Wow! What an amazing year. Such wonderful memories, from the second day when Caleb shouted out, "This is the best class ever!" to the last day, when we were all in tears; I knew I had a special class of students.
Being a first year teacher, I knew I would face many challenges. First of all, there should be a course on using office equipment such as copy machines, laminators, etc. You know that scene in Office Space, when the guys smash the copy machine with sledge-hammers? Yeah, I had that fantasy on more than one occasion. Besides learning to operate complex machinery, I have also learned that being flexible is most important if you want to be successful. I planned until I was blue in the face but being the explorers that we are, our path lead us to deeper learning.
Second graders are truly one-of-a-kind because they are in a transition period from being the 'little' kids to becoming the 'big' kids. I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed this growth in their independence, confidence, and critical thinking. As I observed the students grow through investigation, role play, and problem-solving, I too gained a better understanding of how the mind of a child works. I learned to be more patient, more explicit, and less authoritarian. My students were more successful when we engaged in the learning process as a group of learners AND teachers. With a heart full of gratitude, I thank each and every one of my students for everything they taught me and for giving me the best first-year a teacher could have.
-Ms. Bushong
Being a first year teacher, I knew I would face many challenges. First of all, there should be a course on using office equipment such as copy machines, laminators, etc. You know that scene in Office Space, when the guys smash the copy machine with sledge-hammers? Yeah, I had that fantasy on more than one occasion. Besides learning to operate complex machinery, I have also learned that being flexible is most important if you want to be successful. I planned until I was blue in the face but being the explorers that we are, our path lead us to deeper learning.
Second graders are truly one-of-a-kind because they are in a transition period from being the 'little' kids to becoming the 'big' kids. I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed this growth in their independence, confidence, and critical thinking. As I observed the students grow through investigation, role play, and problem-solving, I too gained a better understanding of how the mind of a child works. I learned to be more patient, more explicit, and less authoritarian. My students were more successful when we engaged in the learning process as a group of learners AND teachers. With a heart full of gratitude, I thank each and every one of my students for everything they taught me and for giving me the best first-year a teacher could have.
-Ms. Bushong