A Film-maker and Scientist in the Making

The Triumph:  The more my CT leaves the room, the more confident I am that I can manage these children, I can teach them, and I can handle the issues that come up.  I appreciate the trust that she has in me and the time that she has allowed me to have such a presence in the classroom!  I know that not every student intern has that same type of experience!

The Struggle:  Cloning myself.  Really though, at one point today, I had 6 kids around me, vying for my attention.  If only there were 8 of me, I could help so many more kids.  I guess I'll just have to teach, hope that one of my future students gets hooked by science and figures out how to clone humans.

The Ludicrousness:  There are so many silly, ridiculous, and outrageous things that are happening in the classroom that it's hard to narrow down to just one.  I think my favorite from today was when my CT was teaching science.  She wanted to record the lesson and put the Flip Camera in the hands of one of the Kinders.  She asked him to follow the discussion, and move the camera to point at whoever was talking at the time.  At one point, I looked over and he was so focused on what he was doing.  Then, a student got up to use the bathroom, and the cinematographer pointed the camera on him and followed him all the way to the door.  While a science discussion was taking place.  But boy, was he focused!  I can just imagine what commentary was going on inside his head.

To the Cheetahs!!!

The Triumph:  As time goes on, I have been teaching more and more.  I have always taught lessons, but more often I am teaching, leading, and facilitating the kids and I love it!  I feel like I am really gaining a good sense of when they have had enough, such as today during an observed lesson.  The kids had a package of 6 crackers with a crinkly wrapper.  They were really good for the first few minutes while they were still eating.  I ended up challenging them to quickly and quietly get their wrappers in the garbage can while I closed my eyes and counted to 20.... and it worked wonderfully!

The Struggle:  Today, I felt that I struggled with following through with what I say when it comes to discipline.  I had asked one particular student to stop making noises with his mouth and told him if I had to ask him again that he would go to the Cheetah Chairs.  Well, about a minute later he was rocking on the floor.  But.... he was doing it silently!  I just reminded him of how he should be sitting and when he still did not sit as I had asked him, sent him to the Cheetah Chairs!  I later talked with my observer about and she let me know that yes it is ok to just send a student there who should know better!  And this rolling, noisy child most certainly does know better!

The Ludicrousness:  While standing with my University Coordinator today during recess, one of the boys in my class came up to us and asked her to tie his shoe.  I said "You didn't want me to tie your shoe?" and he responds with "Well, you do it every other time!"  He also happens to have the tiniest, cutest voice ever, which made it even funnier!