Today was the day that my sixth graders presented their Living History Museum in front of their entire elementary school! Let me begin with saying that I am so so so proud of each and everyone one of them. Earlier this week, many of the kids were so ill-prepared that my field site teacher insisted on canceling the entire presentation. I'm so glad she didn't! Regardless of how terrible their practice presentations went during the beginning of the week, each one of the kids pulled through and made the entire museum alive (pun intended)! The museum was such a nice wrap-up for a very stressful and eventful week.
Now that the museum is over, I need to begin planning for my bulletin board which will be debuted during open house! Since they're learning about the Middle East next in Social Studies, I'll be making a Middle Eastern themed board. Hmm I think I'll just get ideas off of pinterest...
My semester long special project that I'll be doing is with the GT students. It's called Pursuit of Passion. I was given the materials today by my field site teacher and shortly, I'll begin going over all the rules and activities they need to complete. I'm excited to begin working with the higher level thinkers, being a GT kid myself!
I don't think a smile ever wiped off my face today because of my kids. Ahh the perks of having a teaching internship :)
Friday, February 21, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Short and Sweet
Teaching is so tiring! I'm only at field site for 3 hours, but it wipes me out so quickly. Today was a bit of a boring day (even my field site teacher agreed) - I supervised and watched the kids present for their living history museum.
**Off topic moment: For future reference, I definitely want to use the living history museum idea as a full blown unit. The students pick a historical figure, research them, and eventually dress up at their historical figure and recite a short biography when an audience member pretends to press a button that brings their figure to life!**
Homeroom's assignment was to finish their sarcophagi for Open House. While I was supervising, a couple of kids were talking very inappropriately. I had to step in and give them a short and simple lecture about bullying and why it's not okay. I know that they're only sixth grade, but they need to know at an earlier age that name calling and harassment is never okay and can be defined as bullying at a certain point. I wish that elementary and schools in general had more lessons about bullying and other social issues. These things are serious and can effect others in very negative ways.
Regardless of the issues I deal with during my internship, I love it so much and I absolutely love every one of my kids!
**Off topic moment: For future reference, I definitely want to use the living history museum idea as a full blown unit. The students pick a historical figure, research them, and eventually dress up at their historical figure and recite a short biography when an audience member pretends to press a button that brings their figure to life!**
Homeroom's assignment was to finish their sarcophagi for Open House. While I was supervising, a couple of kids were talking very inappropriately. I had to step in and give them a short and simple lecture about bullying and why it's not okay. I know that they're only sixth grade, but they need to know at an earlier age that name calling and harassment is never okay and can be defined as bullying at a certain point. I wish that elementary and schools in general had more lessons about bullying and other social issues. These things are serious and can effect others in very negative ways.
Regardless of the issues I deal with during my internship, I love it so much and I absolutely love every one of my kids!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Pathways
Today, a very talented and overall wonderful teacher of mine left the education field to pursue a career in what he loves most - web design! He was a Computer Science teacher and I've had him as my teacher for almost 2 years. His leaving was bittersweet and it also gave me some food for thought.
I wish to pursue a career in education - however, I've never imagined going into the teaching field right out of college. I always thought I would spend a few years in the engineering field, focusing solely on Civil Engineering, and then retire to a teaching job. My former Comp Sci teacher never really had an intent to become a teacher, nor did he think (when he first began teaching) that he would soon move onto a career fully focused on Web Design. His history made me the think, "What does the future have in store for me?". I have so many aspirations: becoming an educator, a civil engineer, an advocate, and a baker. I've always wanted to open up my own bakery but never thought it would be a plausible career for me. Same goes for civil engineering and teaching.
Right now, at this very moment, I have a plan for my life. I don't know what's to come in the future but all I know (or want to believe) is that the future is going to work just the way I want it to. However, life obviously doesn't work like that. God may have a completely different plan for me. Who knows where I'll be after college. I may be a teacher, an engineer, a baker, or maybe even something completely out of my mindset such as a civil rights lawyer!
