The Swing of Things!

Last week was the first full week back at Seattle Hill, it was so great!

Here are just a couple of quick updates with what has been going on:

- taught my first science lesson and it went really well. Amy had a meeting and wasn't even there so I was "teacher".

- We have now started switching kids for math and reading. I had the chance to be part of the whole process this time in testing the students and diving them up into their different groups. It is a ton of work!

- My professor for my full time student teaching came out to meet with Amy and I. It went really well and I am super excited for when she comes to observe.

- My first observation is on Monday. I will be teaching a mini writing lesson on adding detail to our writing to make our audience more interested. For the first observation it will be only a 20 minute lesson.

- I love going to school every morning and connecting with each student more and more.

- Third grade is such a fun age, they actually get your jokes... its amazing... (they also think your really funny)

these are just a couple of highlights from last week.

Curly Hair

Yesterday, while I was tracing the kid's heads for a project. One of my girls Sara has curly hair and seems to be pretty self conscious about it because, she is the only one in the classroom with curly hair. So, I began to tell her how I had curly hair too but, I just straighten it most of the time. Sara asked me if i would wear it curly tomorrow, and of course I sad yes. When she came in to the classroom this morning, she ran up to me gave me a hug and said your remembered! The excitement in her voice was just enough to know I made her day and that I cared.

I think I will be wearing my hair curly more often.

First Week

Seattle Hill started on Wednesday and so many great things have already happened.

First of all, it is so great to see all the preparation that goes in to getting the classroom ready and planning out the new curriculum at the beginning of the year. It is a LOT of work! I enjoyed every minute of it, and just soaking it all in. I have such a great CT that it couldn't be any better. I also, attened my first back to school all district breakfast and teacher meetings.

Wednesday, was the first day of school. WOW you tell that the kids haven't sat that long all summer long. The majority of the day was going over procedures and how the classroom works. The rest of the day was filled with many little get to know me activities and fun projects. It was so great to see all the kids that I worked with last year and have them in class again. The hardest adjustment for the kids was my new last name. They all know me as Ms. Craig and We had to explain to them that I got married and now have a new last name. They are doing a better job at remembering to call me Mrs. Lee then I am doing in responding to my new name. I guess I will get used to it super fast. The best part of the first day was having all my students coming up to me even after a whole summer remembering who you and giving you a big hug. There is nothing better than that.

Toady, Thursday was equally as great. Our time was filled with going over more procedures as well as some more fun activities that go along with our mystery theme. We also, started beginning of the year assessments to start up our switching groups.

All it all it has been a couple of awesome days. I can't wait to see what this semester will bring!

The School Year Begins!

WOW! I can't believe that school has already started at Northwest at least, Seattle Hill starts on the 8th of September.

This next week I will be working with Amy (my CT) setting up "our" classroom for this next year and attending teachers meetings. The classroom has turned out so great, we are doing a Secret Agents Theme. ( I hope the students get in to it as much as Amy and I have!) I'll have to take pictures and post them. It is pretty crazy thinking that in a week I will be teaching again, and it makes me smile so BIG! I can't wait to start, meet my new students and reconnect with the students I had last year.


Full time student teaching BRING IT ON!!!

Couple more weeks

As the summer begins to come to a close, I have really started to think about the students I'm going to be teaching in just a few shorts weeks. Lately, while I have been driving to work I have been thinking about how I can't wait to shine my light for Jesus for my students and the staff at Seattle Hill. I know I can't change the world but, I can leave a lasting impression on so many students and staff members I come in to contact everyday.

I also, can't wait to become a better teacher and learn so much more about teaching. For my full time student teaching I will be moving up to 3rd grade with my CT and the students I have been working with all last semester. I am excited for a new grade and additionally keeping the students I have already built a relationship with!

This is my prayer for this coming fall semester:

Lord, let me be just what they need.
If they need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy.
If they need sympathy, let me sympathize.
If they need love, (and they do need love), let me love, in full measure.
Let me not anger easily, Lord but let me be just.
Permit my justice to be tempered in your mercy.
When I stand before them, Lord, let me look strong and good and honest and loving.
And let me be as strong and good and honest and loving as I look to them.
Help me to counsel the anxious, crack the covering of the shy, temper the
rambunctious with a gentle attitude.
Permit me to teach only the truth.
Help me to inspire them so that learning will not cease at the classroom door.
Let the lessons they learn make their lives fruitful and happy.
And, Lord, let me bring them to You.
Teach them through me to love You.
Finally, permit me to learn the lessons they teach. 

Class Pcitures!

Here is one of my Second Grade Classes at Seattle Hill Elementary! This is Ms. Grimes Class and of course we had to do a silly picture too!

End of Part time student teaching

Since, my part time student teaching has come to an end I thought I should give a couple of high lights. I know I have not done such a great job keeping up with my blog about my student teaching, it just always seemed to be the thing that never got done.

My last observation of the semester went great! I taught math, which was a little scary. This is because math was what I had taught the lest. I have taught a lot of science, reading, writing that kind of thing but math was the last thing that I taught. So, a week before I started to teach math almost every day that I was there for. Needless to say it went GREAT! Not only did the kids do a great job, they were really in to the lesson. My professor loved the lesson, and said that I'm ready for full time teaching! This was a awesome complement and also a great ego buster! I love teaching, being in front of my students and watching them learn!

Also, the last part of my semester also went really well. There were many projects to get done! Over all, I had a great semester and many of my projects are being used for examples.

It was one busy semester but, a semester full of learning and great teaching!!

I will be going to Seattle Hill one day a week to see the kids and observe in different grades till school gets out. I will hopefully do a better job at keeping up on my blog through these last couple times I am at Seattle Hill.