Last one of Student Teaching...Adios y bienvenidos el VERANO!!

Today is the last day of student teaching. It is surreal that it is the end of my college career today. Officially I will graduate this Saturday, CINCO DE MAYO!!, and be completed with my post-secondary education. I have learned a great amount of material from my cooperating teachers these last 12 weeks. I have improved greatly with my own goals and look forward to beginning my future career in Nebraska.

Throughout these last four years I have done so much. I have travelled the world, succeeded in living on my own, maintained over a B average, and completed all the requirements to become a Spanish teacher and my history minor. When students ask why I would want to do student teaching and why not just go into the profession, I answer with no I am so glad that I have been able to practice. That is what this job is about. Practice makes it better. I feel bad for my first block students, because I feel that those classes never went great. They were ok, but by the time that I did it 3 more times it was much better. My future goal is to get better at beginning all my classes and making them fluid throughout the times teaching it.

I have been overwhelmed with all the things that are coming to head in the near future, but now I know I can do it. I have come to realize with the help of the words of someone that my confidence has been lacking. I know it and received words of advice to help me through it and to keep going. Having those people around that support me and give me strength to keep going is what I am grateful for. I do not know what I would do without these people. My sig. other has helped me out significantly and I don’t know what I would do without him.

I wish all my fellow student teachers good luck in their future endeavors. Go get them. Don’t give up and keep pushing yourself to do your best. Go DWU baseball (conference tourney today). Cinco de Mayo here I come.

El fin,

Chau Chau

Crisis...see the light

Alrighty, it has been a bit of time since I have written and I do have quite a lot to talk about. I have recently accepted a position as a Middle School Spanish Teacher in Columbus, Nebraska. I will begin training August 3^rd. This summer is approaching fast, which means that my student teaching is nearing a close. I have learned quite a lot through these last 12 weeks. I have improved on every aspect of teaching and some I have accomplished.

So the last 4 weeks here at the high school have gone very well. I am teaching Spanish 2 and I taught one class of Spanish 3. I have learned everything that these students have learned, but let me tell you it has been a long time. I am reviewing the materials and learning right along with the students. I have enjoyed this level of students a lot and would like to teach at this level also. I have my last observation this Thursday and believe that it will go well.

Last week my CT’s daughter had pink eye and had to stay home 2 days (got it in one and then the other eye) and therefore I was all alone to teach to all the classes. Classes went well and were successful, a big accomplishment for myself. Last Friday we also had a lockdown drill and learned our procedures for our disaster drills. Overall it was a great week and very eye-opening for me.

The only downfall started Friday night. I had a quarter-life crisis and was all out of sorts. The end of school, graduation, the reality of a real job, the reality of paying back my school loans, moving at the end of the summer, and the reality of failure all came down on me that night. I was a mess to say the least and needed to talk it over with someone. I have been successful at my student teaching, but have not done several things: severe discipline issues, setting up the classroom rules and routines, failed at something. I am just worried that I am up on a pedestal for being successful and that one day I will fail and it will be bad.

It has been 2 years since my best friend and I have no longer been friends and do not talk anymore. I am still not for sure on how our friendship fell apart and how we could not fix it. It took me almost 1.5 years to get over this and realize that there was nothing more I could do about it. But in times when I feel really down and want to talk to somebody about crisis things I want a best friend. Ever since that fall out I have not had a best friend. I have a lot of friends, but none that I can tell absolutely anything too and can trust that they will have my back through everything. So I talked it out with my boyfriend, but I don’t like burdening him all the time and just want to talk to other people. All people need at least one best friend. J So I think now is the time for my puppy (pug!! Hint hint). After a lot of tears, Kleenexes, and a long talk with the bf I felt a lot better and realize that I need to organize my events so that they do not collide at one time. Stress building up and collapsing all at once sucks J.

