My Kids - School Kids that is...

I am looking forward to my new course that starts in October. The course itself is a methods course so it is very hands on and the 2 1/2 hours goes so quickly.  I am sad though, this is the last course I will have with this group of students. I started with them last year and have come to adore their unique personalities, quick responses to overload of work, and their love of treats! I can't think of a single one of them who will not be an excellent teacher.  I hope that each one of them finds a job teaching because our children (my grandchildren) will definitely benefit from these professionals.  I think I may cry...so it is time to stop writing about them.  They truly are fabulous though! Oh...another feature of this group is how they love a good deal on teacher supplies and will send out emails letting others know about good buys!

I have a new group this fall...at first, I found them WAY too quiet.  I know they were analyzing me and how I teach (Which by the way drives me crazy-because teaching at the elementary school level the student accept you for who you are and have no difficulty with you as the role model -- at the college level - not so much - they spend the first few weeks determining if you are worthy to teach them, how much homework you will give them, and if you have enough of a knowledge base to create a transformative experience).  I'm not totally clueless, I know that some will think I am a good instructor and some will think I stink. In my naive way I only hope they realize that I really do care about them, that they learn as much as possible and develop a passion for teaching children.

My new group:
My new students have such an energy about them.  I love to watch them thinking about being a teacher.  You can literally see the wheels turning in their head as they are putting the pieces together.  They are a group that is so full of ambition and drive.  You don't see that very often in students and overall as a whole group that is what I am seeing.  I can't say that there is one student in any of my courses that gives me reason to doubt my ability to teach them.  My poor 2:00pm course must think that I am daffy, because by the time I get to them, I am usually a little loopy because I have drank so much coffee and I tend to bounce around the room. I hope they are ready for spending the next 2 years with me because I guarantee that they will work very hard, but learn so much about being an effective educator.