Well, I am in the second month of my internship as student teacher in kindergarten. I first found out that I would be student teaching in kindergarten I was not upset, but nervous about being a teacher for students who are that young. Last school year I was a substitute teacher in this county and whenever I substituted for a kindergarten class, I ended the day very tired and a little frustrated. My mother asked me, before I began my student teaching, if I was interested in ever teaching kindergarten, and I said no.
Now, I can totally see myself teaching kindergarten. In fact, as of now, I would prefer to. I think, because I am involved with the planning and a great cooperating teacher and IA, I am more invested with the students and the school. Yes, kindergarten is a tough grade to teach, because the students are entering their first real year of school. They are coming from very different backgrounds developmentally, culturally, and socially and, as a teacher, you need to keep that in mind. This is also the age where students are learning to read and becoming accustomed to the alphabet and the different sounds that letters make. Throw in learning standards, and you have a tough job ahead of you. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. I am fully invested in these students and their well being both personally and academically. I am delighted when they gain an understanding of a concept or strategy and am more than willing to review or teach things another way if the information is not being understood.
The students are at an age where they want to learn and are excited about the activities and things that are being presented to them.
Next semester I will be student teaching in 6th grade, a HUGE jump! It will be a little harder since I will be coming in at the middle of the year, but it will be an adventure!
This is an interesting post Nichi. You thought you ABSOLUTELY did not want K, and now you love it. I wonder what will happen in the spring when you go to 6th grade? Some teachers prefer specific grades, while others don't seem to mind and can change grades quite easily.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it would be a challenge to move from one grade to another every few years? Are there any advantages to such a move?
I have to see how being in the 6th grade will be, but I am pretty flexible. It might be the substitute teaching that I have done or maybe just my personality, but I can move from one place to another with flexibility.
ReplyDeleteI think in the spring, the challenge will be that I will have to modify my classroom management skills, because it is such an age jump. I think though, that it is advantageous that I will be in 6th grade, because I will have seen both ends of the spectrum.