Block I:

I was placed at Glen Alpine Elementary School to teach in Mrs. Linda Laws's 1st Grade Classroom.  The days I was in Mrs. Laws's Classroom were as follows: October 24, October 31, November 5, November 7, November 14, November 19, November 26, and November 28. While in her class, I was asked to teach a Word Lesson, a Guided Reading Lesson, two different Math lessons, conduct a QWIK Spelling Assessment, and a Media & Literacy Survey.  While Mrs. Laws was working with her separate reading groups every morning I would go around and help students with their work books and different activities they had been assigned.  I would grade and file papers for Mrs. Laws in my spare time as well.  Whenever there was a moment where everyone was settled, I would call some of students in the lower reading groups over to read to me so that I could help them.  Throughout my duration at Glen Alpine Elementary I have tried my best to develop a relationship with  Mrs. Laws as well as every single student in that classroom, not only as a student, but as an individual.  I wanted these students to respect me and treat me the way that they would treat Mrs. Laws, however,  I did want them to realize that I was here to help them and they were teaching me, and I wanted to be apart of their lives. 

Block II:

During my Block II Internship, I was placed in Tonya Denny's 6th grade classroom at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Warrensville, NC.  I was in her classroom every Wednesday from the beginning of January until the beginning of April, where upon I started coming to her classroom everyday until April 30, 2008.  During this internship I developed and taught an entire science unit on the Solar System.  This included pre-assessments, 5 lesson plans which included computer and book research, and a final assessment.  This was an amazing group of children to work with.  I thought that I only wanted to work with young students until I was so blessed to work with these 6th graders!  These kids forever changed my thoughts about working with upper elementary school age children.  Those students made a huge impact on my life and for this they will forever have a place in my heart. 

Student Teaching:

During my student teaching semester, I was placed in the care of Paige Fairchild in a 6th grade classroom at Westwood Elementary School in West Jefferson, NC.  I was present in this classroom from the beginning of the semester in the beginning of August to the end of the semester in the third week of December.  While working in this classroom, I began by taking over math classes until I had eventually taken on the authority of the entire classroom.  This was a stressful time, however, I learned the most from it.  There is no other way to learn how to actually take on an entire classroom until you are thrown in there and figure out how to do it on your own.  I ended up teaching two different leveled math classes as well as a science class and occassionally some language arts lessons.  I have benefitted more from this semester than any other, and because of this, I feel as though I am fully prepared to have a classroom of my own.