Mission: Accomplished

Thoughts of Reflections...
Well I would like to proudly announce that I survived student teaching. In Detroit. Take that ego. As I look back over it now (being absent from the classroom 3 weeks already) it amazes me of what I actually remember. I can honestly say that I don't remember the year (as a whole) as being so terrible. Maybe because I've had some time to remember what summer actually is. When people ask me now "How was student teaching?" or "So how terrible was teaching in Detroit?" To the first question I generally answer "Well it was an experience." And quite honestly it was just that. I learned all about my students as 9 year olds, city-kids, Detroit-kids, urban-kids and just silly-kids. My answer to the second questions is usually sprinkled with a bit of attitude. Don't judge Detroit and don't label my kids as just "kids from Detroit". They are kids, first and foremore, and then they are kids who are growing up in an environment where learning isn't their top priority - and I don't blame them for that. It's my job to push education to become a priority. Along with that second question - teaching anywhere is hard work. Every environment in every location will have it's challenges, sometimes it's the kids don't eat dinner other times it's a kid who is torn apart when they don't receive a 100% on every single assignment. There are challenges everywhere, so teaching in Detroit naturally had some too.

I do clearly remember many days and nights of no-sleep, anxiety, colds, pimples, snot, worries, frets, apprehensions, anxiety (yes more) and self-doubt...but even remember those feelings I did actualy complete the year in one piece. And I managed to keep my boyfriend, friends and family relavity happy with me. I did discover that excerise it a must. A must for my mental stablility and general health. I also discovered the joys of Yoga, which let me just say has also been a life saver and hopefully will continue to act in such a way throughout my career. I discovered:
-teaching is very hard
-I will not have all the answers (or even some of the answers most days)
-I have a hard time with doing a job where I am still very much learning
-I need to understand that even when a lesson bombs, there is still positive learning that comes out of it (sometimes by the students and sometimes by myself as the teacher)
-the good-morning greeting is essential to everyone
-sometimes smiling (even when you are down right mad) can bring your mood into a more positive light
-I will never be caught up or on top of my game (but that is very OK)
-whatever I do in the classroom as an individual my students will pay attention to and possibly mimic (weird, i know)
-a strong support system is essential
-flexibility, flexibility, flexibility
-having small goals (like only using positive comments) is just as important as big goals
-passion is helpful and contagious in learning
-students should be observed and interacted with in a non-classroom environment early in the school year in order to learn about them as people and not just students (because they are two very different personalities)
-I can make a daily difference in someone else's life
-preparation, preparation, preparation

I know these thoughts are kind of rambled but that goes to show what the year was really like...more to come I'm sure