This is my class...I blend in with my students, but that's ok. I am one sad student-teacher. I don't want to be done. This is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in the book that is my life; I am the author, illustrator, editor, and publisher. It's a good time to go into writing.

My life starts soon and I don't know where it will take me...

On the Edge of a New Beginning...

Thinking about tomorrow and how it is my last day of the twelve weeks of student-teaching is a heavy feeling. In the same sense though, I have grown up as well and so have most of my students. I feel confident in myself and I feel confident leaving my experience as a well-rounded educator. I'm definately going to miss it though.

I'll miss the crazy kids, the unpredictability of the school day, the improvised lessons, and all of the rewards that teaching has. I've learned to "chalk one up" to teaching experience and I've learned that I love teaching middle school kids, even when they are being smart-ass little punks. I will blog tomorrow about the big last day!

The FINAL Week

This past Friday I completed my teaching experience and it was bittersweet at most. The kids know I am going to be around so it wasn't a tearful farewell. A number of my students made "going away" cards for me and one student in particular wrote me a metaphor for life. She compared it with a roller coaster and it was about a page long and filled with spelling errors. But I loved it and I will cherish it. I didn't know I had such an impact on these students' lives. Some of them more than others, but in the end, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

There is no place I would rather be than in my pod teaching those squirmy, awkward seventh graders. So there is my final week to take care of and I am ready for it to be over, but I don't want it to end either. I think that I need my own classroom and my own job. I am excited to go out into the world and establish myself in the world of English and Education. Raise you wine glass with me and cheers to this, my final week!

Spring Break

Conferences went well and spring break was on its way. It was so nice to be done with school for a little while. There are times when you just need to recoup and re-energize. For my relaxing get-away, I traveled to Sin City. The picture is one I took when we were in Old Las Vegas. This is the cowboy you see on most movies. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty cool to be down there and experience Las Vegas. There is too much to do and see in three days. I will definately be going back down there in the future.

Regardless of my vacation though, coming back to teaching was nice after the break. My students also got vacations and most of them seemed pretty tired the Monday we came back. I was exhausted, but I think I still had a little bit of jet lag.

The week has progressed slower than I would like, but in two days, I am done with the classroom portion. Next week is for observations only and then next Friday... I'm finished! It seems I just started and I finally feel comfortable with the kids and in the classroom. I'm finally finding my style and my niche, but like all things, this must come to an end. It's been a whirlwind of emotions and experiences and I know I will never get sick of being in the classroom. Like the paradoxes we are learning about; the more knowledge I gain, the less I realize I know.

Conferences...Parents...

I'm dreading Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Why? Conferences. Parents. Drama. Scary. Nervous? Yes, very. Talking with the students is one thing. Dealing with the parents is a another. I know how parents can be. I'm a coach. I've seen some parents in action. From what I hear too about some of the parents, it seems that they're a little psycho as well about their kids. Thinking that their kid is the the best student.

What I should be thinking about though is the parents that don't show up. That's a sign to me too. Those parents who don't have a clue what's going on with their child at school is just as sad. The poverty level here in this district is high, so I have a feeling I won't be getting a lot of parents. Plus conferences are on a Wednesday night and Thursday all day. Wish me luck.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeep....

Snow falls; softly, heavily, silently. The delicate snowflakes coat the pines in our front yard reminding me of sugar-frosted mini-wheats. I trudge through the crunchy, wet snow towards my car and unlock the door. Damn car, it doesn't start. Like usual. What a great start to my day. I wonder if school will get let out early?

I found out later today that everywhere else got to leave early, but not us. So we finally got some snow, but instead of gradually getting it, we just get dumped on. Figures. I hope school is canceled tomorrow. That would be awesome. Not that I don't like going to school, but it's nice to get a day off unexpectedly. March is definately coming in like a lion, that's for sure.

All this snow, falling so quietly, gently like a down blanket over the city and people; makes me want to sleep. I haven't been sleeping lately and I need to just close my tired eyes and rest. Fourteen days total left. Short and sweet. The snow is falling now. My eyelids are heavy. I'm going to bed.