I think it's time I let God open pathways for me, instead of diverging off the path He's already created...
Regardless of these really deep "shower thoughts", life's looking güd. :)
PS, I have my internship tomorrow and I'm so excited to see the kids!
I wish to pursue a career in education - however, I've never imagined going into the teaching field right out of college. I always thought I would spend a few years in the engineering field, focusing solely on Civil Engineering, and then retire to a teaching job. My former Comp Sci teacher never really had an intent to become a teacher, nor did he think (when he first began teaching) that he would soon move onto a career fully focused on Web Design. His history made me the think, "What does the future have in store for me?". I have so many aspirations: becoming an educator, a civil engineer, an advocate, and a baker. I've always wanted to open up my own bakery but never thought it would be a plausible career for me. Same goes for civil engineering and teaching.
Right now, at this very moment, I have a plan for my life. I don't know what's to come in the future but all I know (or want to believe) is that the future is going to work just the way I want it to. However, life obviously doesn't work like that. God may have a completely different plan for me. Who knows where I'll be after college. I may be a teacher, an engineer, a baker, or maybe even something completely out of my mindset such as a civil rights lawyer!
I think it's time I let God open pathways for me, instead of diverging off the path He's already created...
Regardless of these really deep "shower thoughts", life's looking güd. :)
PS, I have my internship tomorrow and I'm so excited to see the kids!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Valentine's Day: Student Teaching Edition
I was asked by a number of my students if I would be their valentine...I could have gone many routes with my answer.
First off, being a Muslim, I do not celebrate or take part in Valentine's Day. I could have told my students that I don't celebrate the holiday, but that would have resulted in too many questions and explaining to do so I decided not to tell them..
My next route was to say "No, I'm sorry", however, then I would be breaking quite a few 11 year old hearts. I didn't want to do that so you can only guess what I did say.
In the end, after thinking out all of my options (I had so many more options in my head), I went with saying, "Sure!" and not screwing around with tween boys' feelings. Today, I was treated with cute valentines and sweets. Although it was great to receive gifts, I didn't need them to feel loved or be happy! My students' presence makes me overjoyed and gushy because they're all just so darn cute :)
Overall, it's been a superb day!
First off, being a Muslim, I do not celebrate or take part in Valentine's Day. I could have told my students that I don't celebrate the holiday, but that would have resulted in too many questions and explaining to do so I decided not to tell them..
My next route was to say "No, I'm sorry", however, then I would be breaking quite a few 11 year old hearts. I didn't want to do that so you can only guess what I did say.
In the end, after thinking out all of my options (I had so many more options in my head), I went with saying, "Sure!" and not screwing around with tween boys' feelings. Today, I was treated with cute valentines and sweets. Although it was great to receive gifts, I didn't need them to feel loved or be happy! My students' presence makes me overjoyed and gushy because they're all just so darn cute :)
Overall, it's been a superb day!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Exciting News!!
After school today, I decided to head to the elementary school just to ask my field site teacher a few questions and it's always fun to pop into their class when they least expect it! After the dismissal bell rang, I was able to get a few things sorted out for the semester. We discussed upcoming projects that I beyond excited about!
1) As part of the Texas Performance Standards Project, my field site teacher is pulling out the GT (gifted and talented) students from each period and pairing these groups of kids with me! The project that they will be working on for two and a half months is called the Pursuit of Passion project. They will be required to research a topic, write an essay, and create a product (some type of visual). There's so many more details and kinks to the project, but way too difficult and unnecessary to explain. I was a GT student which makes this experience even greater. For the last semester, I've been working with special needs kids. Now, I get to work with students who are on a completely different level (this should be interesting...)! Also, this project can count for the special project I have to do with the kids :)
2) Open house is coming up and I am required to create a bulletin board for the students and parents during the event. Creating a bulletin board isn't the exciting part about all of this..it's the fact that I'll be there during Open House that excites me! I cannot wait to meet all the parents and finally interact with them. I'm assuming it will be exciting for the students as well since they will be able to introduce me to their parents!