This past weekend my boyfriend’s mom visited and we watched baseball all weekend. It was very windy on Saturday and quite chilly. Now yesterday was nicer out; there was still a breeze, but it must have been warm enough because my face is quite sunburned. Yesterday was a great day. My pololo (boyfriend) pitched for the last inning on Saturday’s 1^st game (2 strikeouts) and then yesterday he pitched a complete game with 17 strikeouts. There were 22 outs in this 7 inning game, because one batter struck out and stole 1^st base (3^rd strike was dropped). Ethan made all but 5 of the outs in the game and did a phenomenal job pitching yesterday. He said he just found his rhythm yesterday and was on a role. His arm is quite sore and he will pitch on Sunday. It is senior night this Thursday (only 2 seniors) and I will be there to watch him get an award. There will be a great surprise for him on Thursday!

I have 1.5 weeks left here and a ½ marathon this weekend. My other knee hurt real bad last night that I could not walk with it bent and needed to sleep with a wrap on it. I am nervous for this weekend and hope that I can be successful. I just need to trust in myself and know that I can succeed. I need to get over this half empty mentality and get my confidence back to where it used to be.

Upcoming events:

½ marathon

Graduation

Summer job

Moving

Chau Chau

Is this real life?

Well it has been a week since I last wrote and I will try to fill you all in on what has been going on.

I started at the high school 3/26/12 and it was quite a change. I was used to planning so much every about every little thing in order to keep those middle schoolers on track, but at the high school it was a big change. I went from having 85 minute planning every other day to 3 hours every other day and 90 minutes on the alternating day. It was quite a switch and I felt like I didn't know what to do with myself. I had a lot of planning time throughout the day where I was able to type up my lesson plans (getting better) and also plan what to do. By the end of the day I was ready to go home at 4:00pm!

Now in all of our teaching classes we are told it is not an 8-4 job, but here I have so much time built in to my day to plan and do anything needed that I am done at 445 at the latest. Also the students are a little less rowdy (still, but less) and are more whipped into shape. I mean it is the high school now and the end of the year, so these kids know what they are doing. Again my teacher is great. She has so much energy and she has a great rapport with the students. It feels almost easier in this classroom to go with the flow of the students, to accept few disruptions in order to engage the students. Overall thus far my experience has been great. I will be getting observed for the second time this Thursday and hope that it goes well. Today was a long break after a holiday weekend and my kids were a bit rowdy, but I made it through. I am getting used to these kids and I hope they are to me also.

Now last weekend I went down to Nebraska to watch some DWU baseball and the man pitch. They had an up and down weekend and came out at .500. The main reason of traveling to Nebraska was for what would happen 4/2. I was asked to come down for an interview for a Middle School Spanish Teacher position. Later on the car ride home I received a phone call with a job offer. I took the whole week and the Easter weekend to think of the offer and to contemplate others that I had been looking into. After going home this Easter weekend and talking with my family, loved ones, and former teachers/colleagues I made a final decision and returned the phone call yesterday morning. I accepted the job position and am currently waiting for a contract and all that it entails. I have had quite a great spring: 2 great CTs for my Student Teaching, being told I was a fluent Spanish speaker by a Native speaker, receiving my desired summer job title (will help me prepare for my real teaching experience) and a job offer that I accepted, oh and finally being told that my man will be traveling with me wherever I decide to go.

I am trying not to move to fast right now for my student teaching is almost complete (3 short weeks left). I am trying to train for a half marathon and holy it has been a MARATHON training. With school and homework it is weird to have it represent what the real world will be like and how I need to learn to manage that. My marathon is in 3 weeks at the end of the month, I will be ending Student Teaching shortly after and then graduating from college. Wow this is all so surreal to me. I am lucky that I have such a great support system from everyone around me: former childhood friends/classmates, teachers, coworkers, family members, significant others, friends and many more. I am just grateful for everything and do not take any of this for granted.

 I just cannot imagine what other type of position I would even desire taking if it weren't for teaching. This is my calling and I hope I can have something to show for it by the time I am seasoned.

