Pathetic...party of one

Some days I look through everyone's engagement and wedding photos and...not gonna lie....get a little jealous. They're so cute and happy and in love.
Not fair.

Ok...I'm done feeling sorry for myself.

Back to my 25 kids...

ha!

Dear Intern...

Today was my last training class as an intern. We had to write a letter to an intern next year answering some questions. People always ask me about my internship and I think this is a good reflection of my experience and how I've felt along the way. Sorry if it is all over the place I only had five minutes to do it.

Dear 2012-13 Intern,

I wish I would have known… that this would by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. You can’t give anything less than 100% of your entire self. It will take everything you have mentally, emotionally and physically. There are nights you will stay awake worrying about tests and if you taught something right, or that naughty student you have. But I can promise you it will be worth it the first time you see their little faces, or you laugh at a joke together, or (my favorite) the first time you see the lightbulb go on, when a difficult concept just clicks and you walk away from that lesson so happy and proud of yourself and your students.

I wish I would have listened to…advice that was given to take one thing at a time. I was one who always knew this was something I wanted to do. I flew through cohort experiences and I thought that an internship would be no sweat. Let me tell you it is not. You cannot do it all at once. You need to make lists, prioritize. Remember that it all doesn’t have to be done by the first day of school. Don’t kill yourself trying to get everything done, you won’t

Also, it’s ok to make mistakes. I hate to make mistakes and this has been quite the eye opener for me. You will fail, you will do things wrong, but guess what, tomorrow is another day to come in and try again. That’s life. You have to be willing to learn and change and grow.

I wish I would have understood…that there is a good, better, and best application to teaching. Creating bulletin boards is good, figuring out the seating chart is better, but understanding the content and planning out lessons AHEAD OF TIME is best. It’s also a best practice to figure out your management plan, but realize that these things must be flexible. You won’t get it right the first time. Things will always be changing. You need to find what works best for you and your kids, and that won’t always be the same as another member of your grade level team or another intern.

I am glad I already knew…that I had a passion for teaching. My love of teaching and passion to do this has really kept me going during the hard times. I said that this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it is also the most rewarding.

The best thing about being an intern…is having your own class. You aren’t borrowing them from anyone. Years from now they will remember you as their 4^th grade teacher, you and no one else. You will be the one who makes a difference in their lives.

Janelle

Dear Portland.

You are very very green, I like that (Both versions of green, color and you like to save the environment). It seems you have an affinity for boats that I don't understand, but good for you. I appreciate that everyone is dressed in North Face or Ducks clothing.
j

sunrise.

While I sit in the airport waiting to go back to Provo (well to Portland, then Salt Lake, then Provo) I look to the left to see the most beautiful sunrise. It's red, and orange and just peeking out over the water...this is why I love California. It's beautiful.
What I love even more is that people stop to stare and try to take a picture of what they see. No matter what happens, we as a people still marvel at beauty and try to capture it anyway we can...and that amazes me.