Wow...sorry its been almost 2 months since I wrote. Crazy is the only word that describes life these days.
Topic #1: Student teaching- this has been my life the last two and a half months. I did my first block at Ceder Ridge Middle School in Hyde Park, UT teaching in a 6th grade science class. This was an ok experience...it wasn't the best but it wasn't horrible either. The kids were amazing (all 150 of them). I did learn however that middle school set up is NOT for me. I hated teaching the same lesson five times and only that one lesson. I think I could like 6th grade if it was in an elementary school. Right now I am in a 2nd grade classroom at Wilson Elementary in Logan and I love it. The kids are adorable and my teacher is awesome. I am so looking forward to having my own classroom and teaching my own students. The conclusion I have come to about student teaching is very simple...it is good practice for the actual teaching part, especially being able to work with a veteran teacher and have good feedback, but as for the planning, management, and other smaller aspects of the classroom, its kind of a waste of time. It's not your class or classroom so you can't really do things the way you would do them and you just kind of play the part of a puppet to pass. However, with that said, overall its been a pretty good experience and good practice time.
Topic #2: The past couple of weeks I have gotten everything in order to graduate. I turned in my Utah State Educator license so I will be a legit teacher upon graduation. I ordered my cap and gown and my graduation announcements. And to top it all off, last Thursday I attend the Northern Utah Teacher Fair and stated having job interviews and turning in applications with school districts around the state. This was absolutely terrifying!!! Hopefully, withing the next 4 or 5 months, I will have a job, teaching somewhere (anywhere) in the state of Utah, being an adult, and living my own life!! It is almost not real...I do NOT feel ready for this at all!!
Topic #3: My number one stress reliever the past couple of months has been Aggie basketball! I love my boys!! It has been an amazing season as they accomplished earning the WAC season title for the third season in a row!! We had some great wins against BYU, LA Tech, and New Mexico at home. We had some close ones, but after losing their first two WAC games they did what they do best and won every game from there on out. After a disappointing loss to New Mexico state during the WAC tournament they were still given the opportunity to go dancing in the NCAA tournament as a 12th seed playing Texas A&M (5th seed). They played hard, but the ref's made some tough calls and the boys just couldn't get a shot to fall. They lost by 16. It was a sad day, but I am still so proud of them and the great season they had...going 27 and 8. I am sad to see the season end being the last season I will see them play as a student, but I will always be the 6th man!!
Topic #4: This week has been one of the longest weeks of my entire life. It is Spring Break for USU and all my roommates took off with their families. However, because I have given my life over to the ELED department at Utah State, I did not have the fortune of having Spring Break this week. I have endured this week alone as the rest of Logan leaves to enjoy spring elsewhere. I still have two full weeks until my Spring Break. Sad day I know! I have watched more movies and read more in the last 7 days than I ever have before in my life.
