As an aspiring teacher and Elementary Education major, I am required to spend time in multiple classrooms throughout my time as a college student. Last year, I was placed in a 4th-grade classroom. I enjoyed my time there, for sure, but the younger grade levels are where my heart is. I was placed in kindergarten this semester, and I was overjoyed! I never would have imagined that I would learn SO much while having the most amazing and fun time!

One thing I learned is that 5 and 6-year-old children are way smarter than we give them credit for. Their young minds can be impressionable, but they have the craziest, best ideas and pick up on things you may not have expected from them. They are attentive and ready to learn. They are new to the whole school thing, so they aren't quite tired of it yet! They ask for help and want to understand things. I am so proud of the students I got to know because they are going to soar in the future.

Another thing I learned is that my positivity and calm nature do not have to change for me to be a great teacher. This is something that I have often worried about. Am I too nice? Will I be able to put my foot down? Do I need to raise my voice more? Maybe I need to work on those things, but that doesn't mean I have to change who I am. I realized this while talking to my Cooperating Teacher. She really helped me see that I do not need to be something I am not to reach and teach my students.

The main thing I learned was that teaching really is a work of heart. Nothing in a school is perfect. Some students come to class from homes where their parents don't care about them. Some students don't grasp things as quickly as others. Some students act out and don't want to follow the rules. Sometimes administration doesn't understand things from your point of view. As a teacher, it is my job to help all kinds of students that come into my classroom. I have learned so much these past few months, and I already feel the impact of this experience on my life!