Week One Reflection

So this week was certainly a bit of a roller coaster. I started out the week feeling really excited about going to my school and starting to meet the staff, however registration was definitely a tedious task. (Although talking with the other staff, the organization was much more efficient then it has been in years past). I admit it left me feeling a bit discouraged and very disoriented.

Tuesday was also really draining. It was the district wide in-service day, and although I did enjoy the superintendent's speech, it was also really long. To follow sitting and listening to an hour and a half long speech, with sitting and listening to four hours of presentations and classes was a bit much for me, and I struggled to keep my eyes open after lunch. As much as I like and learn from direct lecture instruction, perhaps even I have a limit on how much of that I can take. My mom (a K/1 teacher) told me that in-service days are notorious for being boring though, so I didn't loose hope.

Wednesday morning was a slow start for me, however the activities of the morning totally turned my attitude around. We broke into groups and played different team building games in order to break the ice and get ourselves thinking 'outside the box' and cooperatively. The activities included a tinker-toy building contest, land skiis, jump roping, crossing a 'raging river' with only 5 stones, and (my favorite) a Frisbee throwing contest. My team didn't place very well, but it was a lot of fun, and made me feel much more included and welcome then I would have otherwise. I got to spend time with the other teachers in a situation where we were all on equal footing, we were all 'just people'.

I am fortunate enough to have been given a task for my School Improvement Project already. Melissa ( a fellow UO student teacher) and I are working for the 7th grade social studies team creating a time line project for them to make in the second week of classes. Time allowing we will also create a time line to put on the bulletin board, and 'foldables' for each unit they will cover. It's a type of project that is right up my alley, as well as a good review of my world history. I'm excited to create something that can potentially be used for years to come at this school.

The new schedule that Briggs is launching seems really innovative, but it also produces a lot of new challenges. When the staff was going over it, it was really interesting for those of us not a direct part of the staff to sit back and watch the tension and aggression move through the faculty. There are definitely some people who are not comfortable or happy about the changes. However, they all seem really committed to the idea of the new schedule as a whole, even if the kinks haven't been worked out yet, so on top of the negative and confused feelings was a joviality and optimism that they would be able to persevere (and prove all the naysayers wrong). There is a really great feeling of team and cooperation in this staff! They are also really relaxed and joke and tease a lot (mostly in a nice and fun way).

Today was particularly exciting because I finally got assigned my cooperating teacher, Lisa Keener. I got to know her, and spent some time helping her organize. I'm really excited about working with her because they are piloting a new book and new curriculum, which is something that student teachers don't normally get to do. She also seems really fun, and I think we'll mesh together well. I previously thought I was going to be with a teacher who was also the athletic director, and he seemed like a great guy, but I think I'll have more in common with Lisa. Already, just by going through her old curriculum and re-organizing it to match up with the new book, I am getting ideas for my own lessons.

I am very excited to start working with the kids this next week and see how things go.

Welcome to Briggs Middle School

I am beginning my first Practicum experience, at Briggs Middle School. It is a feeder school for Thurston High, in Springfield, although it's located very centrally in Springfield. So far this seems like a fantastic place to work. The superintendent, Nancy Golden, seems really innovative and forward thinking. The other teachers love her, she received a standing ovation upon entering the stage, as well as one after her (hour and a half long) speech. She really seems all about the kids, and is as negative about new standardized testing requirements as any self-respecting teacher. She also seems to really support the arts as part of education.

My principal also seems pretty awesome, Brooke Wagner. She is also all about trying new stuff, and getting new ideas. In fact, Briggs is spearheading an experimental bell schedule (all on their lonesome) that allows each teacher 90 minutes of prep time every day. Half of it is spent working with their teams, which are divided up by grade level and focus, to make sure that everyone is working together and on the same page about students, curriculum and school wide events. The other half is personal prep time in the classroom.

I still don't know for sure who my cooperating teacher will be, although everyone seems to think I'll be with Brandon Parks. Nothing has been made specific yet, so we student teachers (there are four of us at Briggs) are able to observe a wide variety of people, and start on our School Improvement Project.

Laura Scruggs, who is one of my favorite people I've met (she complimented my purple hair), has a project for three of us to work on for our SIPs. It is developing a foldable time line with dates from every unit that the 7th grade World History class will cover. And then, if we finish that, creating examples of foldable projects for each individual unit, to use as examples and grading keys.

As you can see, there is a lot going on for me, right now, I just have Briggs to worry about. By the end of the month, I'll add classes: Behavior Management, Methods of teaching Social Studies, and Methods of Teaching Math.