Thank you to all those who read this and all those who support me.

Oops...so sorry for the long delay

So, man oh man it has been a long time since I have been on here and I have SOOOO much to write about. I apologize that it has been about a month, but wow o wow I have been busy. The last time that I wrote was around the time that we had a break from school for a snow day.

We had another snow day a day or two later as it snowed like cats and dogs. This snow day resulted in no school for the local technical institute, the local university and all the public/private schools also. During this snow day I did laundry and then had an awesome time sledding. With a few baseball guys and a couple chicas we went out to the baseball fields and went sledding behind a pick-up. We first had to jump the curb and make it through the snow and not get stuck. The parking lot was covered in ice and then topped off with snow. It was a blast going around on some blow up tubes and a little saucer like tube. This day was amazing and later would be very, very interesting .

At the end of this particular day I could not find my wallet. I would be going back to Aberdeen the following day and needed to find my wallet. Now I do not know why, but I had it in my pants pocket and it was now nowhere to be found. Not in my car, not in any clothes, not anywhere around. So my roommate and I decided to go on an adventure and to check out the parking lot again. It was pitch black out and there were just one or two lights in the parking lot which ceased to be snow-covered. With my little neon we had to jump a curve and keep that little javie trucking because it would have gotten stuck if we didn’t floor it. We searched and searched, I had my brights on and everything and out of the blue I was walking around in a circle with the flashlight from my phone and something caught my eye. Near a spot that I fell out of the sled is where I spotted my WALLET. Success. My roommate and I are now going to be detectives, because we are so good.

The middle school experience was great. I learned so much from my teacher and from each of my students. There were students that pushed my buttons, but with determination and perseverance I pushed through it and made it a success. I composed two projects for the students: food diary and a food skit in place of a written exam.  The food diary was not an ICU assignment, but when the grades were entered students completed this assignment because it was affecting their grade. The final assignment that I did with the students was a food skit/fiesta day.

This project was in place of the written end of the chapter exam and excited the students.  I arranged groups of students and made it available to all students even those on IEPs. There was sufficient work time allowed at the end of two class periods and then they were to present the assignment in front of class on our fiesta day. The schedule consisted of the students following commands and practicing Spanish by making the food for our fiesta: salsa, refrescos, quesadillas, setting the table, and creating a chant to do at the end of each presentation. Students were divided up into even groups and completed each task.

Following the stations students were given a final 5 minutes to work with their group members to finalize anything for their skits. After the 5 minutes students presented to the class each skit and we would next move onto the fiesta part of our class. The students were given instructions at each stage throughout the day and there were no disruptions in the two days. The final thing that I did with each class was teach them a dance that I learned while studying abroad. This dance was enjoyed by each student even if they didn’t seem to be having fun. It was so encouraging to see a lesson work perfectly and not a thing went wrong with 160+ students. I had 4 that did not complete the project on the due date (2 were absent) and one group was not ready, but everyone else did it. I even had two groups record their skits and they were quite comical.

So all in all I had a very successful time at the middle school and have just started at the high school. Here we go!

Improvements:

Breaking the plane
Knowledge of Spanish Content

Chau Chau
Kim

Snow Day Wednesday

5:00 am the phone buzzes…NO SCHOOL TODAY. 6:00 am the phone buzzes twice and then the phone rings…Northern State is closed today. So I was free to sleep in as late as I wanted and to do whatever I wanted on the single extra day out of this year. I realized I didn’t even turn my alarm on (oops) and later woke up at 8 and then again at 9. It was very pleasant to sleep with no worries of being late and it wasn’t even the weekend yet.

