Short Week!

 Week 14

This week was only 2.5 days given the Easter holiday. Still, I think this week was a productive one! Though a short week, I encountered highs and lows with my students. As one of the first weeks this spring where it was consistently warm, students were definitely feeling restless in the classroom and were ready for a break (as was I).

I think my biggest take aways from this week are that there's times where it's okay to let go of the reins and that I'm going to really miss this experience.

Manheim's FFA chapter president and I sporting our spring flowers!

It's okay to let go of the reins sometimes

As a student teacher, I sometimes find it really challenging to let the class divert from what I planned. For me, I like having goals for every lesson, things I want to get through and points I need to make. While this all sounds great, it almost never happens according to plan. Students get off topic, have questions, issues, or confusion. Throughout student teaching, I have found this to be one of the more frustrating aspects of teaching. This week, I allowed myself to have a different perspective on this "issue". I came to the realization that its important to let go of the reins sometimes in my classroom and let the lesson become what the students make it. Sometimes, off topic discussion leads to more interest and going bac to revisit an idea leads to better cognitive connections. So while yes, going outside one day or Bill Nye may not be in my lesson plan, its important to recognize what students need from time to time. 

Excited for the spring holiday

Sunshine calls for sunglasses and desert uniforms

I'm really going to miss this

Given this week was so short, I found it was a much more laid back type of week. What this showed me was how close I have gotten with many of my students. Driving home, I felt overwhelmed by the feeling that student teaching is essentially over and everything's about to change. I won't be on the lookout constantly for new lesson ideas, I won't be grabbing 3rd blocks favorite gram crackers at the grocery store (I have them convinced the giant brand is elite when its just the cheaper version), and I won't be chasing students around 4th block anymore. The past 14 weeks have been some of the most challenging I have know but they've also been some of the best. Despite everything, I'm going to miss the life I have found myself living the past semester. Looking forward to the future, I'm beyond excited for life postgraduation but I think Manheim and the people I have met here will stay in my heart long after I walk the graduation stage.

Enjoying the weather with an outdoor lab!