August 2015 was the start of my last four years of my education. After that, it meant joining the adult world and becoming a real contributing member of society- but that was four-years away!
August 2019, I head into my last and final semester of college which includes student teaching. This is the last step to my college career before I have to join the adult world and become a contributing member of society- that's right now. How?
I HAVE LEARNED NOTHING!
Okay, I have learned a lot, but as I look at the next four months of my life where I am expected to teach two different groups of students between ages 6 and 10, I can't remember a single thing I have learned. I have about a thousand thoughts going through my head right now. What are the third grade standards? Are the parents going to trust me? Are the teachers going to trust me? How will I teach math? Do I even know what third graders know coming into math class? Will I get up on time on that first day? Will I have strong enough coffee? What if I "miss the bus"?
Yikes.
As I head into student teaching in just 3 short weeks, I know that I have learned how to love students. I learned how to best advocate for students to my principal, parents and other teachers. I have learned how students are going to learn best, and if they haven't had breakfast, they won't learn at all. I have learned that students need me to guide them, but to not give them the answers. I have learned that students need a place that is safe from their chaotic, young lives. I have learned that my future students are not just children, they are people with real feelings, real emotions and real issues.
I have learned that all these kiddos will learn in a different way and that it is my job to figure out how to support them. I have learned that sometimes, their home lives just suck and they need a break. I have learned that my toughest students are going to be the ones that may need me the most. I have learned that some students are going to hold back because they are struggling and cannot figure out how to emote that. I have learned that, more than anything, these students need someone.
So, I may not have any idea what I am doing, and they may have no idea what I am doing, but I can rest assured that my God knows what He is doing and that my kiddos and I can learn together. If all else fails, I know that we have Kahoot and the Magic School Bus to fall back on.
