After reflecting on my experience during internship I now know I love working with kids but it's not always so easy. As a students I always thought being a teacher was super easy. I though, you just show up, plan a lesson, teach, observe, and go home. However, after interning as a teachers assistant I learned that it's not that simple. My friends and I would always mess around with Evan and tell him how he didn't do anything but sit there so he should grade our things. I now have a different understanding, perspective, and appreciation of my teachers and the work they do. Teaching requires a lot of time, passion, and patience. You have to be very flexible and willing to adjust to others' needs. There are many students who need special attention or special plans, you have to maneuver around these special plans and plan the schedule for everyone. On top of that you need to make sure everyone else is doing good and learning. Teaching requires a lot of work but I definitely enjoyed it. Ms. Tiffany and I spoke about this briefly, we haven't made any official plans just yet but I plan to continue working with the students weekly. I plan to go in during my lunch break once or twice a week to visit and help out with whatever they're doing.
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I am really just thankful for this opportunity and for HTe allowing me to be apart of their family and community this past month. Each and everyone of the students I worked with has impacted me immensely. The students are what I will miss most. I grew to love and care for each and everyone of my students. I create great relationships with many of them. I'm going to miss reading with the boys every morning and playing soccer and basketball with them. For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be a teacher. I was in preschool telling my mom I wanted to be a teacher when I was older. All my life that's what I told myself I'd be, there was no other option for me and now I know that I was right. I truly love having children around me. I really get to be creative and myself when I'm with them all. I'm also very thankful for all the staff. Ms. Tiffany, my mentor was nothing but loving and welcoming. She was always very patient with me. I really enjoyed having small conversations and saying hi to all the teachers. I truly do see myself in a setting like this one when I'm older. I don't know if I could picture it any other way. I feel so fulfilled knowing that I impacted many students whether it was with emotional support and helping them on how to control their emotions, to helping them build their confidence, to helping them academically.
My project for internship is to work as a teacher's assistant and to help students who struggle emotionally and academically. Another part of my project is to leave some tools behind for the students. During my time at HTe I've noticed that there has been a lot of issues on the playground many being about soccer. This week I had to stop two fights on the playground. I didn't know how to react in these situations but luckily I was able to get everything under control and stopped the fights. One of these fights was about soccer and throughout the week I've heard many students complain about what is going on, on the court. I am a huge soccer fan and love the sport so it really bummed me out when I heard some of my students who love to play prefer to not play anymore because all the cheating and issues are causing it to no longer be fun. I spoke to my mentor, Ms. Tiffany and I held a mini discussion with some of the soccer players. My hope was to discuss with all of the student but they can get fairly distracted so I spoke to them in groups of 2 and 3. I really got to get a perspective of the students and why these problems are constantly happening. We also spoke about certain expectations and norms they need in order to have a fun and friendly game. Here are somethings my fellow students said: "Soccer isn't fun anymore because of all the cheating and fights"; "I'd rather not play anymore"; "That's why I now play soccer on the other side of the playground." Some students suggested I speak to some of the other students in the other 3rd grade classes who would have a good impute to this situation so I plan on speaking to them this upcoming week. I also plan on creating a poster of expectations for soccer since all of them seem to really be upset about what is happening on the field.
I am so thankful to HTe for allowing me to intern with them. My mentor, Ms. Tiffany has been very kind, supportive, and patient with me. Instantly my students were very welcoming. Third graders can have a very strong personality but are very sweet and bright. I have learned so much about being a teacher, a possible career that I've pictured myself doing for a very long time. I most definitely want to be a teacher, I don't know if I can see myself doing something else. These past 2 weeks have been great and fun! I'm really happy with the class I've been working with. There definetly have been some challenges but overall has been a great experience. I am very content with the class I was placed in, I couldn't imagine myself being assigned to another other children. I am very grateful for each and everyone of them. I have truly created a great bond with them. I have gotten very attached to them all and many with me as well. They have been nothing but loving and kind towards me. Sometimes the kids get frustrated because I can't get to all of them at the same time but overall are understanding of the fact that I am an intern and only a teenager who is learning. I have really learned a lot during this internship. I've learned how to be a patient person, how to help students problems solve, and how to talk to student who are felling down, angry, or who have a low self-esteem. I am so glad knowing that I helped these students when it comes to spelling, writing, math, and behavior. I am very satisfied knowing that my students feel comfortable with me and with asking for my help whether it's an academic or personal problem. I am so sad to know that in two weeks I will no longer be working with these amazing kids.
As I've mentioned previously being a TA requires a lot of patience. Sometimes I start to panic because I'm trying to help a student and all around me are kids yelling, "Ms. Blanca, Ms.Blanca." All of them need my help and sometimes I get very anxious. There are times where I don't even know who to go to because the kids will sometimes complain about how one raised their hand before another or how they need more help. Yesterday, I was working this 2 students back and forth. Both were calling my name out and I'd jump from one to another but I never realized that a third student at that table needed my help. I turn around to see this student banging on the table. I quickly turned my attention to him, asked him what was wrong and to please not do that. He responded with, "I've been asking for your help and you wouldn't come." Hearing this I felt terrible for not paying more attention and for not helping him. He was very upset about the fact that I never helped him. I apologized for not coming sooner and explained how I didn't hear him but he was saying that that wasn't possible because I heard his peers and how I was just ignoring him. I offered help but he angrily said he no longer needed me so I moved on to help other students. About 20 minutes later I was helping a student who was struggling with his writing (student A). The student from earlier (student B) needed help as well so I told him I'd help him after I finished with student A. He got bad and walked out of the classroom to sit by the backpack area. In this moment I did not know what to do. To walk after student B or to stay in the class because many other students need my help. I decided to stay in the class, finish helping student A and then planned on going to speak to student B outside. Within a minute the teacher came towards me and asked me where student B was, I explained to her how he got mad because I was helping student A and not him so he walked out of the class and that I was about to go talk to him. She went outside to talk to this student. After reflecting on this situation, I think I made the wrong decision. I should have walked after this student to talk to him because something could have happened to him under my supervision.
