I am now back in Florida after a very rigorous yet rewarding five weeks of my life at Chicago Institute. I am so happy and proud to have been one of the 600 corps members at the charter Institute in Chicago and will use that experience to guide me into the next chapter of my TFA life- teaching first grade in my own classroom in Charlotte.
Institute was very helpful and definitely prepared me for certain aspects of being a teacher but I'm nervous as hell to be on my own, using the state standards, curriculum books, my own behavior and mastery tracking systems and just being in charge of possibly 22+ 6 year olds. My sister and aunt have been wonderful in aiding me in the transition from college student to new teacher. My sister has provided me with an array of books, math manipulatives, bulletin board boarder, graphic organizers and so much more. I'm so lucky to have such supportive family members and friends who care about me during this experience.
I permanently move to Charlotte on Tuesday and it really hasn't hit me that I'm moving to a new city with no one except my TFA friends. I'm packing my little SUV with as much as I can fit in it and am even contemplating leaving my own belongings behind to take my new teacher supplies. I have my apartment which is so great so these next few weeks will be all about putting together my new home. My mom is driving up with me to help me get situated and adjusted to Charlotte.
Reflecting on the past five weeks, I'm proud to say that all of my students improved in math and 4 advanced on their DRA tests (reading tests). Not only my students grew, but I grew and learned so much about myself and the new profession I am about to immerse myself in.
First, I learned that every day is a new day. Hell, every hour is a new hour. Kids are weird and they change and one minute they are happy and one minute they are mad at you for writing the wrong thing on the board. Just because something can go wrong on Thursday doesn't mean Friday you can't wipe the slate clean and make an impact. I learned to have a plan for everything. Everything. Absolutely everything. Alyssa, the non-planner, go with the flow girl you used to know, has become a planner. Lesson plans, bathroom procedures, how to handle books plans. Lastly, I learned to be reflective. I've never really been the person to think about my actions or think back on what happened and how I can move forward. This experience has taught me not only how to reflect but how important it is. If a lesson plan doesn't work, I need to think of why and how I can move forward. I need to reflect on the different needs of my students such as how they learn and what their lives are like. I'm so finally appreciative of this new found "skill" because of its importance for my development as a teacher.
Off to pack, relax, and reflect. :)
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