First day!
I have officially survived my first day and half of student teaching!
So far, it's been good, if slightly awkward, as i think any job is when you first start out. i felt a little nervous when it came to introducing myself to the students. But my teacher does a very, very personal introduction. She basically tells the kids her life story. it felt almost a bit lengthy, but it's an important story, especially for the kids in my district to hear. she grew up in this town, she went to this school, almost dropped out - and now has a doctorate degree. i don't have quite that story, and mine felt kind of pathetic next to hers. but the truth is, i don't have to tell it when i get my own class.
my teacher is also incredibly dynamic. she has a very strong, direct, but caring personality. I'd like to develop a persona that has some echoes of that, but i know i am not completely like her.
anyways, i'm glad i don't have to do a super personal intro again. i don't think it's necessary, at least not coming from someone like me. i'd rather spend time driving home the message that i don't care who you are or were in the past. I don't care if you have failed classes or got in trouble last year. that's what's special about starting a new school year: it's kind of like real new year's: you can leave behind the old and start with the new. you can become anyone you want to be. i will not judge you for who you were last june. instead, help me to see you as you are today, and who you want to be tomorrow.
(philosophical stuff. corny? ha, don't know. i could even weave something about chinese new years into that story. like, i could describe chinese new years and why it's important to me, and how we wash our feet to get rid of last year's dirt. how every year is a new beginning.)
and i have all 9 graders right now, except for a creative writing class. they are really cute. it's also so endearing to hear my name over and over again. I think that might have been my favorite part of the day: hearing the kids call my name when they needed help or had a question.
