LONG: Good morning! I have not really said a whole lot this year about my job, because I was so busy and feeling overwhelmed and stressed a lot of the time - explanation to follow. Lakewood Park is hands down the best place I have ever worked! It is a family environment and I am going to miss it and everyone very much. :) It was my first year teaching in a full classroom environment all day long, 7 classes with 4 preps. I taught 2 Spanish 1 classes, 2 Spanish 2 classes, and 2 Spanish 3 classes, as well as 4 quarters of a 7th/8th grade Spanish Introduction Workshop. I had a blast teaching these kids!! (Note: I did all of this by the grace of God, having had literally zero training and only teaching mostly by instinct and by what I learned as I went along from my boss for whom I have so very much respect, from my co-workers, from staff collaborations, from my mentor and collaborating teacher, from our student advocate who is now one of my dear friends, from Karie who has also become a dear friend, from Sarah who is also a good friend now, from my colleague and coworker Gary, from Dustin, from Mr. D., from my students, and from my online college graduate program where I am converting my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish into a teaching licensure and certification). My favorite topic to teach was the Workshop only because I was able to use my own teaching style and not have to use someone elses curriculum. I was also able to implement a lot of what I had used when I taught home schooled students for 10 years in that class. I learned so much, including how to make class more engaging and fun for students. When I was in school, you listened to a teacher lecture every day, took your own notes, studied your own notes, and then took a test. There were very few if any quizzes that I recall. In todays teaching world, there is a whole lot more interaction between students and teachers as well as amongst students themselves. There are all kinds of tools used to help teach to various learning styles, including games, worksheets or workbooks, textbooks, PTRs (Physical Training Responses), digital technology, videos, and audio activities. Individual and group presentations as well as papers are assigned and poster projects are created…in short, the student has much more interaction and action. I like that for our students. Although it took some adjusting, I have learned a lot and am so very grateful for all I learned in how to better serve my future Spanish students both at Lakewood Park Christian School and in my Indiana Wesleyan University Online Region Transition to Teaching program. What I will miss most about Lakewood I think is the ability to be completely myself and share my faith about God and speak freely about God daily, and pray with my students whenever there is a need. Honestly praying with my students was one of my favorite parts this year. I also learned a lot from my Power Plus girls, who got to know me really better than anyone - remember Miss Walker meowing at the kitty! Lol ;) I will ALWAYS remember you as one of my most treasured experiences. Who else will drive the school bus like I did?! Haha. Seriously I am so proud of every single one of you and your amazing spiritual growth this year. Love you girls!! :) For those who do not know, I will be completing my 4th and final field experience and student teaching at R. Nelson Snider High School this Fall. I will be under the direction of one of their 4 Spanish teachers. I substitute taught for this teacher last year. Regarding this next stage in my life, I simply sat back and watched God work, literally, and this is where HE has placed me. I did nothing. I will also be continuing my TTT program, online grad school, this Fall, simultaneously. So far, I have an A, another A, an A-, and a B-. I am scheduled to graduate in February. There…I believe that covers all the questions people have been asking me, lol. Please let me know if you think of anything else I have forgotten to cover, and thank you all so much for your wonderful thoughts, kind words, prayers and support and encouragement. I truly do love you all! God bless you!
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 10:52:28 +0000
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