The end of the school year has come and gone and it has led me to reflect on my teaching experience thus far. 2010 was my first year teaching {ever} and I was scared and excited all at once. After having 10 interviews in multiple districts and being rejected 9 times, I was stoked to finally have a teaching job.....and not just any teaching job, a teaching job in the district that I went to school at. It was seriously everything that I ever wanted (minus the fact that it was part time, but thank God it was because of the year that ensued). And I love that fact that I see cows on my drive and get stuck behind a tractor driving down the road sometimes :)
I was worried about the fact that I was teaching Kindergarten, but after the first day I was pretty hooked. Kindergarten is so much fun. I loved that I got to sing, dance, and sit on the floor with the little kiddos. Not to mention the fact that they are just so darn cute! We did super fun projects, and they are like little sponges at that age. They grow so much over the course of the school year and I had so much fun learning with them. And do you know what's weird? At some point it hit me that I wanted to teach Kindergarten. When Tommy was in the hospital, I worried about my kiddos the first day I was away from them. Then, I stopped thinking about them when I was at the hospital and focused on Tommy. When I went back to the classroom a few days later, teaching Kindergarten was still so fun. I actually enjoyed going to school when I did, and I enjoyed being with Tommy when I was at hospital. I was having fun in the middle of a crisis, and you may read this and think that is totally selfish, but that's what teaching Kindergarten was for me: fun. Even on the days that were hard- the kiddos were crazy, someone was crying or under a table, a lesson didn't turn out like I planned, etc.- I was still happy to be teaching Kindergarten.
I love teaching them how to be little people. I love teaching them how to sit on the carpet criss cross applesauce with eggs in a basket. I love singing hallway songs, calendar songs, and phonics songs with them. I love penguin playday and teddy bear playday. I love giving a direction and then telling them to put their hands on their head/shoulders/knees/elbows etc. I love teaching the basics- especially phonics. I love seeing them grow academically/socially. I love teaching them compassion towards each other and how to problem solve. I love their love of learning.
Last year I taught Second Grade. Big jump, I know.
It was definitely.....different/fun/challenging/friendly/unexpected, thought not all in one day. ha.
I learned a lot about my teaching self, my personal self, and teaching in general. I do not think I would have gotten through alive without my team, and my friends at school, that much I know. Next year will be a new adventure, a new challenge, and though I am not ready for it right this minute on August 1st, I will be. Many things to look forward to this month :)
I am a teacher right now, but I suppose this will be a lifelong journey.
And that's #4- Become a Teacher.
