1st grade graduate




This past Friday was my last day of student teaching. I can't believe I lasted through the 14 weeks. I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment in my life! It was a difficult chapter in my life and I made it. I'm glad my co-op was so tough on me, I'm grateful for that now. I'll admit that there were overwhelming moments but I put up a fight. At first I resented that I was placed into such a tough environment and I wished my experience would have been like the other student teacher in the next class. But now that I'm done, I'm glad that I had such a crazy situation with limited resources. I'm going to be prepared and as what most of the staff said, if I got through this, I'll get through anything.

It was definitely an emotional day leaving. I got gifts for practically anyone that I had contact with. As for the students, I bought them popsicle sticks and goodie bags. I found out what their favorite colors were and I made each one of them something. For the girls, I made them each a bracelet and for the boys I made them a star keychain that they could put on their backpacks. It definitely took a lot of time but I wanted to give them something personal. For most of the other teachers, I got them these bracelets with cute jade cutouts. I felt really bad but I made one of the 2nd grade teachers cry. I know that she had lost her mother a few weeks ago and she has looked completely destroyed. I never really knew what to say to her, especially since we're not close. The bracelet I gave her had a piece that meant to bring peace and as I explained it to her, she started tearing. But it wasn't because I made her think of her mom but because she was touched by my concern for her. I also got a bracelet for our aide, Sue. She was shocked that I got her something but without her help, I'd be swamped with busy work. I think that she had encountered nasty teachers who made her feel that she was beneath them, just because she wasn't a teacher. But I always welcomed her and treated her as a colleague. She actually gave me gifts too which I was really surprised by. She was tearing as she told me how much she was going to miss me and it was hard to hold it in myself. It's a great feeling to be appreciated and for someone to recognize your hard work. She told me that she truly admired me because I always gave the students respect, even when she felt they didn't deserve it. She said she wouldn't have been able to do what I had done. Sad to say but there were times when I would go home extremely devastated by what the kids said and did but I always started them on a clean slate the next day.

My co-op had asked all the parents to chip in $2 for my gifts. What was I surprised with? They got me an ice cream cake that said, "#1 Teacher" on it and two bags of teacher supplies. The most touching gift was the tote bag. When they presented it to me, I nearly broke out in tears. She had them each place their handprint on the bag, sign their names, and she wrote what their favorite memory was. This will be something that I will cherish forever. My co-op also gave me a cute photo album and some lotions/soaps. I gave her one of those jade bracelets, a crystal bracelet that I made her, and an Asian tea set.

All day the kids were hugging me like crazy and saying they wish I could stay. I promised them that I would visit them before the school year was over. This might not mean much to others but to me, it was such a wonderful moment when one of the boys (who has emotional/behavioral problems) hugged me. Although it was for a brief moment, the fact that he hugged me truly made me realize that I got through to him. That is more rewarding than any test scores.

Even to the very last minute, I worked my butt off. I stayed after to pack up my things. I put everything I created into folders for my co-op, that way she can reuse them next year. As well, I put post-it notes on where she needed to pick up from, and I got everything prepared for what she would need to teach next week. I know I didn't have to do any of this but I still felt responsible for the class. She complimented me on something that once again, I could feel the water works coming. She said that she was captivated by my professionalism and how I was as a person, that she didn't come across that very often. It's just a wonderful feeling when someone recognizes you.

I just wish that I could completely relax now but I still have seminar and a killer final.