Beginning Excitement

It is great to finally be in the classroom every day. This week we were able to go to get into the middle school and begin our practicum experience. It is so nice to see the elements we are learning about our college courses truly at work. School starts at 8:10, and that is when I get to join the 8th grade students in their classroom. It is nice to see the before school activities and to have the students first period, even though I have noticed they usually need some time to wake up. They seem to lack sleep just like most middle school student do. This shows how crucial it is to have exciting activities and enthusiasm as a teacher. Sometimes observation is the best form of learning, and that is what I am getting the opportunity to do now. For now, I am enjoying the first week at the middle school getting to know the students and my classroom teacher, interacting one-on-one with the students, and learning how things go at the school. I have been in the classroom in the elementary grades for my college classes, but never in the middle school as I am an elementary education major with a middle school math endorsement. The differences in the students and the daily activities are obvious. I am excited to learn through this experience. I know it will be a rewarding one. I already feel as if I am learning so much just through observation and assisting the students one-on-one, but I can't wait to be in front of the classroom and teaching.