Change of plans

So lately I've been doing some reflecting on why I want to be an ESL teacher. I am a teacher to help students learn the language who need it, because they live in our country where it is essential. I want to help them to learn English so they can better themselves. 

I asked myself, why then am I planning on teaching in China? The only reasons I could think of were for myself. Rather selfish, right? 

If I want to be the teacher I've really always wanted to be, I simply can't teach abroad - not now. Maybe I'll go there someday. I don't want to make any sweeping comments and say I'll never teach there, but I know that is not what I'm set out to do.

Wish me luck on Libby's Job Hunt: Part 2!

Find on flickr. Creative Commons license. Picture by Tax Credits.

Almost Done??

Today I finished my last FULL week of student teaching. I have 3 days next week, then I am done. I have no idea what I'm going to do!

This week (and last) were absolutely amazing. I'm having so much fun teaching. I've said it before - I am so happy to know that I am doing what is perfect for me. I now know that I want to work with middle schoolers. I don't know what it is exactly, but I am definitely a middle school teacher.

I'm pretty sure I've blogged about it before, but with one of my groups I am doing a Greek Mythology unit. We started this unit by reading 3 myths (Helios & Phaeton, Proserpina & Demeter, Echo & Narcissus) and doing a worksheet for each. The first worksheet I created absolutely did not work, so I made a new graphic organizer-type sheet. My cooperating teacher was really happy with it and said she would like to use it for all sorts of stories in the future (not just Mythology)! So after this part of the unit, my students are creating their own stories following the same format the Myths follow. They had to research Gods and then fill out a story map before writing. After that, I had them make a "book cover" for their story. We're finally close to being done (good thing too, as I'll be gone soon!), so on Monday students will start putting their story and book cover on a piece of construction paper and to be hung on the walls. I'm so happy with how hard the students have been working. I mean, seriously, I asked my ESL students to write a story with very specific parameters in their second language. That is huge! I can't wait to have my own classroom and do this unit again!

Today my cooperating teacher and the other ESL teacher in the building were both gone for a district meeting. So while there were substitutes in the rooms, I did everything. I was pretty sure I was ready to teach on my own for a while, but I know I am. Good feeling :)

3/4 Done?!??

I am halfway through my second student teaching placement . . . meaning I am about 75% done with my FINAL semester of college. This is completely mind-boggling. I don't think my education is complete, but it is nice to know I am almost done with the first major part.

I had to miss school on Monday because I felt pretty sick. Actually, basically all week I felt sick. Despite this, I had a terrific week teaching. I LOVE teaching the Greek Mythology unit, and the students are really engaged with it too. I will definitely include this in my curriculum in the future. I have the most fun working with my Level 2 students. The growth they have in their language is huge everyday. I'm able to teach the things I learned in my Phonology class, which I find absolutely fascinating.

I guess this is a pretty short post this week, but all that matters is that I am so happy where I am!

Lots and lots of news

What. A. Week.

I don't even know where to start! On Wednesday I found out I got a 3 on my TWS - the highest score you can get. Not only did I get a 3, I received full points on every goal from the rubric. Go me!

On Wednesday I also was able to interview with a school in Ruili, China. This wasn't exactly planned - earlier in the night I sent an email saying the times I thought would work for both of us (since there is a 13 hour difference) and about an hour later I get a response asking if we could interview right then. So I had to get out of my sweatpants and make myself look presentable . . . but I got the job! The school year starts around August 20th, so I think I'll get there around the 1st of the month.

Ruili is right on the Myanmar border, and is a good size for me(140,000, compared to another "small" Chinese school with a population of 6 MILLION!!). I have never been so excited for something. I can not wait to start my first teaching job!

I taught 3 levels this week. I taught my level 2 students the concept of prefixes and suffixes. When we went to their social studies class the next day, the word "reunite" was brought up. When the teacher asked what "re-" means, one boy said the answer and then pointed at me, "Ms. Sturgeon taught me that!" Such a little thing but it made me smile!

I went grocery shopping earlier today and saw a 2nd grade student from my last placement. She looked at me and said, I know you! And then asked me how I was doing. What a sweetie! It's the small things.

So Far, So Good

This is my third week at North Middle, and I am loving it. Middle schoolers aren't as terrifying as I first thought they would be. Actually, I don't know why I was so nervous to begin with. Before I started at the elementary school, I thought I wanted to work with middle schoolers. I think I'm back to that point now. This is the age I really learned how to teach while at UNI, but more importantly, I think this is the real reason I got into ESL in the first place.

I'm now teaching two groups of students, level 2 and level 3. I started working with level 3 on Monday. Because they just finished reading a novel (Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli), we're doing a short unit on reading strategies. While my unit is definitely not as motivating as reading a novel, the students have been very engaged and definitely have shown growth.

Today I started doing a unit on the book Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith with the level 2 kids. I'm with that class twice in the day, once in ESL reading (what I teach), and once in an ESL social studies class. This has really allowed me to get to know the students more. They seemed pretty excited for me to be teaching, and worked really hard on the activities we started today. 

Next week I'll start teaching my third prep, level 4. We're going to do a unit on Greek Mythology. I'm mostly excited for the end of the unit, where they will write their own version of a mythological story. We'll see how it goes!

I'm still waiting for an interview with the possible job . . . I'm so excited to see where this will take me! Ready for the weekend and plenty of sleep. Getting to school at 7:30 is not my definition of fun!

Happy Ms. Sturgeon Update

For a variety of reasons, I can say that I am a very happy person at the moment.

It's a little late for me to be writing about last week, but I didn't want to post until I could say this:

I am done with the TWS.

Wow, that still feels good to say. 43 pages and 8,678 words . . . it's my very last "real" assignment in college. Of course I still have lesson planning and job applications, but nothing that is graded!

On Saturday I went to a job fair, so before that I was working constantly on getting my online portfolio up and running. Visit it here if you're interested. My resume, letter of recommendations, and TWS is on it for the world to see. Not to mention, I took two videos of myself, which I find super annoying but others have said they're great. Since I took a basic web design class a year ago, I was hoping to write my own code, but I didn't have time for it. A little disappointing, but I'm happy it's done anyway!
So on Saturday I went to UNI's teacher job fair. I'm not going to say anything to jinx it, but one international position looks extremely promising.

As far as the middle school, so far so good! I'm excited to start teaching on my own. I start with a group of Level 3 (of 5) on Monday. My teacher left me alone with them last Thursday just to see how it would go. Since it was my first time being in front of them AND alone at that, I'd say it went pretty well.

Middle School Student Teaching!

I have had quite an eventful week! On Monday I took my final PRAXIS test (assuming I passed!) and Tuesday I had my first day of student teaching at North Middle in Sioux City.

And so far, I'm having a great time. There is definitely a learning curve going from elementary to middle school, but I think I'm catching on. 

Two summers ago I worked at a camp in Sioux City with kids who were fourth graders - and two of those kids are ESL students I see every day! Pretty cool. I even have a thank you letter still from one of them. 

I've already decided with my cooperating teacher what my lessons will look like. I'll start with one group next Wednesday, so I guess I really need to get planning! I'll be teaching Greek Myths, the book Chocolate Fever, and different reading strategies like finding the main idea and making inferences. I'm also observing a second ESL teacher for one period a day. She teaches a social studies class for the lowest level students we see. This is such a great thing this school provides and I'm excited to become a part of that. 

Soon I'll be heading home to help celebrate by 16-year-old baby brother's birthday! Then I have one more week at school and then spring break! See ya soon, Cedar Falls!