It's getting close to Thanksgiving, y'all. And even closer to November 30th, the last day in my little country classroom for my student teaching internship!
Of course, closing in on the Thanksgiving Holiday wouldn't be complete if you didn't have your kiddos learning about the First Thanksgiving and the Native Americans (Or Indians) and the Penguins...
What? Your kids don't know about the Penguins and the Indians? For shame!
I must admit, I was unaware of that Penguins made an appearance at Plymouth Rock... but who am I to say that they weren't there? Take Student 1 in my classroom... during our class discussion about Thanksgiving.
Ms. Greer: "Who can tell me why we celebrate Thanksgiving?"
Student 1: "Oh, Ms. G, we celebrate Thanksgiving because the Indians came to teach the penguins all about blowing up the land."
Ms. Greer: (Long pause....) "The who, sweetheart?"
Student 1: "The PENGUINS... and the INDIANS..." (very over-dramatic response)
Ms. Greer: "Oh. The penguins (Duh, the penguins!). And they did what?"
Student 1: The Indians had to come meet up with the Penguins because they didn't know anything and the Indians taught them how to blow up the land."
Ms. Greer: "Okay, _____ Thank you for that...Please write more about that in your journal today."
There was really no need for this student to write about it... It was more for my entertainment value :) But, this student had the main idea... just Penguins instead of Pilgrims. And blowing up, instead of Plowing.
So, Happy Thanksgiving, from my classroom, to yours! And I hope that all of your "penguins" are well fed!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Welcome!
This blog is basically going to be a journey of my internship student teaching in a big county, with high morals, low socioeconomics, and wonderful kids.
For privacy issues, I won't be naming names, schools, counties, or anything of that nature. The children in my classroom deserve their privacy, and frankly, so does the county and school that I am placed in.
On that note...
It's taken 8 years to get to where I am today.
Eight Years. And now, I'm 108 days away from DANCING across the stage at graduation!
I never dreamed of being a teacher... perhaps when I was little, I liked making my cousin play school. Okay, I liked the fact that I could boss her around and get away with it because I was the "teacher". I certainly would never have said "I'll be a teacher" when asked about my career back in high school. Or even 4 years ago. Those of you that know me, know that I had a very special person as a mentor, and that I recently lost her in a car accident. She made me realize that God was calling me to be a teacher. To help educate young students. To impact their lives in a way that only a teacher can. To be there for those students who have no one else to turn to. To make a difference. To cause a change. To be THAT teacher that Mrs. A was for me. To love those kids and encourage them to dream and do anything that they want to.
That's my mission. Although my college professor's see mission statements a bit differently, so I've learned :)
Last Wednesday, I went to college for seminars for 3 days. Monday, I started workdays at the elementary school I was placed in for my internship.
My school is in a VERY small town. A town where everybody knows everybody and everyone's business. They know your mama and daddy, and probably go to church with your grandma. This part of the county (really, the county in general) is very religious. I have yet to run into an atheist the entire time I've been in college up here. Which, back home was not uncommon.
I'll be the first to say that yes, I am a Christian. I love God and I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for the relationship that I have with Him. My life has not been easy or anything that I expected, but I am blessed for everything that I have and everything that I have been through; good or bad, excellent or tragic. I am who I am because I was raised in church and to have faith.
Up here, it's slightly different. Where I was raised in a Lutheran church, these kids are brought into families to attend Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, New Age, Non-Denominational, etc. There are churches everywhere. And you had better go to one.
On Monday, I went to a countywide welcome back program and there was a moment of silence. The person leading it said "Amen" at the end, and the program started. This was fine, but it hit me weird because this would NEVER happen back home. And perhaps I'm a little sideways because I only have what I grew up with and that school system to compare it to, but it's weird to me. Not because I hate Jesus, but because I've never associated SCHOOL and GOD/CHURCH as something that should be put together. Later that day, in a staff meeting at my school, we prayed before the meeting. And then yesterday we prayed before the grade level meeting.
And today, I said "hell" in some sentence to my teacher I'm placed with, and it was like I had shot someone, in the chest. I'm just used to being able to say whatever I want (within reason, it's not like I'm cursing all the time) and not be judged or looked down upon because of it. And sometimes, especially in teaching, you have to let loose and scream a little bit. I grew up with a mom that was a teacher, believe me. I know.
It's just very, very different. Up here, we can say Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Easter, etc. Back home, if you mention Christmas or any type of religious holiday, Parents get all bent out of shape. The class Christmas party turns into the Winter Party. Easter party= Spring Party, you get the idea. But here? Last semester I had students drawing Jesus on the Cross on paper as pictures. Talk about a conversation started and shocker. To me, any way.
