Break for many students ended on January 17th on Tuesday with the start of class at the University. My break, however, ended January 2nd when I came back for my Student Teaching on January 3rd. While this seems like this would suck (it did for a bit), this was really helpful in transitioning in to the new year and getting to learn about the life of a teacher.
Student teaching life starts the night before. My goal for myself this year was to limit the amount of unhealthy home lunches such as Hot Pockets and instant noodles. Every night before student teaching I plan and cook my meal. Every meal has to be able to get me though the entire day and then some classes at the University. Meals include a protein and a starch and sometimes a vegetable.
The next morning is the beginning of my day at the school. I leave my house at 7:30 in the morning to get to my school by 8:15. Students come by 9 and the day starts.
Students have started to learn cursive. This is great for them but terrible for us. Some of them have such great cursive but others, oh my god, its like looking at hieroglyphics. There are some many of them who’s handwriting I can not read because it looks like one giant scribble of letters.
Specials are a time for me to take a short break from the students. Here is where I can catch up on work I need to complete and lesson plans for the next day or week. After specials, students come back and we transition into math for the day. Currently, we are working on division and many of them are getting the hang of it.
Students then have lunch at 12:30. They have a great selection of food to choose from. Every day they have four choices, 2 of which rotate daily and the other two are standard every day. here is where I can eat and talk to other adults. People might not know this but being in a class of just children and no other adults makes you want to talk to other people badly.
After lunch and recess students come back and it time for reading. We have started a new book that we are reading together as a class. Students are really enjoying the discussions and are engaged. I even learn new ideas and theories on the book during discussions.
After reading students are sent home at 3:30 . This also means we are able to leave too. When I get home I don’t feel like doing anything and I have to force myself to not take a nap. If I take a nap I won’t be able to go to sleep at a reasonable time.
At home, I become very exhausted and my social battery needs to be recharged. If you interact with me within 2 hours of me getting home, my brain will not function, and not be able to have a proper conversation with you.
After those 2 hours, I am able to make myself dinner and work on lesson plans. Here I do some brainstorming on how I can teach my students the following week as I already have a plan for the current week.
After dinner and lesson planning, I get to relax and spend time with my housemates. This could be just talking or playing party games with them. My housemates are keeping me from going insane this semester. This is also when I can do my own thing and watch a movie or show that I need to catch up on. I recommend watching Modern Family, it is a great show.
Near 11 is when I get tired and start to get ready for bed. From here the cycle starts all over again as I plan my meal and fall asleep.
Justin,
Whew. That’s along day. Hope this course gives you some tools to make things easier / more efficient. Lots of good tools out there.