Week 1 of Student Teaching

 

 

 

 

“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”
― Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

 

I am officially an official student teacher! I have survived my first full week in the classroom and I can't believe how fast such a long week went! I will say, I had so many thoughts rushing though my head all too familiar to those who have come be fore me. Thoughts like: "will they like me?" Are my lessons going to be engaging enough?" Will I have many discipline issues?" Will I make the right decisions?" I was so nervous on Sunday night. I had no idea what to expect for the week to come, but even in five short days I felt more confident, approachable, and ready to roll.

 

To start our week, we began at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show for the PA FFA Mid-Winter Convention. This was a busy day and required a little more participation than the usual first week observation duties. Prior to the convention, I spent my day judging the Ag Issues LDE for the morning. It was so cool to watch these students participate and show off their public speaking skills. I felt slightly nervous and most definitely questioned myself in judging an event. I thought I should have been someone with more experience, but as it turns out, newbie eyes were perfect to judging an event such as this. I really enjoyed the enthusiasm, passion and creativity the students each brought with them, and I applaud them on their willingness to try something new. I was very impressed when I saw the students who I could tell were not polished speakers give it their all, even when they were nervous. It gave me some heart to do the same as I look forward to what lies ahead in my own life.

 

The PA Mid-Winter FFA Convention this year was my very first time attending. I kind of knew some of the drill from my time at National Convention last October, but it was still something new. It was so cool to sit with Greenwood and congratulate the students on their achievements. KP had me pitch in backstage and with getting the students into position during the event, which really made me feel needed and gave me a taste of the true advisor experience. Our bus driver was a former ag student at Greenwood and a very nice young man who was the same age as me. Mr. Clark and Mrs. Pontius were happy to catch up with him, and they even bought him a milkshake and some convention food as a way to say thank you for continuing to take care of their chapter. Moments like those remind me that I am in good hands, and have show me how important it is to take the time to show love and appreciation those who support you in life.

 

 

The rest of the week was no less hectic, however, more centralized to the classroom. We hit a few tiny bumps in the road during the process, but I can now say... with badge and Greenwood email account to prove it... that I am an official Greenwood Student Teacher!  As always, it was such a treat to watch KP and Clark in the classroom. One day students were making ice cream, the next day there were students in the greenhouse... each hour of the day brought something new with it. One minute I was picking up copies from the teachers lounge, the next minute I was cleaning up spilled water from the ice cream experiment. They were long early days, but getting to interact with the students and enjoy such variety and excitement in my day reminded me of why I decided to embark on this crazy journey in the first place.

 

On Thursday we returned to the Farm Show to watch some of our students present demonstrations they had prepared for a contest. The topics were making floral arrangements, making ice cream, and camping safety. I thought the students did a great job, and I was proud of them for their work. We spent the rest of the day visiting booths at the farm show and checking out the exhibits until the late afternoon. I've learned so much about working with students this week, but one thing I can't wrap my head around is how they go from being such passionate, well prepared, and dedicated presenters to asking KP and I if they could play Mobamba on the way home. All joking aside, I enjoy their energy and lightheartedness, which really helped keep me grounded during my first week.

 

By Friday I was ready for the weekend, but in the best way! I had done so much living this week that I couldn't wait to push the pause button to reflect and share my week with my family. I really felt like I was starting to get on the ball, and that I was positively growing throughout the week. My favorite thing above all about the past week, however, was the feeling that I was contributing to something more important than myself. I had students that depended on me, and I felt so needed and essential during my first week that, looking back, makes me proud of what little contributions and effort I was able to make in my modest role as a student teacher. One of the hardest things to explain to those who live outside of the profession, is that what we do really does matter. We do our work because there are students and communities that need us. We aren't there to make some CEO richer, or discover world-wide fame and fortune. We are there because we are called to be. Because we have students who need us to be. That gives me comfort beyond measure that no matter what happens, no matter what growth I manage to make, however small, will always be worth celebrating.