If I had to sum up my
first week of senior year at Wichita State in one word, it would be “overwhelming.’
Between classes, work, and observations in the school district for Pre-Student
Teaching, I consider myself very lucky to be able to sneak a power nap into my
day. Even so, I love the school I am observing in this year and that I am
already making connections with students. I have come away with two main goals
so far (I am positive there will be many others as the year goes on) after my
first week of observations.
Something I have
observed at the school I’m at is the sense of community the school has. This
was further reinforced with the introductions of “houses”, similar to the ones in the Harry Potter series. The school was
split up into four different houses, and students sixth-eighth grade were
placed in the different houses. When the houses were announced to the students,
they gathered at an assembly and taught their houses their “house chants” and
were able to cheer for other classes that were also placed in their house. Students
spent the next few days of school meeting with other students and teachers in
their houses. They were all given lanyards with their houses colors on them so
that when they walk down the hall they connect with their fellow house members –
no matter what grade they were in or what class they taught. My Mentor Teacher
(MT) even gave me a lanyard with our house colors, which made me feel really
connected to the school and to the students.
This is a school-wide program
that has been put into place that the administrations, teachers, and students
have all had to buy into. I am really looking forward to observing how this is
implemented throughout the school year and seeing how teachers/administration
keep students interested in the houses all year and not just the first week. I
would also like to take away some ideas I can incorporate into my classroom or
even bring to my school that would build the school as a community.
One goal I have made for
myself this year is to make connections and network with professionals in the
school district I am observing in. I was lucky enough to be placed in the same
school I observed during Core II. My MT was so helpful last semester, and he
makes it clear that he wants me to succeed, improve, and leave Student Teaching
as a better teacher than when I came in at the beginning of the year. I hope to
become more acquainted with other faculty members such as the administration
and the other teachers on my MT’s team. There are two other teacher candidates
that are in Pre-Student Teaching at the school I am at. One of them is next
door to my class and the other is across the hall. I would also like to make
connections with those students and have more people I can vent to or go to
with any issues I am having throughout the year that are right next door or
across the hall.
It is hard to believe
that my three years at Wichita State have already flown by and I can officially
call myself a senior. I remember looking up to the seniors I knew and being envious
of them for having their lives all figured out. Little did I know, the seniors
were just as scared as I was as a freshman (and probably had their lives
figured out a little better than I did - but not by much.) I am sure this year
will fly by just as fast as the last three have, but I am looking forward to
making every minute of it count in and outside of the classroom!
