Big Wheels Keep on Turning!!!

Well I seemed to have forgotten about my entry last week so I will make this one about both last week and the week before!

Two weeks ago marked my first full-time teaching week! It was a lot of stress and prep. but I think it went well! It took me a few days to get accustom to not having time to stop and get materials ready in between classes (like I was able to do when I did not teach everything!). As you all know the last subject I took over was Social Studies for the entire 5th grade! I was very excited about this because Social Studies is something that I have been waiting to teach for a long time. It never worked out before since this topic was always taught in the afternoon periods and I was only ever teaching in the morning! I have been able to show students videos, read various texts, and currently they are working on their first collaborative project: making posters and presentations defending the viewpoints of either the North or South before the Civil War. The students seem to really enjoy the material, I just wish there was more time to really get into the material, but Social Studies classes only meet 3 times a week for 45minutes! Last week proved to be challenging because we had a half day on Thursday and an ISE day on Friday so class was only held twice that week.

Last week was my second week of full-time teaching. I am really beginning to set into a routine and planning and managing my time both in and out of the classroom has become much easier! My first week I was slightly overwhelmed, especially with the up keep of missing work and absences! I am becoming more confident and I would like to think a little more independent as well. Now is the time where I am trying to incorporate more strategies and methods I have learned in my college classes into my classroom teaching. Time is really flying by now that I am full-time teaching. I love the classes I'm in and the students I teach. Some days a few of the kids challenge my patience but I realize that is something that comes with the job!!!