Week 16

I'm finished! Somehow, I don't feel quite as relieved and excited as I thought I would be. Maybe it's because I have to do the balancing act again next semester (AR, classes, contract hours, looking for a job, subbing, planning a wedding!...). However, I enjoyed my experience in middle school at Rivesville and could not have asked for a better student teaching placement. Above are group pictures of the classes that I had. I have loved teaching these kids and will miss them!

Week 15

I am officially finished teaching. I thought that the only thing that I would feel is relief, but honestly, I feel a bit of sadness. I told the seventh graders at the end of class that this would be the last day that I would teach them. I was surprised at how disappointed they seemed. I gave them my last survey for action research, and several of the students wrote, "We will miss you!" or "I wish you didn't have to leave!" Those comments made my day. I realized how much I have loved working with this group and that I'll really miss them. It will be weird being in here next week with Mrs. McCutchan teaching them since I have been with them since September.

Neal, the content that the students seem to have the most problems with is language, which is why I chose language for action research. The students really don't have many problems with story elements, comparing and contrasting, or even inferences in literature. Sometimes, I feel that they even comprehend the stories better than I do! I think that the reason that the students struggle more in language is because THEY DON'T FIND IT INTERESTING! I think that I've made it somewhat better for them because of my action research. I know that there is still more that I can do for these students and can't wait to have my own classroom so that I can see the students' development throughout the year.

Week 14

Today, I finished teaching the 8th grade and will only teach the 7th grade starting next week. It's going to be very strange only teaching one class! I feel that teaching these kids has been such a rewarding experience. I love the small class sizes in the middle school and hope that I will be able to teach in an environment similar to Rivesville. I have had the opportunity to develop a relationship with every one of my students, and I think that it is rare to have that in teaching. I feel very blessed and thankful that I had that opportunity.

Honestly, there isn't much I would do differently if I could do it all over again. I joke around with the students a lot, and I'm sure I could be more strict with them. However, I do not have many behavior problems, so I must be doing something right. One thing that I have learned is not to write anyone off before getting to know them. There is one student in particular that I dreaded having to teach, but after getting to know him, I have grown very fond of him. There is good in every student, and most of the "bad" ones are just misunderstood.

I still have a few students that I know aren't working up to their potential, but I will work as hard as I can for the next week and a half to get them to turn their assignments in. There is no reason for any of these students to fail or even get a "D." I will probably make them eat lunch with me and do their assignments if they don't get them in. I'm sure they will love that!