ISATs

During opening this morning a man came into the classroom with a dolly loaded with four boxes. He gently placed them down inside the door, left, and returned a few minutes later with two more boxes. My lead teacher and I thanked him for relieving us of the responsibility of bringing the boxes in ourselves. Although I did not know it at the time, the man had also delivered two boxes to the fourth grade teacher next door.

During lunch that day I learned that the boxes were full of practice ISAT tests. The winter ISATs are almost over, and now it is time to start prepping for the "real deal." The spring ISAT is the one that determines if our school, a brand new school, will or can possibly be labeled "at risk" by the No Child Left Behind Act. Seeing the scores of growth form that fall to the winter ISATs, it seems unlikely to me that such a label could be placed on our school, however no chances can be made. Until the spring ISATs are over, we must drill the kids with facts, as well as feed them tests in preparation.

I Got to Teach Today!!!

So, for the first week at the elementary school, I got to simply observe, and occasionally write something on the white board and correct a math paper or thirty. Although I really appreciated the opportunity to observe, I have been really anxious to take on a little bit of teaching. I found it somewhat difficult to go from feeling as though I practically had my own classroom at the middle school to being nearly a stranger at the elementary school. Things have changed quickly, however, as I get about four notes a day about how I am now "best friends forever" and "best student teacher ever" from my students. I smile and keep all of the in a special box.

Today, however, I did get to teach. I was not prepared to teach reading, (ISAT testing held my lead teacher over), and was rather intimidated by the thought, having only seen it modeled once, but I just asked the kids what to do and they walked me through every step of Open Court Reading. What made me the happiest was that I could speak at a regular indoor voice, (or even softer), and the students remained attentive and followed along and participated throughout the entire lesson.

Even later in the day I was also taken by surprised when I was asked to take the larger group of students into another classroom to teach the first lesson of a novel unit I had neither seen nor read. (I knew we were starting a novel unit, but I did not realize it would be today)! No worries, though. I winged the lesson the best I could, feeling that overall things went really well, for which I was truly and extremely grateful since my supervising professor happened to show up. Every teacher needs to be able to exhibit a fine amount of flexibility...She told me...Followed by a good job. I was relieved.

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.

Last Day at the Middle School

This last Friday was the last day for me at the middle school. Although I am anxious to move on to elementary school, (I am sure it will be full of wonderful surprises), I realized that I had become much more attached to the middle school, (it students, staff, and faculty), than I ever thought I would.

On my last day my students planned a surprise going away party for me. On student stayed up until 11:30 pm the night before making and decorating a cake that said on it, "Goodbye Miss Goodsell." Each class hour students seemed to bring in treats and notes and cards for me. Some students brought in big going away signs. And finally, a giant card was passed around in all the classes and each student signed their name with a personal note. But what really made me teary were the hugs that came from the students from whom you would least expect it.

At the end of the day, I said my goodbyes to the staff and faculty that had inspired and encouraged me. With promises of return visits and weekly E-mails, I left behind a very close knit group of professional friends.

My Last Week at the Middle School

This is my last week at the middleschool. I think some of my student are planning something along the lines of a going away party. This morning I got after a student for not working on her assignment when another studetn said that she was planning something for me, but that I couldn't know anything about it or see any part of it.

I will be sad to leave all of my kids, but I am also excited to experience the frontiers of fourth grade!

Forgot My Log-In

You know that it has been a long time since you have last blogged when it takes you three tries to log-in. I would say that I will make it my new year's resolution to blog more often, however I do not want to get anyone's hopes up. Then you would be expecting something of me.

So, to those of I whom I have not chatted with in a while...things are alright. Teaching has been fusturating as I feel like I have been battling against my lead teacher with our differing ideas of what should be happening in the classroom and how to keep a hold on management. The only advise and feedback that I seem to get is from my Bill; the kinds of things he tells me about teaching are the things that my lead teacher should be advising me on. However, I hate the thought of leaving my students at semester, but the thought of experiencing a fourth grade classroom intrigues me as well.

Work on my thesis continues to tread along. The more I work on it the more I realize how much more research I have to do still.

Christmas went well. Bill and I did the two family thing, driving up to Idaho Falls on Christmas morning. It was wonderful to spend time with family.