When I finally decided to get up I made the trek to Walmart (my car did a complete circle on its own) and get a few groceries. I baked muffins and redboxed three movies. I watched the first movie, Courageous, and did my three loads of laundry at the same time. This movie was very inspirational. I watched it with great anticipation from the reviews from friends and colleagues. I learned a lot from watching this video. It’s not about what happens when there are no challenges around you and life seems easy, but it is what happens when you are faced with a challenge and if you seek the Lord for guidance. He is with you at all times whether you know it or not. He rewards those who honor him and is not bias of skin color or age. My favorite part of the movie, being a Spanish teacher, was when the construction worker, Javier, joined the two policemen on a pick up. They put another gang member in the car with him and he started speaking Spanish and to the other man it sounded threatening. The catch was (the best part) he was actually talking about food at lunchtime (gibberish).

I joined a few friends and baseball players and went to the ball field parking lot to go sledding. We had a rope behind the pickup and held on to the fungo bat as we were pulled around on the sled. We had two other tools that we used to enjoy ourselves, two tubes. It had rained quite a bit the night before and therefore it was perfect with the ice to use tubes. I had a great time being whipped around the parking lot, watching other attempt at the task, and watching one of the guys do a barrel roll no less than four times. I know he will be sore tomorrow. But I thought that it was a great way to spend the single extra day of the year when school was called off and we finally had some kind of winter.

Today is back to school and it is our short day as well. Those students who are in our longer days missed two days due to snow days and I am not sure how we will catch them up. I think that we will just review the previous grammar lesson and move on to the next. We do not have time to be behind and I only have three weeks left (actually a total of 2 with the days off we have). I am preparing my lesson plans and there is no other day that could be sacrificed for a snow day. Even though I would love to sleep in, I want to teach my lesson to the students and see how effective I am as a student teacher and how I can improve as a future educator.

This weekend I will be travelling back to good ole Aberdeen and work at the old job for Saturday and Sunday. They need extra help and I am willing to help. I am supposed to be starting on my own next week and I am ready, but still nervous. I am now in control of what they learn and how they learn it and I have to teach for those 85 minutes. I am up for the challenge and believe that the four classes that I already teach have offered a lot of experience. All my students have been quiet up until now, so now I have to learn how to adjust to those rowdy classes and manage them well.

Improvements:

Withitness

Keeping the attention of the students (at the end of the day it is a struggle)

Good things:

Punctual

Understanding

Positive Reinforcements

Ripple Effect—cut it off before anything else occurs

Rain Rain Go Away

It is the end of February and what do we have here in South Dakota?? We have rain. Humongous rain drops and it will all most likely freeze tomorrow. As most of the other schools in south dakota are either closed or starting late, I am afraid that we will be missing out on that boat. We are not getting any of the 10-18 inches that other people are getting, just rain. Today was a long day even when it was our shortest. I stayed with Ethan last night and caught up on how he has been doing. His team has away games last weekend and could not pull out a win. They have the potential and have the guys to do it, just need to put it all together and use it.

Yesterday I taught my three classes, and boy did I feel for those kids. The lesson wasn't eventful, but more of a real lesson and it just seemed odd not having an activity.Today was ok, but NO Technology was working. It was our  day to have things fail on us first of all Michelle got the clickers from the high school, spent time there this morning getting it figured out (didn't get desired answers), the installed program didn't work after being reinstalled, and finally the overhead projector's light bulb burned out. Last week our LCD lightbulb burned out and now this. I also couldn't get the projector to turn on, what a fun day. The students were well-behaved for the most part today and even with the mix ups we got things figured out today.

So I kind of want a snow day tomorrow, but we really have no time to spare for our class and i need to keep learning. I am almost done with my third lesson plan formation and will be moving on to the others along with its sub plans. I will be going to the teacher job fair in Sioux Falls. I am excited for it, but not sure what will happen there in regards to a job. I have an interview for Upward Bound tomorrow through skype )cross my fingers it works).

Today was a run day and I have to be pretty proud of myself today. I need to do laundry, finish my lesson plans, get my goals done and just keep working on my lps. I am starting to realize that this is hard, its like your real life and

My grandmother (mom's side_ passed away on Sunday and god bless all of her grandkids, kids and family.