Here, in this county... Your child may not be able to read a lick, but could recite any story from the Bible if asked. They may not be able to add a math problem, but I'll guarantee you that they know that Wednesday nights are for church and their mama "ain't gonna be happy" if there's too much homework on Wednesday's.
Next Monday is the first day with students. I met some wonderfully cute and precious 2nd graders today during open house... It was from 2-6 because of church. It is Wednesday after all! I am very excited about this opportunity that I have been given. I'm with a wonderful teacher, in a fantastic school. Even though it is so different, perhaps that's a good thing. It will be a learning experience for sure.
So come along, and enjoy the ride with me. Who knows, it may even be a learning experience for you!
-Ms. Greer
For privacy issues, I won't be naming names, schools, counties, or anything of that nature. The children in my classroom deserve their privacy, and frankly, so does the county and school that I am placed in.
On that note...
It's taken 8 years to get to where I am today.
Eight Years. And now, I'm 108 days away from DANCING across the stage at graduation!
I never dreamed of being a teacher... perhaps when I was little, I liked making my cousin play school. Okay, I liked the fact that I could boss her around and get away with it because I was the "teacher". I certainly would never have said "I'll be a teacher" when asked about my career back in high school. Or even 4 years ago. Those of you that know me, know that I had a very special person as a mentor, and that I recently lost her in a car accident. She made me realize that God was calling me to be a teacher. To help educate young students. To impact their lives in a way that only a teacher can. To be there for those students who have no one else to turn to. To make a difference. To cause a change. To be THAT teacher that Mrs. A was for me. To love those kids and encourage them to dream and do anything that they want to.
That's my mission. Although my college professor's see mission statements a bit differently, so I've learned :)
Last Wednesday, I went to college for seminars for 3 days. Monday, I started workdays at the elementary school I was placed in for my internship.
My school is in a VERY small town. A town where everybody knows everybody and everyone's business. They know your mama and daddy, and probably go to church with your grandma. This part of the county (really, the county in general) is very religious. I have yet to run into an atheist the entire time I've been in college up here. Which, back home was not uncommon.
I'll be the first to say that yes, I am a Christian. I love God and I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for the relationship that I have with Him. My life has not been easy or anything that I expected, but I am blessed for everything that I have and everything that I have been through; good or bad, excellent or tragic. I am who I am because I was raised in church and to have faith.
Up here, it's slightly different. Where I was raised in a Lutheran church, these kids are brought into families to attend Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, New Age, Non-Denominational, etc. There are churches everywhere. And you had better go to one.
On Monday, I went to a countywide welcome back program and there was a moment of silence. The person leading it said "Amen" at the end, and the program started. This was fine, but it hit me weird because this would NEVER happen back home. And perhaps I'm a little sideways because I only have what I grew up with and that school system to compare it to, but it's weird to me. Not because I hate Jesus, but because I've never associated SCHOOL and GOD/CHURCH as something that should be put together. Later that day, in a staff meeting at my school, we prayed before the meeting. And then yesterday we prayed before the grade level meeting.
And today, I said "hell" in some sentence to my teacher I'm placed with, and it was like I had shot someone, in the chest. I'm just used to being able to say whatever I want (within reason, it's not like I'm cursing all the time) and not be judged or looked down upon because of it. And sometimes, especially in teaching, you have to let loose and scream a little bit. I grew up with a mom that was a teacher, believe me. I know.
It's just very, very different. Up here, we can say Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Easter, etc. Back home, if you mention Christmas or any type of religious holiday, Parents get all bent out of shape. The class Christmas party turns into the Winter Party. Easter party= Spring Party, you get the idea. But here? Last semester I had students drawing Jesus on the Cross on paper as pictures. Talk about a conversation started and shocker. To me, any way.
Here, in this county... Your child may not be able to read a lick, but could recite any story from the Bible if asked. They may not be able to add a math problem, but I'll guarantee you that they know that Wednesday nights are for church and their mama "ain't gonna be happy" if there's too much homework on Wednesday's.
Next Monday is the first day with students. I met some wonderfully cute and precious 2nd graders today during open house... It was from 2-6 because of church. It is Wednesday after all! I am very excited about this opportunity that I have been given. I'm with a wonderful teacher, in a fantastic school. Even though it is so different, perhaps that's a good thing. It will be a learning experience for sure.
So come along, and enjoy the ride with me. Who knows, it may even be a learning experience for you!
-Ms. Greer
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