Chapter XVIII: End of Spring Qtr. 2010

WHEW!!! I am at the last week of this quarter. It's been quite a ride, and a positive ride that is. Last week, I officially taught a small group of second graders at Roosevelt Elementary. My host teacher has been such a splendid model for me that when I took over for only 20minutes, the children were engrossed in what we were talking about. Yes, that's me in the picture and the back of their heads. I've marked this day my first official day of formal instruction. We were reading about fossils and a little bit about parts of a book (content, index, etc.). My initial intention was to spell out the word FOSSIL, in a vertical fashion, on that white board you see on my left. The students were to come up with different words that relate to the book starting with each of those letters.

The lesson DID NOT turn out as planned. The children did like the pictures and some of the words they've never heard of before (paleontologist, museum, etc.), but they were more interested in the parts of the book. One of the children actually stood up, took one of the books from behind the shelf (behind me) and started to dissect the parts of the book for me. I was really impressed! This is the first time the group has read the book, so I thought that we were going to talk about the book a little more. To go further into the parts of the book lesson, they started looking at the page numbers in the Contents-area and in the Index as well. They had fun doing that as an activity. We were so engrossed in what we were doing, that I lost track of time -- my host teacher kept glancing at the clock, so I knew that it was time. I went 10 minutes over! Wow.

It was quite a pivotal moment for me. Last chapter, which briefly talked about my practice lesson in front of my adult classmates, was totally and completely different. Nothing like the real thing that beats anything like that. Because it was a mock lesson, it was difficult to emulate a real classroom. When I taught the second graders, they were really engaged and full of questions (and answers). In our class-mock-presentations, it wasn't engaging at all. I felt like I was trying to make a speech rather than teach. But not to say that it wasn't worth it! It was well-worth it to practice. I think the next time I practice, I will assume that the real presenation-time (in front of children) will be doubled. It was one thing I was very worried about when I presented in front of the second graders.

---------------------------

Last week was my last week of IT (technology) and Social Order classes. I think I'm gonna have a hard time detaching myself from my Social Order class. In reading my past postings here, it seems that that has been my favorite class. There is one comment that one of my classmates made -- to which I agreed to -- that it doesn't seem like we needed it. I think for some, they may not, but for others they do. It has just made us more aware of the realities of what goes on inside a classroom and in our public school system -- social-wise. It has come to my attention that there are so many things in our nation that needs to be fixed.

The other night after dinner with my family, we stopped by Borders. I was browsing through the magazines when something huge caught my eye. It was by Time's magazine and on it was a big fat red letter "F". Guess anyone smart would know what that is. That's right, our public education -- more like an F for teachers. It was an embarassment. I wanted to hide under Border's stairwell. An F for teachers?! Can't say that's not true. Because, it is.

It has come to my attention, a former high school classmate of mine is experiencing this type of letter-grade for her son's teacher. The teacher so happens to be one of those ignorant so-called professionals that her sole intention is to teach only those who are "smart" and leave the others behind deliberately to other "specialists". Yes, I know, I know. There are specialists out there, but they can have only a certain amount of kids under their care; the schools are limited with these specialists. So what happened? Her son took an ADHD child under his wing. The child with learning disabilities all of a sudden thrived inside his own classroom without being pulled out.

One more thing about the school this child is in -- teachers there do not stay past 2:45pm! Isn't that what our taxpayer monies go to? I know that we don't earn as much as doctors or lawyers, but the commitment to be in this profession is huge. My professors reminded us time and time again -- "You didn't become a teacher to be out when the children are out. You're becoming one to BE a teacher, not an elementary student." That little statement encompasses everything that's included in this "teacher-package". I found it to be true at Roosevelt -- my host teacher along with the entire school, do not leave the school grounds until an hour after the students leave; they're also there at least an hour before school starts. Added up, it's like a regular 40 hour week. So, imagine my shock when my friend told me that her child's teacher and the teachers in that school are in when the bell rings and out by the time the students are out.

-------------------------------------

I'm so glad to be in this program. I've never been as exposed to our public education as ever before. It's no wonder Time's magazine rated our teachers with an "F". It's no wonder my cohort and I are going through an intensive program. It's no wonder why Western Washington's education program is very picky about their future teachers. We need to turn this nation into an "A". We are the ones to do it.