Fall 07

Hello edublog! I haven't written since the summer, I know, and I can't blame it on all the schoolwork I've been involved in. I can't blame anything on not having enough time, when I really think about it, because time can be made for things one considers that important, right?
Well I've been working and active in my second Practicum. I was placed at Lunt Elementary in a 2nd grade classroom. My experiences this semester haven't been as inspirational as they were for Practicum I mostly because I don't think I have the same support I had last semester in terms of supervisor and cooperating teacher, etc. There have been four or more situations where my cooperating teacher had called off and I was either the substitute for the day, or had to sit in with a substitute and practically take over for the class. I didn't appreciate this and I don't think I have a good link of communication with my cooperating teacher.
At this point, I am looking forward to this semester ending and finally beginning my Student Teaching! Yesterday I was looking up a couple of schools in my neighborhood that I may be interested in trying to pick up my Student Teaching experience at. I wished I really had a say in my placement, but I'm also somewhat o.k. with the idea that I will go wherever they want me. The only downfall to that idea is the fact that I had an unpleasant experience this semester allowing them to place me as they pleased.
The highlights of the semester include teaching lessons and the courses I am taking at UNLV: Science Methods, Classroom Management, and Reading/Writing II. Today I finished up my last tutoring lesson for Reading/Writing II and I will really miss my tutee; he was great to work with. Science is interesting and excites me to incorporate science with my students. I was so relieved to take Classroom Management finally! I had wished I took it last semester because I felt that I could have used more instruction on how to manage a classroom, but I am using what I have learned this semester as it applies.
I feel like I could be more of a superwoman when it comes to my learning experiences, but I think I'm making some good progress at the rate I'm going and with the maintenance of my regular life still in place. There will be a moment when I become a superwoman without hesitation; I look forward to it! In the meanwhile I'm holding up and getting everything done that needs to be done. This summer I have plans to travel in Europe! Hopefully I'll get a job as soon as school is over and can relax over the summer before I finally begin my teaching experience!