Ready...

The countdown begins! Two weeks until I officially begin my student teaching placement, and the gears are already turning.

This past week, I had the chance to meet with my supervising teacher as well as my university supervisor. These meetings helped me to understand (at least a little better) what to expect over the course of my 16-week placement. Even so, it's hard for me to picture all of the details! I'm sure that being in the classroom and seeing how things work will help. Also, I feel confident that both of my supervisors have my best interests at heart and will be willing to be flexible and offer helpful advice.

Some things I am excited about:

• Being in a classroom full time! - I know from past experience that it's totally exhausting...but fun! Being around kids is something I always enjoy.
• Getting to know the students! - I know from the first week of school that this is a fun group of kids! Can't wait to get to know them even more.
• Trying my hand at, well, y'know, teaching. - Of course I've taught lessons before, and of course I've been around kids A LOT in the past few years. But, other than a few times substitute teaching, I've never really gone solo. 
• Wearing lipstick... - Yes, this is silly! But I think it will be fun to step into a professional role and dress like a real grown-up every day. (I do, however, have a feeling that this will get old fast and I will be dying to throw on sweatpants after like two days.)

Some things I am nervous about:

• Using curriculum books. - I've been warned over and over again that, in many districts, teachers are expected to follow curriculum books very religiously. I just somehow never really expected to wind up relying on them! It sounds like I will have to do either all or most of my lessons from these books. I'm the kind of teacher who loves to use art, music, and drama in the classroom....soo how am I gunna make this work?
• Being evaluated. - Mr. M, my supervisor, is incredibly sweet, it seems. Even so, I am horrible at taking criticism...I know it's important to learn and grow, but I don't wanna cry in public!
• Co-teaching - This is a new approach that IU wants us to try this year. I don't know how I feel about it...Will my sup. teacher be okay with it? Will we work it out so I get plenty of solo time, yet I'm not completely abandoned? Halp.
• Fitting in. - I know this is lame to say, but I worry about how I'll fit in with the school environment. Will the other teachers like me? Will the principal view me as someone who shows promise? Will I have cool stories to tell at the lunch table? Sigh.

Some goals I have:

• Be a classroom management rock star! - Classroom management stresses me out. In the past, my students have never really viewed me as a real teacher, and I've never really delivered any consequences. This has to change! I really want to improve my management skills.
• Make great connections - This is why I'm student teaching in this area. I want to impress some people!
• Tailor instruction to students' needs - This is so, so important, and I've never really gotten the chance to do it before.

Two weeks! Time to start reading all those manuals and prepping for this big adventure!

- Ellen

Practicum Teaching Update

I can't believe it's already been about 2 and a half months since I did my first week of school field experience with my student teaching class!

I'm currently working 9 hours a week in my final practicum placement. This class is also...1st grade! I'm going to have a full year of firsties! And I love it :)

The class I'm in right now is a truly wonderful group of kids. It's fascinating to see how differently things run in this classroom, as compared to my student teaching placement. Both teachers are absolutely fabulous in their own ways, and it's great to learn from expert teachers with varying strategies, philosophies, and management styles.

As my time as a college student dwindles down, (only 8 more weeks...!) I have to reflect on all the amazing experiences I have had over the past 4 years, both personal and professional. I have certainly had my ups and downs. And it hasn't been easy. But that just makes me even more proud of myself for surviving college and leaving with lifelong friends, a wealth of knowledge, and millions of memories. I know I will always look back on my time at IU as a great learning experience, and I will use the knowledge I gained to be the best teacher I can be.

Cheers to the next 8 weeks, and whatever the future holds after that!

- Ellen

Teacher Tech

Whilst perusing the paper this morning, (let's be real, I was flipping through to find the crossword) I noticed a big headline on the Indy Star front page about ISTEP. Apparently, ISTEP is changing to include an online portion where kids have to use the computer to highlight text and do more "interactive" work. (It always confuses me when people call internet-based things "interactive" because 9 times out of 10, the computer is not reacting or interacting...the user is just inputting....)

Anyhow--I began to think about how the education world is shifting away from paper, colored pencils, and glue (sad face) and toward iPads, laptops, and technology.

During my freshman year, in a technology class I hated, I was assigned to create an ePortfolio. I never thought I would actually use it, but with the huge shift toward teacher technology, I thought it might be a good idea to keep it around. I did a little editing recently and added some of my more recent lesson plans and classroom materials.

What do you guys think? Is an ePortfolio silly and superfluous, or might it be a useful tool in this changing age of education?

- Ellen

PS, here's the link, in case you're intrigued: Click here!

