Elementary School is not What it Used to be

After a tearful goodbye at the middle school...I have moved onto different pastures. My first day student teaching at the elementary level left me with little to be desired and full of anticipation. I get the feeling from several sources at the school that I am working with a wonderfully heartfelt and passionate teacher who connects with her students and knows them each on a very individual level.

This week is the week that I observe. Although I came with nothing but a Nalgene full of water and my cars keys, I was allotted some wide-ruled notebook paper to keep notes full of questions and ideas, both to answer and use within my current classroom, as well as some things I would possibly like to implement in my future classroom(s).

This class is only 29 students full, which in my opinion is rather small, or maybe it just seems small because the kids are smaller than the middle school kids who towered over me. I am constantly amazed by how well behaved these 4th graders are and how respectful. (It is wonderful to finally be able to use my indoor voice instead of projecting it more loudly than I am comfortable). There are about 9 students in the class who are not necessarily ELL or LOS but simply minority. One student has been added to the class, (although has not yet showed up), after a year long expulsion. Some students are very inquisitive, and some too clever for their own good, and yes, I am grateful that my previous lead teacher taught me to be picky. Skimming language papers for content is not something that can be summed up into an incomplete sentence.

So, to sum up my first day as a fourth grade teacher...It was wonderful. I am anxious to learn more about teaching at the elementary school level.