Sunday, September 27, 2009

First Placement- Providence

So now its time to take that first step. The big leap, start teaching. Only a few months after my decision to study education I stated my placement in a elementary school in Providence. From the get go I was nervous, it was strange usually dont get that butterfly feeling before I do something new. I am most always confident that a task that I am starting is something that I truely have my hear in. On this day it was different.
I entered the school alone. The building was old, worndown, and covered in graffiti. The neighborhood was not the nicest but still seem relativly safe. I still felt wierd there, like I didn't belong. The significant of this was that I did, even with all thos thoughts of being unsure of wanting to teach, as soon as I stepped foot in the school I was reasured.
My first experience in the school was the office. Man that place was crazy, made casos. There were people everywhere constanly moving, talking, yelling. I had to push my way through a crowd of people to get the office staffs attention. Once that happened I told them who I was, I got this look once again that I didnt belong there. Well that was half true, they had no recolection of who I was even thought i called and talked to them the day before. I was then told that my teacher would be there in 10 minutes so I just continued to sit, wait, and observe.
My first interaction with my placement teacher went just the same, wasnt really expecting my, didnt really want to explain anything to me and was completely rude. Ok my teacher is not to thrilled for me to be there, great but surely the kids will be glad to see me. YES! I was right the moment the students walked into the classroom and saw me standing there their face light up. They were so happy to have someone else in the room, instantly I go the feeling that I was not longer the only one in the room that did not enjoy the teacher. Immediately the students started to rebel. But just as fast as the rebellion started it was over.
Man, that teacher had a voice, talk about nonexistent inside voices the teacher was screaming at the kids. “sit down, stop talking, read that book". I started to feel real bad for the kids.
It was now my time to teach, I was given a stack of paper and directed to sit in the corner and work with students one at time on practice test for the state testing coming up. WOW! Some of these kids were really far behind. Some could barely read! In the third grade! I have my work cut out for me. Where do I start?

No comments:

Post a Comment