3) Lastly, I'm going to be a speaker at their sixth grade graduation! I just need to create an inspiring speech and try not to cry when I stand up on stage to speak...
1) As part of the Texas Performance Standards Project, my field site teacher is pulling out the GT (gifted and talented) students from each period and pairing these groups of kids with me! The project that they will be working on for two and a half months is called the Pursuit of Passion project. They will be required to research a topic, write an essay, and create a product (some type of visual). There's so many more details and kinks to the project, but way too difficult and unnecessary to explain. I was a GT student which makes this experience even greater. For the last semester, I've been working with special needs kids. Now, I get to work with students who are on a completely different level (this should be interesting...)! Also, this project can count for the special project I have to do with the kids :)
2) Open house is coming up and I am required to create a bulletin board for the students and parents during the event. Creating a bulletin board isn't the exciting part about all of this..it's the fact that I'll be there during Open House that excites me! I cannot wait to meet all the parents and finally interact with them. I'm assuming it will be exciting for the students as well since they will be able to introduce me to their parents!
3) Lastly, I'm going to be a speaker at their sixth grade graduation! I just need to create an inspiring speech and try not to cry when I stand up on stage to speak...
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
First Day Back
Today was my first day back at the elementary school, and I was more than ecstatic to see the little kiddos. I missed them so much after a two and a half month hiatus consisting of holidays, training, and competitions. I was expecting a little bit more interaction with the entire class in each period (I teach sixth grade and they switch classes so I have 2 classes that I stay with for the full time and 1 class that I stay with for half the time due to my lunch break and the rest of the school day), however, it was more of a one-on-one with the kids who did not finish their classwork that was assigned two weeks ago(!).
I took the kids who didn't finish their classwork to the ZAPP lab (not sure why it's named that) where there was a fairly strict fill-in teacher who I happened to bond with. She made my job so much easier since the kids were constantly working and we were able to talk about teaching and the various enjoyments of it.
In first period, there was a student who had missed quite a bit of school and had fallen very behind in his work. I was able to do a one-on-one tutoring with him and it really opened my eyes. These kids are being tested so much that their learning is almost robotic. They're given information, told to memorize it, and given a test in every stinking subject. In my one semester of observation, I've seen so much of this robotic "learning" and it was only until today that I realized how terrible it is. The child I was working with is so bright! He's got a great mind and he knows so much about the world. However, with the stringent education guidelines and constant assessments, the child isn't able to learn what he wants to learn. Here is a child who is so intelligent and has such great potential but he's being held back in his education because he can't reach the stupid state guidelines? Just because he can't seem to grasp what the state wants him to grasp does not mean he isn't able to further his education to the next grade level. All students have their weaknesses and strengths, but the state cannot hold them all back.
These tests are ridiculous. Like Albert Einstein said, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." That's what these students believe.
I took the kids who didn't finish their classwork to the ZAPP lab (not sure why it's named that) where there was a fairly strict fill-in teacher who I happened to bond with. She made my job so much easier since the kids were constantly working and we were able to talk about teaching and the various enjoyments of it.
In first period, there was a student who had missed quite a bit of school and had fallen very behind in his work. I was able to do a one-on-one tutoring with him and it really opened my eyes. These kids are being tested so much that their learning is almost robotic. They're given information, told to memorize it, and given a test in every stinking subject. In my one semester of observation, I've seen so much of this robotic "learning" and it was only until today that I realized how terrible it is. The child I was working with is so bright! He's got a great mind and he knows so much about the world. However, with the stringent education guidelines and constant assessments, the child isn't able to learn what he wants to learn. Here is a child who is so intelligent and has such great potential but he's being held back in his education because he can't reach the stupid state guidelines? Just because he can't seem to grasp what the state wants him to grasp does not mean he isn't able to further his education to the next grade level. All students have their weaknesses and strengths, but the state cannot hold them all back.
These tests are ridiculous. Like Albert Einstein said, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." That's what these students believe.
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