Reflection: If I Could Do It All Over

Being an intern is super rewarding and I recommend everyone try it out if they plan to become a teacher!



Being an intern was such an incredible experience. Not only did I have an incredible time as a year 1 but also as second year intern. I experienced so much, learned so much about not only teaching but about myself as well. I was put with an incredible mentor my first year, Mrs. Brittany Smith.
During my second year of interning I was not only paired with an incredible 4th grade teacher, Mr. Tanner Holmes, but I got to be with Mrs. Smith again.




Interning in the classes I did the past two year really set in stone that I really wanted to be teacher. I was encouraged by both my mentors so much and they were always telling me that I was going to be a great teacher one day, now that my year is coming to an end I realize how much I really want to be a teacher and WHY I want to be a teacher.

 Being a teacher is much more than a typical 9-5 job and thats why I love it. I want to be challenged in everything I do. I realized that as I watched how much work both my mentors did. Just grading their papers for them was one HUGE thing they could cross of their to-do list. Teachers teach because they want to make a difference in kids lives, they want them to strive in what they are good at, knowing I can make a difference in one students' life is so rewarding!

Ending this year was not easy at all, having to say good bye to the kids that considered me like their, "Second teacher," how can you do that? I hated having to say good bye, seeing their faces so upset, and them asking me not to go, I just couldn't handle it. These kids were a huge part of my life and I couldn't have asked for a better experience with a better class and better mentors. I was extremely blessed this year, as well as last year.

For more information on what I am supposed to be blogging, check out http://kkallasbctal.blogspot.com/2013/05/spring-2013-final-part-3.html

Part 2: Classroom Management

If I were to become the 2013-2014 Education and Training teacher I would revamp the guidelines on transportation to field sites.

Driving

VS.

Riding the bus

Both alternatives for transportation to field sites are great, but they both are great in their own ways. If I were to become the teacher I would give the people who have a car the chance to drive. If they were a year 1 they would drive once a week if they have their own car and if they are a year 2 they can drive 2 times a week. EVERYONE would have to ride the first day of the week. 

Arrival times:

Students must all be at their intern school by the time that they are supposed too, no late arrivals. If you are able drive you may drive to your school early and begin your interning early with your mentors permission. 

Students will not be allowed to drive if they are given a ticket on the way to field sites or if they do NOT have above an 80 for each six weeks. 

If you have an appointment or other conflict that would cause you to be late to your field site you will need to contact your advisor and work out a plan with her.



For more information on what I am supposed to be blogging, check out http://kkallasbctal.blogspot.com/2013/05/spring-2013-final-part-2.html

Part 1: Select a TEKS and Corresponding Activity

TEKS I chose for this blog:
(4)  Number and operations. The student applies mathematical process standards to identify coins, their values, and the relationships among them in order to recognize the need for monetary transactions. The student is expected to:
(A)  identify U.S. coins, including pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, by value and describe the relationships among them;

Learning about money is important to learn early, students start learning coin value in first grade. To help my students learn about the value of coins and the coin names I used a great website, to check it out click here.

This website had something similiar to a powerpoint but at the end it had a game. It went through the names, how much the coins are worth, what president is on the front and how many it takes of them to make a dollar. The coins it went through were pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and it even went over dollar bills.

My first graders would love using this because it is very interactive and they would learn a lot as well!

For more information on what I'm supposed to be blogging about check out, http://kkallasbctal.blogspot.com/2013/05/spring-2013-final-part-1.html

In My Opinion - The Best Virtual Field Trip

The virtual field trip I would choose for my students would be learning about the Hershey Company. To check out what I would have them looking at here is the website, feel free to click here!

My students love anything sweet, but to think about  I think anyone would like to do this virtual field trip! Getting to learn about how chocolate is made, HOW FUN! It talks about the history of the Hershey company, the founder, and all the fun stuff you can learn about chocolate!

I chose this field trip because it would be fun for my students to not only learn about chocolate but it will help them learn about computer skills by looking for the answers on the virtual field trip and it can help them learn about all the yummy things that go into chocolate!

Teacher Toolbox Featuring Glogster

Need a great way to introduce fact families to first graders check out my glog, an electronic poster I made all about fact families! Click here to check it out!

Defending Your Decision to Teach

Why do I want to be a teacher? What is so appealing about being a teacher? Why would you want to deal with kids? These questions and many more are the things I am asked about being a teacher. I will answer there as well as many more.

The article I am referring to is from Life 101:  Defending Your Decision to Teach, from the November/December 2012 issue of FEA's Go Teach magazine. Since it is not an internet article, take a look at my teacher's blog to view my assignment!

So now, why would I want to become a teacher?

Well there are so many positives and negatives of becoming a teacher. I mean the pay isn't great, and it's not a typical 9-5 job, but for me that doesn't matter. I love being able to teach kids and be able to know that I  am making a difference in many kids lives. Many teachers not only teach monday through friday but they also have papers to grade after school, and on the weekends, they have meetings, and even work days for teacher inservice days. 

Even though teachers have to do a lot I still think it would be fun teaching and thinking of many different lessons and activities. Take a look at this video on why teaching is important and also what teaching in the 21st century is like: 

Am I a Procrastinator?

To get it out there, yes, I am a procrastinator. Maybe not as bad as most people but when it comes to certain assignments or classes I do tend to procrastinate. If you need some help with procrastination take a look at the article Overcoming Procrastination or even here is a video to help you with procrastination!

What do you don't have to worry about is thinking you are the only one that procrastinated, because more than likely whether it was a homework assignment or an essay that was assigned weeks ago more than likely you are not the only one sitting on the computer instead of doing your work. Hopefully these tips and tricks have helped!