I am off to bed, because I am so tired.  i hope to inform you all of so much more information tomorrow. Until then. Chau Chau

School's Out for the SNOWFALL

Well I didn't end up teaching all classes yesterday. This first block I went over to the high school and got my school computer. (finally) I returned to the Middle School and went to our tech people to get it on the network. Later I returned to class and watched the last half of the lesson being presented. I taught G2 and G3 yesterday, but not G4. Yesterday began with a lot of snow and it was very wet outside. By 1:00 students knew that we were getting out early and became a little rowdy. We had our SRB class and then I would have last hour for 9 minutes. We do not let the students get behind, so I had to go through the new vocabulary, but they would not get the repetition like the other classes so they would be on their own. Stayed until almost 4 but it felt weird cause it seemed like I was out so early.

Today, Friday, went better. It was  black day and I taught the last class today. This is my quietest class and I would say the most intimidating class. No one said a word in the class for the first ten minutes or so. SOOOO awkward. I tried to get them involved as much as I could and did end up succeeding at the end of class. When I got them all to say the last answer with me I was so happy and grinning from ear to ear. Even got some people to talk to me in class that hadn't before. One boy was falling asleep literally, saw him doing the head nod (had to go wake him up--not to embarrass him in front of peers), two other boys not paying attention and used my I messages!! Woot Woot point for me!

Our classes today learned the difference between two verbs that mean the same thing. It's a hard concept, but these kids are so smart. We read a story (full page in Spanish-single spaced) and kids were surprised that they could read the whole thing. After reading the story they illustrated the scenes so we knew that they understood it. It was a good day and things went well. School computer is giving me problems, but that is the least of my worries.

Off to Sufu tomorrow just for me. Have a dinner party tomorrow night and then off to bed. Run 6 miles sunday and lesson planning. I got 2 done--just need to polish them up and on to the next 4. Its the end of two weeks student teaching and I only have a month left!

Positives:

Energy
Positivity
Working on I messages
Trying to incorporate constructive criticism notes into lessons

Improving:

Patience
Pacing in class--feel like I go through it all too fast
A way to self-ventilate (it is so hot standing in the front of the room all day, teaching, participating in activities--mexican hat dance, and more)

Week 3 here I come.
Hablamos más tarde
Chau Chau

Tuesday...wait no it's Wednesday.

Today was a long day even though it was my shortest. I am just overtired today and was not 'with it' today. My withitness was lacking. Today I did teach one class and it went well, but was SOOO intimidating. This is probably the quietest class we have, smartest, but the quietest and was so intimidating being up front when they would all just look at you with those blank stare faces. I just wanted to say DO YOU GET IT nod your head and say SI o NO. Ahh. Oh and the projection screen would not stay down again, of course that would happen and even a student could not get it to work.

One thing that my CT pointed out and I was not even aware of its ripple effect until the end of class when she told me: I had a student participate in the game and then stay over there instead of returning to his seat. I just said that he would skip his next turn and he said oh well that doesn't matter...RED FLAG!! This kid was trying to get one over on me and he did. I didn't think anything of it until my CT said that that action is not to be tolerated. I need to ask him to return to his seat and if ignored to give him an infraction. This was told to me now before anything else drastic happened. After this happened there was a student who refused to participate and complete his worksheet and will get a 0 for his grade that day. I will be more conscience of my surroundings because tomorrow is going to test me.

I am teaching all day tomorrow. It is an easy topic that I can do, but I have no planning period and it is my longest day of classes tomorrow. I feel ready for it and up for the challenge, but I need those behavior management models to start kicking into my brain right about now. I am feeling a little unease because my first class tomorrow is our biggest and the most rowdy, I will need to keep the class going tomorrow and not allow any mishaps.

