What a day today has been! I realize I always say this but I'm sorry I've been such a terrible blogger...there's so much to catch up on.
First of all, I rode my bike today for the first time since like 5th grade!!!! Needless to say, it was a struggle. I was good to go on the straight roads but when it came to turns, slowing down, stopping, and sharing the road, I kind of freaked out! Like this one time, we were riding on the sidewalk in front of PC (because I couldn't handle the big roads) and I was in the back of the pack (there were three of us). After maneuvering my way onto the sidewalk, I look up to see a man on his bike coming towards me!!! I thought I was going to die...literally die. Either I would go left into said old man on his bike or I would go right, off the sidewalk, and into oncoming traffic on South Broad Street in Clinton, SC! Either one, I was freaking out! Needless to say, it was an interesting bike ride and I did enjoy it, especially getting to go down hills!!! WHEEEEEEEE!!!!! Be on the lookout for me in my bright green cruiser :)
Also, I got to spend the WHOLE day in 3rd grade today. I realize since I haven't blogged in..yeah, forever...I'll just fill you in on the whole "being a senior" thing! Let's see, I've been at school for over a month now, officially a senior for over a month and I still don't feel like I should be telling people I'm a senior! YIKES!!! The real world is looming and I'm not so sure I'm ready for it. My semester is filled with education classes and Yoga (since I still had to fulfill my PE General Education requirement) but I'm loving it! Life as an education major is crazy because we had what we call teacher camp before school where we got to help set up the classroom we'd be working in all semester along with going to all those fun professional development meetings. So, if I am a teacher this time next year, I think I'll be a little bit more prepared!!! That being said, I'm still trying to figure out what God is going to do with my life next. Ideally, I'd love to be a teacher and use my degree but at the same time, I don't think God would open up doors in my life that He isn't planning on using in some way. So...we'll see where that goes and how my senior year turns out. Stay tuned! I go back and forth between if I really see myself teaching right out of college or doing something else first. Of course if I decide to do something else, this is going to make for a veryyyyy long year! I've got to get through all my major classes, my last semester of Practicum, all of my licensure tests, and then student teaching next semester. And if teaching is the path for me right now, all of that will still be wonderful!! Today was one of those days. We got to spend the first week of school in the classroom and while it was exciting, I was a little scared to death of my 3rd graders. I mean, they're huge!!! I've been so used to smaller children like 4K or 1st grade so the jump to 3rd is still an adjustment. I do love 3rd grade because you actually get to teach all the subjects! I know that's a novel idea but in earlier grades there's always always always an emphasis on ELA. Obviously teaching kids how to read is super important but other subjects are too! Like I loveeeee math! Also, 3rd grade gets to learn South Carolina History...seriously my fave!!! So 3rd grade is growing on me and I'm so very happy I got to spend so much time there today. The kids aren't even seeming so large anymore, they still have plenty to learn!
Here are some highlights from my 3rd grade experience so far...
1. Children struggle with saying Ms. Fogle way more than I ever thought possible. I thought it might be an age thing, but even my 3rd graders can't quite get Ms. Fogle right yet. They'll get there one day but its fun to hear all the mispronunciations before they get to that point.
2. 3rd graders are still adorable even though they're about to go through that awkward stage...and everyone has that awkward stage.
3. The Hunger Games is HUGE even in elementary schools (this was a huge surprise to me!) Two kids in my class wear their mockingjay pin to school every single day. They take it off during PE and recess so they don't get it messed up, but I keep waiting for the day they don't wear it and it just isn't happening any time soon!
4. Getting to hear the names of the kids in my class kind of makes me laugh. I'm not saying the names are funny but where they come from is the funny part.
We have Joey and Chandler...named from Friends and they're back to back on the roll so every day starts, "Joey...Chandler" hahahahaha I just laugh every single time.
We have an Ashton...yes he was named for Ashton Kutcher. He even told me today his mom found his name on the internet reading about Ashton Kutcher.
We've got an Ariel, like the princess; Jada, like some superstar I've never heard of, but she swears by it! We have Anna Nicole Smith's twin. I think in a couple years she could totally pass as a look alike!
Its definitely fun to hear where these kids name come from!! They don't even realize how funny it is right now.
5. I will always love compliments even if they're from 8-year-olds. The excitement in my students when I walk in the classroom can make any day better! Even if I saw them the day before, its like they haven't seen me in years!!!! Seriously, adorable and so encouraging to know I've got the love of 3rd graders, if nothing else. :)
6. So this kind of goes with the title of the blog post. Even though I really did ride a bike today, I also taught my first lesson to third graders today. I haven't taught a lesson to any children since...March? Its definitely been a while and I've always planned them ahead of time of course. Today after grading some math quizzes (my fave!), Mrs. Moore let me take the students out of the classroom who needed extra help. I taught two small group lessons just out of the blue and it was so great!!! I've seen how Mrs. Moore's been teaching and just had to take ideas from that but also trying to figure out how to help these kids understand place value! Who knew place value was such a complicated subject? I sure didn't!
I must say the number one reason I want to be a teacher is to make a difference in a child's life, even if its just one child! The most exciting thing about trying to make a difference in a child's life is watching them actually understand a topic--to see that light go off in their head, is beyond awesome! I was just on Cloud 9 getting to watch the kids start to get it! Let's just hope they can get it on their math test tomorrow.
7. Getting to be the cool kid in 3rd grade rocks...even though I'm 21!!! All the kids wanted to play with me at recess and sit by me at lunch...just saying! :)
Now that I've tried to catch up with my senior year, I'll give you a little health update. Drum roll please...........since starting my medicine almost a month ago, I've lost 12 pounds!!! Praise the Lord!!! I'm getting energy back, feeling better, and loving life again! I've still got a long way to go before my follow up at the beginning of November, but things are looking up and we think we've definitely nailed down what was going on! Prayers for continued healing and being 100% ASAP!
As always, thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll have more time to breathe in the near future and I can actually sit down to write on my blog!!! Keep me in your prayers for guidance and direction of where to go next in life. Also, I'm in need of some encouragement right now for a couple reasons, just in need of reminders of how God can be using me to glorify Him in all things I do! Thank you so much!!
Love youuuuuuuuuu!! :)
