Orientation

The first day of school is closer than ever and after going to orientation today I am really excited about the upcoming year. Orientation is a time where interns and their collaborating teachers (CT) meet to go over the year to come. We met our team leader, cluster leaders, a few TE 801/802 professors and our field instructors. We went over who to report to, what to expect from them and so on. It was nice to meet everyone and see other student teachers in my position. After introducitons we went over the bulk of our workload. While it doesn't seem like a lot now, this year is going to be a laboriuos one.

Orientation was good for my nerves and helped ease me into my new 'professional' life. I made sure to get phone numbers, emails and other information from my CT and other interns at orientation so that I would be prepared for anything when class starts. Less than two weeks away until school starts!

Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire

Rafe Esquith is a public school teacher in Los Angeles that pushes the limits of his students everyday and continues that mentality in his book Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire . This book is all about his teaching methods and ideas. I recommend this book to anyone hoping to inspire young people. Throughout my four years at MSU I have learned a lot from reading and lecture, but I have never learned so much from one book like I have from this one. I will definitely be using this book as a guide for future lesson plans, behavioral management strategies and inspiration. GET THIS book and read it whenever you have the chance it is worth it! This book should be required reading in any teacher education program.

Three Cups of Tea

Future teachers, current educators and those simply interested in reading an inspiring book, I recommend reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. It is an excellent collection of stories of how one person can really make a difference in the world, especially in parts of the world that we are oblivious to. If you have free time I suggest giving this book a read as it will give you a new and more insightful perspective on Afghanistani, and Pakistani culture. Check it out at www.threecupsoftea.com

What to Expect...

Over the past (very short) four years I have learned a lot about various teaching techniques and tools to use as a teacher in the TE 150/250/301/401/402 classes, yet I still feel I am not prepared to "teach" a class. I feel that this blog (as it coincides with the internship year) will prepare me to become a better teacher and learner. I plan on using this website as an avenue to express my concerns as a first year student teacher and as a place to reflect and improve upon my behavior management techniques, confidence in front of the classroom and overall classroom awareness. Hopefully this site helps me and other students as well!

The Plan:
I plan on writing a blog each week (or so) about what is happening, what I've done during the week, what I've seen and anything else I find interesting about the classroom I am in this coming fall. I will answer and respond to anyone's questions about my blog throughout the week as best I can.