My Teaching Experiences... My Teaching Experiences...
In the fall of 2003 I started helping out with a fourth grade class. Actually it is two fourth grade classes since the two teachers team teach. They are the only two in this school that team teach and I had never been part of team teaching so I found this very neat. I was so lucky to be put in their class. These two are the most wonderful teachers I have ever met. They enjoy their job, make learning fun, care about every student in their class and getting to know them outside of the classroom; are funny and two of the best people I have ever met. I had some good experiences and some embarrassing experiences.
One day I had to teach a Social Studies lessons. I was supposed to teach about the first Thanksgiving. I took a tape home on the night before to watch. The next day I was supposed to put the tape in the v.c.r. and start teaching my part. Instead of the first Thanksgiving it was Sesame Street. It was one of those times I wanted to fall through the floor. The teacher I was working under was a good sport. He saw the humor in it while I was dieing of embarrassment.
I worked with a total of 37 students. I had so much fun. They would come up and give me hugs when I first got there and tell me stories about things they had done before I got there. Its amazing to hear what a nine year old can tell you. We played games so they could learn their multiplication and division facts. One day the fourth grade got in to a multiplication war with sixth grade. Fourth grade won all six times. I was so proud of them as was their regular teacher. I was so lucky to work with the group I worked with because they had an amazing teacher and I learned a lot from him and from the class.
My last day there before Christmas break they gave me a party. We went to wash our hands and I was asked to take them to the cafeteria. Almost everyone asked what we were doing and I told them I had no idea. We walked in there and got seated and when I had my back toward them I heard "SURPRISE'' echo through the cafeteria. I turned around to see the biggest cookie cake ever. We ate the cake and had milk then one by one they handed me a card they made and a gift. On one side would be a picture and on the other a little note. I have all these cards put up and they are something I will keep forever. To my surprise they had known about this for almost two weeks. How in the world thirty-seven children kept this a secret from me I will never know. As many students as I teach in the upcoming years I will never forget these because they were my first class. I never knew all the hard work there was to being a teacher. I thought it was easy to get up in front of a class and talk but I never knew about all the paper work and preparation. I must say it is a very rewarding job.
I haven't went back for this semester as I am waiting to get a schedule for my youngest son for his speech therapy. As soon as I get back I will post more fun stories.
I have went back to school and have worked with a third grade class the last two days. Today (1/30/04) some of my previous fourth grade buddies came up and gave me a hug. The teacher said we will have to get my schedule worked out so I can have third and fourth grade classes. I am so excited to work with my fourth graders. I got too attached to them. I guess that is because they were my first class ever. We have went through a lot together. Mostly my embarrassing mess-ups but also helping the students who were behind to catch up and to lend an ear to a child that needed a friend. These guys are the students I will probably remember the most. Well guys, get ready because here I come!!!