So here we go. I am not working on what I should tonight because I am shot, but I did finish my job application. I can get caught up tomorrow and get back on schedule as the weekend draws near. Wish me luck for tomorrow and here we go, 1st full day.

Suerte a sí mismo y a dios le pido

Long Vacation is Over

Today was back to reality and it was ok, except that I was real tired. Sometimes I wish that I could just go back to my bed and sleep for a while longer, but I can't do that now can I? :) It was our gold day today, meaning no planning block and real long. It went well it was just transitioning from the long vacation weekend and the fact that we didn't start on a Monday, but rather a Tuesday.

I taught the last two blocks and they went well. This first block had 20 minutes of lecture and then were off to lunch, I think that it is quite odd to split it up like that, but hey if it works its all good. After lunch they returned and only a few things went wrong in class: The screen to project/hide things on the board would not stay down, and then I forgot what my next topic was to do, embarrassing for me--who knows if the students even noticed (I think some did). The last class of the day went well and we had a productive day.

I am starting to find out that NO MATTER how much I LOVE my content area, there are those students who don't care (unless are there to work with them individually), or merely do not understand the content and are struggling. I have been trying to reach to as many students as I can, but I am not sure if it is making a difference. I try to include as many kids as I can in class participation, but don't believe everyone is on board. I understand that I was destined to find out that NOT everybody loves Spanish as much as I do, but that I need to care for the student just the same and help him/her achieve their own success as a student.

I am working on names, but I AM getting better!! Its hard not seeing the student everyday and not knowing their real name let alone their Spanish name. 'I' messages are going slightly better, and my main concern is still discipline. Kids will be kids, but I do not want to get ran over by them.

I worked on my lesson plans this past weekend and will need to significantly retouch them in order to script out my moves in the classroom. I am getting my activities together and just mainly everything to make the class run smoothly and make it understandable to the students. It is hard work, but I am getting there. The kids are making their adjustments in being comfortable talking to me, asking me questions, letting me sign their planner, and being all around comfortable with me.

I am learning SOOOO MUCH from my CT and she is the sweetest lady. She loves to share and is open ears to new ideas and lays it out there in order that I can improve and achieve my goals. It is sad that it is only such a short time, because there is so much I want to learn and experience but I know that it will continue in the high school. Can you believe that tomorrow is Wednesday and that this is the middle of my second week and I feel like it has been forever?

Well its off to bed I go and I am exhausted so lets see what tomorrow brings.

Ps I need some motivation to keep me going on my training. Could not run today so decided to bike (treadmills are not made for long runs=boring) thank you snow yesterday. I need to stay on track because the runs are getting longer and need to train my knee (so it doesn't hurt so much anymore). Any ideas let me know. :)

Chau Chau a todos
Buenas noches, que duerman muy bien.

2nd day of LPs

Well woke up today to noise of a wet road and found out it had snowed last night. My knee is still SORE right now so I am icing it. Today is the day where I finish up my lesson plans and get organized for this next week. I have a lot to do today and hope I have the energy to do it. Today is no shortcut day, so things will get done. I went ice skating last night (it has been a while since I have gone) and just relaxed at home after.

Hablamos más tarde.

Well Lesson plans are typed and printed, but I need to finish my sub plans, goals, and my vocab quiz. Finally I need to figure out what I am doing with the bulletin board. I have my ideas, but I just need to figure out how I am going to arrange my ideas. Yikes.

So after 5 hours at the library I got a lot done, and now off to get some more done. My long weekend is over and back to school I go. BTW I will be teaching the last two classes tomorrow! Lets see how that goes. UFFDAH

Lesson Plan Day

Today is Sunday of my 4 day weekend and it has already been an adventure. Thursday night went out to dinner with my good friend, saw my CT from the High School (will be there in 5 weeks or so), Friday went to the Cities to watch the BF and his team win 3 out of 4 games. Finally roadtripped back yesterday and just had a relaxing evening watching Moneyball with Ethan. Today was my long run day-5.5 miles (training for a half marathon-13.1 miles) and it sure is WINDY out there. It was the hardest run today and my knee was killing by the time I was done. I need to figure out why it hurts so bad.

