This summer was full of many amazing experiences for me personally and professionally. I was able to provide a group of second and third graders with academic enrichment from 8-11:30, 5 days a week. I tried to make them have fun while learning. We weren't placed in the best learning environment but I made it work. We were in the lunchroom for the entire summer; I was determined to make my area a learning zone instead of lunchroom eating zone. I brought in dividers to section off a portion of the lunchroom; this helped us create our own personal space. We did lots of fun activities throughout the summer. We learned about the human body,simple machines, basic fractions, created our own restaurant to incorporate money, focused on some of the states and capitals (goal was to learn all of them), poetry, butterflies, and the rainforest.
On a personal level- this experience brought me closer to a co-worker, another education major. She is majoring in art education and has just graduated and about to start her student teaching. We were able to collaborate and work together for several topics. I'm thankful for our friendship!
On a professional level- I was working with two grade levels, students just leaving second and third grade, age wise there isn't much difference between the two of them, but developmentally there is a HUGE difference. I had to adapt my "lesson plans/activities" for each grade level. Some of the second graders weren't able to comprehend the directions for an activity like the third graders; therefore, their directions had to be broken down into steps.
Also, there was an autistic student in the group. This boy was precious, but at first his ability not to comprehend what I was saying frustrated me, and I would just let him color or free draw. One day while everyone was working in centers, a older student was paired up with him in the social studies center, they were working on a certain region of states and their capitals. The older student was taking their time working with the autistic student helping him learn the states and their capitals. All it took was time. That was my mistake, and a lesson learned. From then on I took time with him. I would rotate centers with him, helping him figure out how to do the activity at the center.
I was able to engage my self in reading books on how to teach students about poetry, and what poetry really is. I was able to get the book Awakening the Heart by Georgia Heard. This book helps teachers create a classroom where poetry is present, and helps them integrate it with many different subject areas.
This summer was full of lots of learning, not just for group of second and third graders I worked with but for me too. I was blessed to have this opportunity.
Now, on to the next chapter in my life-STUDENT TEACHING! This is the semester that I have been waiting for, my final and last semester!!! I received my placement for this semester and...... drum roll please........ I'm a Gwin Elementary School working with second graders! So excited!
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