Intern Year: Spring 2014: Week 2 and 3

This semester has definitely been a difficult semester in terms of weather.  I can also see how difficult it has been on the teachers and students.  The teachers provide instruction on content, but then there are 3 or 4 snow days and delays.  The students forget what they were taught and the teachers have to reteach; it is a vicious cycle.  They seem to be not moving forward much with instruction, and I feel that the class days seem unorganized.  The teachers are now worrying about meeting goals, IEP meetings, and testing.  Through this experience during my internship, I now see why year-long school might be a beneficial option.  During the winter, instead of having snow day after snow day, the students get a "winter break" to combat the possible winter weather.  Also, schools are not losing instructional days and having to make up in other places.  At first, I was very against year-long school, but now I am thinking it would be more beneficial all around for the students, teachers, and schools.

My first opinion of the middle school age school was not a very pleasant one.  However, over the past week that I have been here, I have really developed to enjoy teaching the middle school age.  They really have great ideas and are willing to explain.  I feel like my classroom management techniques and my teaching strategies fit well with the middle school.  I can see the problem with students wanting to be your friend.  I have had to establish that I am their teacher and I am responsible for their learning and development and their behavior.  However, I do find it important to establish a relationship with middle school students were they feel comfortable around you to share and trust you.  Also, I feel like creating a relationship like that will allow them to feel as if they can learn and give their ideas during instruction.  To me, the most important thing I have learned so far was establish yourself as the teacher with classroom and behavior management techniques, then allow yourself to form a personal relationship with the students were they feel comfortable enough and trust you, but do not see you as a "friend".

I get to teach a reading and science APTA class at the middle school.  At first, I was very nervous, because I have only worked with students with mild disabilities.  The students in my APTA class are identified with Down's Syndrome, and I did not feel comfortable at first.  However, they have become my favorite class to teach.  They are very open to learning and so expressive.  I feel that when I give them learning opportunities and set expectations, they always rise to the occasion and meet them.  I am interested in working more with students with severe disabilities and this experiences has definitely given me my start!

The weather that we have been dealing with is making me very anxious with my classes and projects for them.  I feel like I am struggling to complete assignments that require me to be in the classroom.  I am also worried about completing my contract hours once my internship is complete.  The weather is out of my hands, but it still causes some concern for my completion of the program.