Field Experience

My field was a positive experience and I learned a lot about teaching, as well as myself as a teacher. Classroom management is a lot harder than it seems. I always knew it was hard, but in the class I was in, it was WAY hard. We were in a very hard class, the hardest our cooperating teacher had in 30 years. There were lots of students with disabilities, as well as lots of diversity. There was a group of boys who were very rowdy and disrespectful. The teacher did her best to control them, but she did not use any cues or anything that we have learned in our program. It was surprising to me, because she is a veteran teacher. She also did not do any teach methods other than writing on the board or reading out loud and having the students take notes. Even though this is not the teaching style that I want to use, I still respected her for using it. With the lesson we taught, we decided to have then students get up and move. We did a "drama" activity with the three branches of government and the students loved it.
Field solidified for me that I do want to be a teacher, but that I want to teach younger children. The fifth graders were too old and had too much attitude for me. They were cute and fun to work with, but that is not what I want to do. I want to be with the young kids who want to be there and are excited to learn!