And So It Begins...

The last three and a half years of late nights, frustration, worrying way too much, procrastination and fun (oh and did I mention soccer, soccer, soccer) have led me to this.....what I thought I was so anxious to get to. Student Teaching. Now, I do not think in my mind I ever said "Heck yes I cannot wait for student teaching; it is going to be great! I am so excited about being thrown into teaching where you are watched 24/7 and Bonus they let me take classes at the same time!" I do know that I am someone who is always looking to the future working toward some goal and this was in that plan for the future. My goal for the past few years has been to graduate college. It has been all about taking the right classes, putting together the puzzle of a schedule that will get me out of undergrad in 4 years. It was not an option in my head to go a minute longer. However, now that I am here, I am pretty sure I would be okay with another year:). Nevertheless, here I am facing what seemed so far off. I cannot believe that I made it to and through my first day in the classroom. But before I jump into telling you about my first day I will back up to last week really quickly.

So the education department thinks it is a great idea to prepare us for student teaching by having a whole week of meetings, classes and presentations (not all bad, but still worth complaining about). Waking up for 7:30 class every morning, sitting through 4 hours of listening to someone talk, and then going to evening class to wrap up the day is my idea of a great time, so last week was my dream come true. I did get some good ideas from some of the presenters but I was definitely ready to be done with the week. The first day was the beginning of the emotional roller coaster I know that I am going to be stuck on for the next 8 weeks. It is finally hitting me that I will be leaving this place I call home in that short amount of time. I sat in class that first morning and was for sure I no longer wanted to be a teacher. When Prof Kroominga said "If any of you have come to the conclusion that you just do not want to teach, you don't like kids, and if you are not ready for the work that comes with it, tell us now and we can figure something out" I almost raised my hand stood up and told him that he was reading my mind. I actually decided that I did not want to teach anymore and I Really did not want to student teach, so if he could get me out of it that would be great! But I resisted that urge, and made it through the whole day to Dr. Bork's devotion that solidified in me just why I want to teach. I am a minister of God and I know that I can and will have an impact on kids lives, even with all of my downfalls. So in that first day I went through the entire spectrum of emotions from hating even the thought of being a teacher, to okay maybe it will be alright, to Alright I am going to be the best dang teacher out there! Besides being a little monotonous the rest of the week went smoother than the first day. All of that bringing me to where I am right now.

The end of day one in my school, and it was great. I am at St. John Lutheran School in Seward for my first 8 weeks of student teaching before I head off to Kingaroy, Australia where I will also be teaching at St. John Lutheran School. The commute this first half is nice, I only have to walk a grueling 2 houses down to get to school. I am teaching K-7  PE, and I have the 5th and 6th graders for health as well. My day is busy going from one class to the next; I have 20 minutes for lunch, and then 20 minutes in the afternoon before my last period. Changing from grade to grade will definitely keep you on your toes. I realized just how much I am going to have to tailor my teaching to the different levels just even after my introduction to my classes today. The first graders wanted to ask me a million questions, and when I met the 7th graders they looked at me partial blank stares and a wonderment of why I was talking. But even with the frigid 7th grade reception it will be fun to get to know all of my students, I only have about 143 names to learn so it will not be hard at all! I start taking over classes on Wednesday, so lesson planning has already begun, and after the first one, I am thinking MAYBE it will not be as bad as I think, but I am not sleep deprived yet, and have not been evaluated so my spirits are still high. 

Just a few quick fun tidbits from my first day before I leave you. I have never been asked my favorite color, favorite food, and favorite aminal (and yes I spelled that how it was asked) so many times before. If you wish to know the answers you will have to ask as well. I also had one of those moments already where I knew I probably should not have said that because I am working with immature kids now who find everything funny (though I should have known better because they are not so different than some of my friends:). While I was introducing myself I gave kids the option of what to call me because a lot of people have trouble saying my last name, so as I introduced myself I told them they could call me Ms. Pauluhn or just Ms. P. Well 2nd and 3rd graders find it funny when you say P, even when you are just talking about the letter. So I got a few giggles out of that one. I will try and post as often as I can, and I hope to get some funny stories from everyday, so keep reading and write back if you wish. I hope this finds all of my readers well, and thank you for sharing in the beginning of this journey with me. 

Psalm 23:4-5 "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me. for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."