Confessions of a Teacher-in-Training: Updates on Student Teaching!

It's been a while since I did one of these posts, and I figure it's time for an update! I successfully completed last semester's classes, and passed the PRAXIS II (big scary teacher-licensure test) with flying colors. Even though I was deathly ill with food poisoning the day I took it. This semester, I get to teach full time! It's lots of work, but it's super rewarding. I definitely feel like all I do is teach, teach, teach! I go straight from teaching 6th grade all day to tutoring 3 or 4 students at Thorup Tutoring after school. After I finish my 12-hour day, then I go home and plan. I'm getting lots of practice :)

Here are a few things I've learned/discovered/experienced over the past two weeks:

1. Teaching is the most rewarding thing in the world when your students get excited about a lesson you teach. Learning is magical!
2. As much as you love them, your students might still give you a headache sometimes.
3. You probably shouldn't eat a Lean Cuisine for lunch every day.
4. Planning takes up....your life.
5. My site teacher is the most amazing person ever. She is the kind of teacher I hope to be one day.
6. Lessons that are fun for your students are fun for you, too! Therefore, fun lessons are a win-win.
7. If you rap for your students even just one time, they will ask you to do it again every single day.
8. I carry so many things to school every day that walking up the stairs feels like climbing Mount Everest. I hoped I'd never say this, but I think it's time for one of these.
9. I would also love these for grading papers. Wouldn't 6th graders love them?
10. I got observed today by my supervisor at the University of Utah, and it went so well! Observations are always super-stressful, but there's nothing like getting positive feedback on your teaching. It helps remind me that this is what I'm supposed to be doing, and if I work hard, I might even be good at it!

Thanks to everyone, especially D, my family, D's family, my fellow student teachers, and my amazing site teacher for helping me make it through last semester, and for continuing to support me during this one. I am blessed to know such wonderful people!