Week 2 Reflection

I would like to start this entry by reporting that it is almost the end of my 2nd week and I still love teaching! I have learned so much in only 2 weeks of this internship but I think the best part is that it is reassuring me that I made the right career choice. I honestly cannot imagine a more fulfilling or enjoyable way to spend my days than with these students. I have the pleasure of working with such a wonderful and very diverse group of kids. I love getting to know them: their interests, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.

I also truly enjoy seeing them learn. I never thought I would be so excited to have a student correctly explain a negative feedback system or be able to draw a bunny rabbit and label it using correct body terminology! Forensics has also been great because I am learning right along with them. There are so many interesting topics to learn about and the students seem to enjoy it.

This week in forensics we did our first hands-on lab activity with the "white mystery powder" lab. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they followed lab safety procedures! After I presented them with the mystery scenario they seemed excited to begin testing their substances. They all worked together really well and allowing them to choose their own groups did not end up causing any problems. While they worked in the lab I walked around and asked them questions to keep them thinking about the reactions they were seeing so that they weren't simply going through the steps. When they began testing their "mystery" powder they were excited about their findings. I loved seeing them achieve such a sense of satisfaction when they figured out the crime.

On a side note- I have had several students this year mention to me that they need to do well this semester and that this is the first year they have ever really "tried hard" at school. I know junior and senior year can be challenging, especially with a lot of AP courses. I have some students in forensics who have never really done well in or enjoyed a science class. Many of them find this class interesting and are hoping to keep doing well so that it will help their grades. I have offered up one-on-one help to students anytime they need it, and with any class. There are a lot of pressures on them at this age and I can't treat my class like it is the only thing that they have to think about. Sometimes I feel like all they need is to feel like they have someone on their side. I would love to see them all achieve to their highest potential, even though this is unrealistic. I just hope to keep developing positive relationships with my students so that they will feel comfortable enough to come to me with any problems or questions that they have.

Anatomy and Physiology went well this week overall. I think I am finally learning how to effectively lecture, which is something that I was struggling with in the beginning. I didn't want to just read off the slides, and now I think I am learning how to prepare better. I have started reviewing with them at the beginning of each class and I think it is going to help them a lot to see the same things over and over again. Right now some students "zone out" during the reviews, but I think when they start studying for the test they'll realize how much of the material they've been "studying" at the start of class all week.

Well i'm out of time right now but I'll be back with more thoughts soon!
2 days til GAME DAY! lET'S GOOO MOUNTAINEERS!