15 Teacher Fashion Basics

As I inch closer toward full-time student teaching, my wardrobe is becoming more and more teacher-y! (And I don't have a problem with that at all :)) We teachers are lucky because we get to wear adorable clothing and FLATS every day! I'm not all about that business suit/stilettos life.

This post consists of items I have as well as items I wish I had, but everything listed below is something I believe every [female] teacher should have in her closet!

1. Dress pants in at least three colors.
Because who wants to wear a skirt EVERY DAY? I recommend you get some comfortable dress pants that are also cute and versatile. I got some skinny ones from Francesca's because I can't stand the idea of wearing flared pants, but...you do you.
 
2. Skirts in at least three colors.
This is one I'm working on. I struggle with this because I'm not accustomed to wearing skirts or pairing them with shirts. I just got a cute green one from ModCloth that I can't wait to pair with my white and black polka dot top!
 
3. A million casual dresses.
These are so easy because you don't have much mixing and matching to do. Just throw on a dress and call it a day. Here are a couple on my wish list.

4. Black, nude, and gray flats.
Flats on flats on flats. So comfy, so versatile. A teacher's foot's best friend.
 
5. Cardigans.
Gotta cover up those shoulders for school! I personally can't stand white cardigans because they make me feel like a child on Easter, but, to each her own. I have these in classic colors like black and tan, but also mustard yellow and salmon.

6. Scarves out the wazoo!
These can make an outfit go from zero to hero! My favorite scarf is this gray zebra one!

  
7. Statement necklaces.
For when you don't wanna wear a scarf, but your outfit needs a little zing! I have red and black, but white, pink, and blue are all on my wishlist!
 
8. Roughly 37,000 button-downs.
If I could afford to buy an Express button-down in every pattern they come in, I would. They are flattering, comfortable, and easy to style.
 
9. Something with apples on it.
One of the weirder items on my list, I know. But I just feel like teachers should pump up their adorableness as much as possible, so an apple-y item really is a must.

  
10. Blazers.
Sometimes a blazer works better with an outfit than a cardigan because of its clean, professional look. I own them in tan and black but I would love to add blue and green ones to my collection!

11. A denim shirt.
You can wear these with skirts or pants of any color or pattern!!
 
12. Dressy, yet comfy boots.
Because winter is a cold, cold time, friends.
 
13. Something polka-dotted.
See #9. This is just for the cute factor.
 
14. Stylin' glasses.
Also on my wishlist. If you gotta wear glasses to see the chalkboard, why not do it in style?
 
15. A SWEATER VEST!
Need need need. Because what kind of elementary teacher are you if you don't own a sweater vest for every season of the year? Or, better yet, month. Or, better yet, day. Sweater vests are key. 

Weeds and Wildflowers

Hello and welcome to my brand new blog! My name is Ellen and I'm a pre-service elementary educator. I am just about to finish up my last semester at Indiana University Bloomington and dive into four months of student teaching!

I started this blog not only for you readers, who may or may not be interested in my crazy antics, advice, and musings, but also for myself. I want to document my journey into teaching so I am able to look back and see how far I've come by the end of all this!

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Now, as for the title Weeds and Wildflowers, here's my explanation. When I was little, a decent-sized patch of white, puffy dandelions sprouted up in our side yard. My mom was dismayed, and worked long hours trying to rid our property of those pesky weeds. I, on the other hand, thought they were a perfectly good and even somewhat beautiful plant. I delighted in blowing the little seeds off, making wishes, and watching them grow into tiny yellow flowers.

In the spring of my junior year at IU, I walked past a similar patch of white puffballs in the yard of a little college house and found myself thinking Wow. That looks terrible! Remembering my childhood pleasure of picking those little dandelions, dreaming up wishes, and playfully blowing them through the air, I felt ashamed for the negative shift in my viewpoint.

Immediately, somehow, the thought connected itself to my perspective on teaching. All teachers (even brand new teachers, or pre-service teachers like me) find themselves exhausted, exasperated, and upset every once in a while. It's easy to grow impatient and wish away your annoyances, your problems, your weeds.

My challenge to myself, and all educators, is to view our weeds as wildflowers. Start seeing the good in the bad. Children are absolutely crazy, and they do things that frustrate us, confuse us, and challenge us. But, above all, they are wondrous, brilliant little people. It's up to us to nurture those wildflowers so they can grow into something beautiful. If we view them as weeds, that's how they'll view themselves. If we view them as flowers, they will bloom and blossom with confidence and grace.

I hope to keep this idea in mind as I begin my teaching career, and, of course, as I progress through the years. I look forward to this amazing journey, and I hope you'll join me by visiting this blog!

- Ellen