N e who, back to my Lesson Planning and figuring out how to incorporate all my ideas into my lessons and teach 8th graders Commands and Direct object Pronouns--UFFDAH! Will be back later.

2nd Day

Well yesterday was test day. We reviewed a little bit of everything that would be on the test for the kids and then they took the test. A lot did not pass the test and need to redo. I was very confused by it because the study guide and the review were practically the test and the students didn't put two and two together. So today is a Gold day (no planning period) so it will be a long one and we will see how the students take to it.

Valentine's day was a hit in school with the lip suckers and making Spanish valentines after the test (my idea--Score!). My valentine's day was ok, nothing much which was fine. I was a little upset because a few people that I wanted to ask me how my first day went did not and then one of them thought it was ok to ignore me all day. :( Oh well all done and over.

Today is another test day and I am just working on ideas for my lesson plans and getting ready to get going! This weekend is Ethan's first game (he will be pitching Friday) and practically the whole family is going. I was not deciding on going, but his whole family practically and of course that would be enough to twist my arm! So Friday I am leaving with a couple girls and we are headed to the cities! We will come back on Saturday after their 7:00 AM GAME!! Then it is slumber party time at my place! Woot Woot. I have a 4 day weekend and will be getting my Lps done this weekend (at least the majority of them).

Improvements:
Behavior Models
Getting to know the students (majority of the names)
Forming that relationship

Pros:
Running and saw some of my students!
Smile at all students
Friendly
There for help

Chau y hasta esta noche.
Día 3 vengo!

1st Day Teaching

Today was my first day. I was very excited and nervous in the same moment.

We are on a block schedule and I didn't notice how long the day gets with no planning period and we are teaching the exact same class four times a day 80 minutes long. We are reviewing for the chapter 5 test which is tomorrow and it was quite an experience. I have been in block classes myself, but not since high school and have never taught in one myself so today was different for me. I actually got to teach my last class today (those that I had seen on my visitation day) and let me tell you it was different. I knew the order in which I was supposed to present the material, but those middle schoolers were in that END of the day mode. They know that it is their last class and I was a bit nervous to make sure that I had included all the material that my CT gave to the previous classes.

Well here is how it went: I introduced myself (accidentally said my first name), passed out the needed papers (not enough for all students), went through the script to find all the unfamiliar words (answered my own questions of the definitions and meanings), started going straight to the movie (was supposed to have kids speak the character lines--did go back and do that before movie), sat down during movie and a student was laying his head down during the movie (which I did not notice). When the movie was over went through the thing at the bottom of page which I was supposed to talk about before movie, but covered well, finally when giving directions for stations I didn't explain one station thorough enough and forgot to mention required materials only did when they were moving which kind of was like controlling chaos.

Overall it was a good day. These things that I missed or feel like I did not do so well is ok, because it was my first day and those things are common in any classroom. There were a few kids that did push my buttons and I am going through my behavior sheets and trying to think of management models I can use to adjust in my classroom. There were a few classes that were super easy and studious, but then again the first and last class were more rowdy and testy and not willing to participate, but what teacher doesn't accept challenges.

Improvements that can be made:

Improve on my WITHITNESS--Jacob Kounin
Include the proper amount of wait time in order that the students can answer the questions I ask
Be patient (don't speed through activities, because what I understand easy isn't so easy for 8th Graders)
These are 8th graders and not high schoolers (the materials they are learning are difficult be sympathetic)

Good things:

Motivation
Energy
Encouragement to the students
Ability to be stern and be an authority figure rather than a friend in the classroom
Friendly and welcoming
Passionate about content
Take the constructive criticism and put it into action next available opportunity

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Will be teaching last hour too (more review and test time)