Intern Year: Fall 2013: Week 15

I had to give my first demerit to a student today.  It was SO difficult!  The student lied about a situation that occurred earlier in the day, and both his general education teacher and the aide explained what actually happen.  This has been the third or fourth time the student has lied about a situation to not get in trouble.  When I gave him the demerit, he started crying and begging me not to give him a demerit and apologizing over and over again.  It was the most difficult situation for me not to give in with him and stand my ground.  I did not want to make a student so upset, but I did not want the student to think he could get away with lying just by crying.  The principal explained that the students will try to cry to get out of the demerit.  I wanted to make sure the student knew that lying was not acceptable and that he could not lie about situations to make sure he does not get in trouble.  I am glad I got my first demerit out of the way and can move on from that experience!
The morning after I sent home the demerit with the student, the general education teacher came to talk to me.  She took it on herself to not send home the demerit with the student.  She thought that the student would be really upset, and she thought that he just misunderstood.  The teacher explained that he really didn’t get in trouble, she just had to talk to him and other boys about acting in the bathroom.  However, I gave the demerit because the student had continually lied to me and my mentor teacher.  I felt like she under minded me and that my authority did not matter.  Now, all of the work I have been doing with the student to diminish the lying has been for nothing.  Because, now the student does not think what I say matters or will be accounted for.  I was upset, but I did not want to say anything.  I am only a student teacher, but I just felt like she did not take me seriously or respect me.

This was my last full week of being at my PDS.  At the beginning of the semester, I was very nervous being placed at a new PDS with new students and new teachers.  I thought it would be difficult to form a bond or feel like part of the community.  However, that was not the case.  This semester has been one of the greatest experiences of my PDS experience.  East Dale has accepted me as one of their own, and everyone has been there to mentor me and help me in any situation.  I have learned so much from the students, my mentor teacher, and all of the other professionals at East Dale.  It was such a great experience feeling like I was a part of the school.  It is a positive environment that I would love to work in one day.  No one ever made me feel like I was just a student teacher.  They all made me feel like I was one of the teachers of the school.  I hope that one day I will be able to work in a school community like East Dale.