For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be a teacher. I love being around kids and helping others but recently I've discovered a huge passion for business and I really don't know what path I want to take in the future. What I do know is that I've loved every minute I've spends with these kids. They are all so loving and caring. I can definitely see myself as a teacher when I'm older. I've really enjoyed everything that I've done so far from leading mini lessons to helping kids how to perfect their reading/spelling skills to how to behave better in class. I've really gotten attracted to each and everyone of the kids that I've worked with. I think this internship has really been beneficial for me because I've learned so much. Being a teacher is not as easy I thought it'd be. It requires a lot of patience, lots of it. You have to be able to explain things in a different way because not everyone learns the same way. And some kids can be very sensitive, during these last couple of day I've had to try to cheer kids up when they're crying or angry. Being a teacher is a lot of work but I have definitely loved it.
Being in a classroom with third graders has really tested my patience. I think of myself as a patient person but when it comes to taking care of my nieces and younger cousins, I'm not the most patient person. During these last couple of days I've definitely grown. I've learned how to talk to kids in a way that will get them to listen to me, however the same way doesn't work with every kid. Some kids will listen immidately while other I'll have to talk to 3 - 4 times. Getting ignored and being told "no" when I ask someone to do or stop doing something several times can be very frustrating but I've learned how to talk to them in a calm way. I've also become a much more patient person. I've been working with students on how to behave better in class and helping them to avoid getting in trouble. I have to constantly be reminding them what to do and what not to.
I've also been leading mini lessons with the students. Everyday this week I've been working with them on an activity that helps them make nouns plural. I has really been a refresher for me because I know how to make nouns plural but had forgotten some of the rules. I've really improved on explaining my ideas because not every student comprehends the same. During this activity it can get frustrating because I'm trying to show them how to do it but sometimes no one will be listening to me, they'll be having side conversations or doodling. It can be frustrating to have to constantly be reminding them to pay attention and to try to not yell but once again this is where I have to be most patient. During my internship project I will be working with students who struggle emotionally and academically. With those who struggle academically I will read with them, do different activities to improve their vocabulary/spelling, and help boost their math skills. With students who struggle emotionally I will be working with them on how to control their emotions, how it is important to problem solve and discuss their issues, and how to be more respectful in the classroom. One of the teacher assistance will be leaving for Japan after this week so I will continue some of the work she's been doing with some students this year. I also plan on leaving behind some tools for the students to have when I leave to continue to work on their academic and emotional issues. During this process I will have to use both academic and creative skills because I will need to come up with engaging and fun ways for the student to improve in their academics and emotionally. I will also be helping the students a lot with their work so academic skills are need their as well.
High Tech Elementary will be benefited by my project because I will be working as a teacher's assistance, I will be an extra set of eyes for Ms. Tiffany. I will be helping students academically and other students with their emotional problems and how to deal with them, so that will be really beneficial for the classroom and the teacher. It is my first week interning at HTe and I am loving it! All of the kids are very sweet and kind, as well as the staff. The environment and culture here feels very familiar to all of my years of being in the High Tech system. The environment is very welcoming and caring. I see all the teacher and students interacting with one another and all I see is love.
Every student in the school has a buddy from a different grade level and they interact with one another a couple of time throughout the school. I think it's very unique and a great experience for all of the kids in the school. They really get to connect with other grade levels and are building a loving and connecting community. I think this should be incorporated to the other school in the High Tech Village because many time it feels as if the grade levels are isolate from one another and their isn't much of a connection in the community. With my 3rd grade class we've done gallery walks and all of the students are very inquisitive and kind towards each other's work. The class is also very helpful. If a student needs help everyone is willing to help each other; whether it's coming up with ideas for writing, spelling, solving math problems, or tying someone's shoe. Also, the students are learning how to problem solve. If some students are having some issues they talk it out and try to solve their problems in a kind and respectful way. Today was my first day of internship!!! It went great, all of the students were happy to have me as well as the two teachers, Ms. Tiffany and Ms. Stephanie who I will be working with for the rest of the month. I can already tell the environment is very loving and caring. The school had a community meeting today were they showcase clips of their previous exhibition. I though it was super cute how each grade sings a kid friendly version of Shabooya Roll Call. I wish I would have recorded it but I unfortunately did not. Today I mainly observed the class and made sure everything was going okay. I helped a student by helping her write ways she has contributed to class norms. I also helped students with their ST Math and brainstorming ideas for their short stories. Today was a minimum day which I honestly really appreciated because I was able to get a feel of what to expect and not feel overwhelmed since I didn't really get to meet my mentor nor the class before staring my internship.
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