First Week in the Classroom

In this past week working in the classroom I have seen a pretty broad spectrum of the teaching experience. I have been in contact with respectful students, rude students, rowdy students, and students who just don't care about anything. My CT told me that she strives to have a personal one-on-one relationship with all her students and I have noticed that there are many who come to her for help and guidance in many aspects of their lives. I think that is a great role to fill for kids. At the school where I'm observing many of the students come from unstable home situations and it's important for them to have adults in their lives who they can trust and turn to in their hour of need. I know I had teachers like that and I want to be that kind of teacher.

I have spent most of my week observing and doing small things to help prep for the classes. The school's language program suffered severe cutbacks at the beginning of this school year, and as a result, my CT has become the only French teacher at the high school. I have witnessed the burden this puts on her. It scares me because it makes me realize just how much hard work goes into being a teacher. It is a mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing profession. I feel like that should deter me, but in some bizarre way it compels me even more to be a teacher. I don't know if there is anything as rewarding as being able the see the positive effect you have on the life of another person.