitely helped me to be more well rounded and learn what it takes to be a teacher from others perspectives. I could also definitely say that my Teacher Academy teacher knew her stuff and was a great example to us of a good teacher. I said in my speech that she never let us break the rules but she was a good example of what we should be, which is true. :) I can't stand when someone is meant to be looked up to so much and they do not do what they should. Be an example!!!! Just my opinion :)

On a different note, I walked a lot today. Went on the path in Austinburg with some people from church and then met my brother again at some river thing in Jefferson. We walked all around there for a while too. Plus driving around. It's always nice when it's so hot out to drive around with the windows down :D

Plus, I was thinking today I hate how disrespectful people are nowadays. Ha teaching good idea right? It'll be alright though. I just don't understand how people can let others treat them and speak to them the way they do.. I'll tell you right now when I'm a parent there is noooooo way that is going to happen! Not that people do, but I don't let anyone talk to me like some people do and especially not your child. I guess there are a million things that I can't comprehend why people do but I can say that I won't be like them.