And In Conclusion......

And in conclusion.........

      I have decided that I will continue on the path towards becoming a teacher. The service learning placement I was able to participate in certainly helped make this decision. Although I saw many mundane realities in the world of teaching, I also saw many things to be excited about. I found that I truly love children of all ages and that I enjoy spending time with them. I get excited thinking about the possibility of passing on things that I love and influenced my life. I also know that teaching can be a very practical career choice in an uncertain world. 

       For all my life I have enjoyed children. I had 6 of my own, I have taught classes at church for many years, and I am currently teaching preschool. All these things have been very fulfilling to me as I have been involved in teaching and guiding all the kids in my life. I can't pick a favorite age group either- to me, each stage is so exciting! I love the preschoolers with their open honesty and hilarious quotes. I love the 2nd and 3rd graders with their new loves- whether it be reading, or sports, or anything at all. I enjoy the 6th graders as they suffer through puberty trying to decide where they fit in this world.  Its very gratifying to see each child unfold and blossom into who they were always meant to be- each with their own strengths and gifts to share with the world.

      I  enjoyed my years as a student.  For me, the best part of school was the wide world of reading. Diving into a book meant an adventure into another place and time. I learned many lessons from great characters, and felt validated by others.  I remember all the teachers who made a difference in my life and who sparked something inside me. I remember the teachers who believed in me. I would so love to light a love of learning in students. I hope I can help each student who comes through my class know that  I believed in them, and I truly cared. Regardless of how much they learn, I hope they will feel safe and cherished.

     On the practical side, teaching is a profession that is always needed. If we have another recession, we will still need teachers. The pay isn't amazing, but its enough for me. After many years of working an hourly rate, the idea of having a benefit plan and the option of being paid through the summer is really something to look forward to! I also still cherish my roles in life as a mother and soon to be grandmother. Having flexible time in the summer to nuture those relationships, and renew myself is very important to me.

      In conclusion, I look forward to the day when I can complete my degree and get into the classroom. I want to make a difference in kids lives. I want to be a part of educating our future. There is no greater resource in any nation of the world, than the children who are growing up to be the next parents, the next teachers, the next leaders.  If I can somehow contribute to helping some young person grow up to be successful and contributing, I will be content. 

 

     

The Real World Connection?

     I didn't think I would learn too much from this Service Learning opportunity because I have spent the last 5 years working in schools. However, I soon came to discover differently. The time I had spent in the classroom before had been entirely within Severe Special Education classes. What they have going on is similar in many ways, but also quite different. It was actually the most interesting to me to see how basic things look different in these two areas. For instance, both types of classrooms have testing, but it looks very different in each. A regular classroom has regular testing directed to the whole ( or majority) or the class. Special Ed students are only tested against themselves on their individual IEP goals.  The Special Ed classrooms are far more differentiated and have more obvious accommodations. On the other hand, it was wonderful to able to interact with students who have verbal ability, and be able to witness more frequent milestones. Both kinds of classes are amazing in their own right.

     The process of blogging has been very helpful. It has been great as a "mind dump"- a time at the end of each module to think back and make connections between what I've learned in theory, and what I've seen in real life. It encourages me to further process the events of the day and consider them through a more thorough lens. In reading through my blog posts I can see that I have begun to understand the process of educating students more deeply. I know that it is more complex and interesting than I had thought. True education goes so much deeper than a well designed and colorful bulletin board. Its connections with students, creative and varied techniques, its assessing as you go. I'm excited to continue on my path to becoming a teacher!