Overwhelming...

Even though I have been in the classroom for 3 weeks, I just had my student teaching seminar yesterday, which outlined what our work sample is to look like.  I was prepared for a lot of work, but oh boy, it's going to be a rough couple of months.  In a way, my nerdy side is excited to get into the work sample.  It includes a lot of analyzing of data and pie charts and what not and I enjoy doing that kind of stuff.  But, this is the time of year where I have a ton of family commitments (8 birthdays, our 10th anniversary and the upcoming birth of our niece all between Jan 13 and March 20!! Aye ye ye!).  Anywhoseys, there is a lot going on this time of year and now   I am going to have to be very good at my time management so I don't miss out on anything.  So, on this wet and gray Sunday seems like a good time to start, to get ahead of the game.  And, if anyone has any ideas on teaching the American Revolution (which is what my work sample is on), I am taking suggestions!

Enjoying it...

Student teaching has been wonderful. Which, I'll be honest, is a HUGE relief. I had some panic attacks, usually late at night when I was trying to sleep, wondering if this huge commitment was what I actually wanted to do. I mean, what if I spent 18 months paying for grad school and then I hated teaching? Well, thank god, I don't. So far, I love it. Hubby says I am happy, I feel better and more positive. Now I keep waking up at night wondering how long it will take to get a teaching job. I can't wait to not have a foot in each career and just be in my new profession.

My first week...

Well, I survived my first week student teaching in the fifth grade. It was a good week overall. I think student teaching after being a professional is much different the student teaching when you are 22 and working on your bachelor's. I am thankful that I have so much experience under my belt in a variety of areas. It has certainly made transitioning into student teaching easier. Not easy, mind you, just easier. I finish my last curriculum class tomorrow, thank goodness. Now I will start my student teaching seminar and start putting into practice everything I have learned over the last 18 months. Yay! I am so close!

Countdown...

I have exactly one month left of work before I take a leave of absence to student teach. I am SO excited. I got my placement a couple of weeks ago and I will be in a local elementary school, in the fifth grade for ten weeks and second grade for five weeks. I can not believe how quickly the 18 months of school have gone by. In some ways, it seems like I have been in this master's program FOREVER, and in other ways, I can't believe it was 21 months that I made this decision. I'm so very excited to start this new phase of life. Social work has been good, the clients have been great, but I am ready for something new.