The Life of a Student Intern

As I am preparing to graduate with my BA in English Lit and Certificate in Secondary Education, I realize that I must take on one final challenge.  I get to teach a full semester of English to 12th graders.  This blog will serve as a teacher diary for me...

[imsorrymsburgess]

Destiny came through @daaance_ki !@unique_nailsandspa #weddingnails (at Unique Nails & Spa)

[imsorrymsburgess]

If you knew me you'd know that I'd be saving for this @aliceandolivia dress if I even felt like going through that right now. 😿🌻😩 #poorpeopleproblems

[imsorrymsburgess]

First Year Teacher:  Is it Friday yet?

So it’s finally the Thursday of my first week of school.  How do these teachers do it?  I am mentally exhausted.  The first day was great;  the kids were nice and quiet, they did not make friends yet so they were not annoying, and my feet were not as sore as they are right now.  This is my third day in and I’m really praying that I keep it together until Friday.  The first two periods went well, but unfortunately I didn’t think out every detail of my lesson and the third and fourth periods suffered.  I can’t even blame my frustration on the kids.  If I were more prepared I could have been more patient with them.  This morning I was really feeling so great about being a teacher.  I was so proud of what I created for the students and I could see that they were really exercising their brains and growing.  It felt so good I actually thought that I could possibly already know what I’m doing.  I don’t.  I have so much to learn.  I’m just gonna continue to pray that I learn from the mistakes I make every day and hope that, that will make the next day a little easier.  GAWD THIS SUCKS.  

[imsorrymsburgess]

My creative little cousin made me this flower pen for my classroom 😍😍😍 thank you Monaca!! 😘 @girl4calalillies

[imsorrymsburgess]

First day of school coming up! 😁 I'm so excited but I feel like I should be nervous. #ErinCondren #NewTeacher

[imsorrymsburgess]

Yummmmm 😋

[imsorrymsburgess]

But we know this all too well... #SandraBland

[imsorrymsburgess]

On to another adventure 📚

[micdotcom]

[micdotcom]

In one quote, this 10-year-old nailed what’s wrong with police brutality 

Taye Montgomery, the 10-year-old boy allegedly Maced in the face by a police officer while peacefully protesting with his mother on Wednesday evening in Minneapolis, had a powerful response when he spoke to reporters on Thursday.

[imsorrymsburgess]

Go beyond the book report with these creative ideas to get gifted learners interacting with books.

[imsorrymsburgess]

the first week.

I'm in the beginning of my second week of taking over all B day classes at my placement school.  Even I'm a little surprised that I haven't decided to change my career path.  In my very first day of taking over B day, during 1st period I had to break up what could have been a fight.  Oh and the students recorded it of course.  

Not only am I in control of the English classes, but another one of my duties is teaching an ACT prep course.  I haven't taken the ACT since 2010 and I am the last person that should be teaching grammar, but I'm the ACT prep teacher.  The class is full of only 8 students, so you can imagine how much fun we're having...

My experience overall sounds very negative, but something about being at the school, and answering students questions, and being responsible for their learning keeps me intrigued.  I guess it's because of the fact that I'm learning SO much along with them.  I should also say that after that week I have a new found respect for my mentor teacher.  I am only beginning to understand how much effort she puts into her profession.  She stays after school for hours every day and still takes work home with her.  She manages what seems to be an impossible group of students and has done so for over 10 years.  She also makes time to teach me how to be a teacher.  I HAVE to remember to give her a huge thanks when this internship is over.  She listens to me rant about the things that frustrate me and she has been a great support since the beginning of the school year.  

With all of that being said...I think I'm ready for another week of this.  

[imsorrymsburgess]

Lesson of the Day: Sit with other teachers at lunch!

I'm one of those people that don't do well with making new friends.  I tend to wait for other people to be nice to me first, but I'm starting to realize that I've really been missing out!  I was, once again, sitting alone at lunch today just because I'm addicted to browsing my Facebook and Instagram.  I always thought the other teachers didn't notice me anyway.  Well, I was wrong.  One really nice lady, Mrs. L, told me to move over to the other table and sit with them because I'm the only person at this other table (being antisocial).  I felt awkward and ashamed of my isolation, so I agreed.  

It was interesting to see that the conversation at the teacher table is not always about students.  Yesterday they were talking about things I actually needed to know about the school like how I'm not the only person that has SERIOUS issues with the writing skills of the students.  Apparently none of them have students that are at a proficient level.  Although it's unfortunate, I felt much better hearing that news.  I'm not the only teacher failing to get the students to understand basic sentence structure and fluid essay writing.  

Today I just listened to them compare recipes for jungle juice that they came up with in college.  

I once heard that high school teachers were more "cliquey" and not really nice but that's not the case at my school.  I love the teacher table! 

[sohapppily]

You’re gonna need a pep talk sometimes. That’s okay. For now, remember this: You’re awake. You’re awesome. Live like it.

[imsorrymsburgess]

Needed this! 

[margaretstohl]

[imsorrymsburgess]

<3

[micdotcom]

A New Study Shows the Vast Diversity Gap Within America's Education System

Every year U.S. schools grow more diverse. According to the latest studies by the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the National Education Association (NEA), nearly half of all students who attend public school right now are from minority backgrounds. Yet both organizations note a critical “diversity gap” in our nation’s education system — not among students, but among teachers.

Among the 3.3 million teachers who work in American public schools, only 18% identified as minorities: 8% as Hispanic, 7% as black and about 2% as Asian. In comparison, 48% of public school students are nonwhite: 23% are Hispanic, 16% are black and 5% are Asian.

Read more | Follow policymic

[imsorrymsburgess]

Things 12th Graders Say

Today was exhausting.  So many divas with "it's all about me" attitudes and guys with "I'm the man hear me roar" complexes.  

Most of these issues stemmed from the decision my mentor teacher and I made to change the assigned seats around.  You would think 12th graders don't need them (I did initially) but they really don't seem to get that only mature people can sit where they want.  

At least 4 girls caused a scene over seating arrangements today.  There were so many moments in the day when I really had to hold my tongue.  I might have said something too real for them to hear.  But I always regret holding my tongue because I think they need to hear it.  I just wish I knew exactly how to say it without it just going right over their heads.  

That's something I'll work on but I can really tell it's gonna be an ongoing challenge for the rest of my career.  I won't spend time analyzing each statement they made, because most likely the statements had no substance or reasoning at all (besides "I don't want to").  So I'll just type up a few quotes that blew my mind today: 

Her:  "We don't need to learn about slavery."

Me:  "Why do you think that?"

Her: "Because it isn't important."

*One kid REALLY didn't want to go back to his assigned seat...he had a lot to say about this but eventually he tried to find "common ground"

Him:  I just wanna find some common ground.

Me:  There is no common ground.  I'm the teacher and I'm asking you as the student to get to your seat.  You won't find common ground because we're not on the same level.  

I could say a lot more but I can't actually remember exactly what some of the other kids said.  The point is, these kids are crazy.  I need a shrink.  I hate B days.  But I'm going back tomorrow.  Am I crazy too?  

[holtthink]

Did I Plagiarize?

This might be a good poster to place in your classroomThe original link

[coolcatteacher]

FAntastic graphic to share with students to help them figure out if they plagiarized.

[girlwithalessonplan]

Uuuuuggghhh„„35 bucks!  A MIGHTY NEED!