Thursday, April 17, 2014

Six

6 years ago, I left my elementary school, not really knowing where I would end up in 6 years. I had the strongest yearning to go back to my elementary school for the past 6 years, but I never went through with it. I had no clue that I would be teaching 6 years later in the same elementary that I left and loved so much. It feels so weird to see my old classrooms, filled with other students and filled with a new teacher. 6 years ago, I was in my students' positions. 6 years ago, I had no ambition to be a teacher and now it's everything that I ever talk about! This makes me think: where will I be 6 years from now? Will I be in my city or across the country? Will I be a teacher or engineer? Will I be married  with kids? Hmm who knows! 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Happy

As the school year is winding down, it's becoming more surreal everyday that I have days left with my students. When I entered the RST program, I had no clue that I would grow such an attachment to them! I never thought that I would actually enjoy spending three hours on my feet, interacting with them. This school year has taught me so much. It was the year of finding an escape from all my worries and knowing everything would be okay. You know who taught me these things? My students. They were my escape each and every day. Whenever I entered the elementary school, there was nothing else on my mind other than my students. They also taught me how to become a more patient and calm human being. I was always rushing and fighting time and just trying to make everything okay by doing things quickly. I learned the hard way that the rabbit never wins. They made me realize that I should take my life day by day. I should never rush and in the end, life will work its mysterious ways to make everything work in my favor. I've said it once and I'll say one billion times more, RST was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Who knew that three hours with kids could make me so happy and blissful? My entire high school career could never amount up to the happiness this one class has brought me. 

I don't think I've ever really said and meant it, but here I go:

I love teaching.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Bibliography Lesson Plan

Next Tuesday's lesson will be about creating a bibliography for their research papers! I'm actually very surprised that 6th grade students need an entire lesson to explain to them how to create one and how to correctly format it. I figured it would be common sense, but some students need that extra help! I developed my lesson plan from scratch - like always. I decided I would post it up on here if anyone (pshaw) would ever find it useful and would want to use it. If anyone does use my lesson plan and the materials that go along with it, all I ask is that you give me credit, please!

Well, I'm off to printing all the lesson materials and creating the file folder for it! Tomorrow I see my students and there is one group I need to talk to about behaviour. I love this group, but last class, they were acting out. They need to understand that this GT project is a privilege that can/will be revoked if they continue to have behavioural problems. 


Lesson Plan - Bibliography
Bibliography Instructions

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Calming Week

Usually, Monday's are very hectic and stressful, however, Ready Set Teach made it 10x better. My students truly do bring me happiness and calm. I have so much going on right now with projects, exams, etc that I've been a little angsty and just "ugh". Every time I pull into my elementary school, there's this weird aura of utter and complete bliss that fills me from head to toe. I'm not sure if this is just the school or the fact that I really enjoy being a teacher... Whatever it is, I love it. I forget about all the stress and whatnot. 

The GT project is going really well! We are almost finished and I just have one lesson to teach the kiddos before we wrap up the project. I'm so anxious to see all of their completed projects because it not only reflects on what they've achieved but also what I have taught them! 

Here's to another great day in Ready Set Teach! 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Busy busy busy

It's that time of the year where elementary kids are preparing for their STAAR exams and high school seniors (like me) are finishing up their last few months of school and whatnot. Wow. Where do I begin? These past two weeks in Ready, Set, Teach have been a complete blur! Let me just start with the fact that 6th grade totally wears me out! Don't get me wrong - I love my kids, but they are so energized and ready to learn with all of their questions and whatnot that I end up so drained by the time I clock out. 

GT projects are going really well! I do have some students who are struggling and need to work diligently and harder. They understand what to do and how to do it, but they are lazy (a pandemic sweeping students of all ages across America). I need to figure out how to motivate these particular students and get them excited to work on this project.. 

My first lesson for this semester will be on the 15th! I'm teaching my GT kids how to correctly write a bibliography. This is, apparently, a tough feat for these students. Which brings me to the question of, why does education in Texas suck so much? These students are learning less and less as the years go by due to all this unnecessary state testing. One thing I do know is that if I do become a teacher, I will most definitely teach at a private school.