Reflections of a First Grade Intern

   Being an inter for first graders is a very exhausting job, but it also has many  great experience and wonderful memories. At my field site, Spicer Elementary, the kids are perfect. My favorite memory I have, so far, of that class is the second week I was there, all of the students in my first grade class came running up to me when I walked out to the recess playground, all shouting my name with arms wide open ready to give me a hug. It was a loving feeling and nothing could ever mount up to that feeling of having my students welcome me. Not only is it the students that make my love every second that I'm over there, but my mentor, Mrs. Cascella, is the best. She was actually my third grade teacher when I went to Spicer. She greets me with arms open and a caring smile. Some times she will let me stay in her classroom til they come in for recess if I don't feel like going out. I'm more than grateful to be with her this year.   

   Although it's not always smiles and hugs when it comes to teaching little kids. They can be very needy and crave attention. When I do carpet time, carpet time is when they come in from recess and I read them a story or two, and they all want to tell me about their day and they get rude and restless with one another fighting for my attention. That's when I have to get strict and send the students who aren't behaving to their desk or ask them to change their behavior card.

My students are so smart. In the math section, we are learning to add and subtract. I have never seen such brilliant kids. They get things so fast. They are willing to learn. In the math books we use, they love the activities. All my student participate in the lesson.

    But for the most part my first grade class is an easy going class. They tend to mind me and my mentor with the exception of those few kid. I feel so lucky to be able to experience this. Being with them, do carpet time, giving them their math lesson, lining them up for P.E, every bit of it puts a smile on my face. My kids always make me smile, even on days where things aren't going well. Being able to teach them and seeing them actually understand and comprehend the lesson, is a feeling that I wouldn't trade for the world. Being with them for only these past few months has definitly made me sure that being an elementry teacher is what I want to be.