I will begin this blog by stating that it will be spastic, personal, insightful, honest, and therapeutic. I do not intend for this blog to be a place where I come to offer advice, intellect, and research to my fellow student teachers (we do that through discussion in class), but instead this will be a place for me to spill my guts. I am not interested in impressing future employers with this blog, I am more interested in creating a place for me to come and record the bumps, valleys, memories, and milestones of my experiences as a preservice teacher.
Currently, I am in my seventh week of student teaching at Riverside University High School in Milwaukee Public Schools. I am teaching in two regular ninth grade English classes and one Hispanic American Literature elective for eleventh and twelfth graders. Thus far in my "journey" I have had moments of glory, laughter, joy, fear, inadequacy, and true frustration. In the short seven weeks that I have been with these students, I have experienced every emotion I have ever experienced in my entire life. And, that is how I know that this experiences is worth every tear, smile, hiccup, sleepless night, etc. I can't imagine things being any other way. I love leaving the school every night feeling like my mind is racing a million miles an hour. I love going home and not having any room in my brain to consider anything other than what happened that day, what will happen tomorrow, and how I am going to "fit in" everything else in my life.
This past week, I had the pleasure of conducting two days of parent/teacher conferences. I met about twenty of my students' parents. Some of the parents were there to listen to how amazing their son or daughter is; some of these parents were there to device a plan for their son or daughter. Either way, all I could think about while speaking with these parents was how much I appreciate each of their children. Not one of those kids deserves anything but a smile, pat on the back, and positive word. After all, even if they aren't getting an "A" in my class, they are contributing to my growth as an educator in one way or another. In a way, they are subconsciously more influential than I am. In the end, even if they receive a "U" in my class, they are responsible for my experiences as a preservice teacher.
Everyday I think about these kids, all I can think is how wonderful they all are. How is it possible that I can be so angry and spiteful towards a group of kids, but ultimately love them all for it?
I can't imagine doing anything else.
