Student Teaching - Pre-Game, Day 3

Today we went over to Savage Elementary to start setting up the room for the first week of school.  I wasn't surprised when I discovered that my co-operating teacher is just like all of the other art teachers I have met over the years, a hoarder of supplies that have the potential to be useful at a later date. Today I focused on taking the protective plexiglass covers off of the tables so I could put a new cut paper design under each of them and clean them for the new year.  This project took up pretty much the entire day.  I created a cut paper stencil design that matched the work of the artist in the color of each of the tables.  This would allow over the course of the year for the students to learn through repeated viewings what each artist's work looked like.  I must say I am quite proud of these stencils and I hope to document them before I leave.  Also at this time I was not officially registered as a student teacher but was awaiting the official announcement that my paperwork had been approved.

Student Teaching - Pre-Game, Day 2

The second in-service day is upon me, I have gotten into a routine of  going to bed by 9 or 10 p.m. at night and waking up at 5:30 a.m.  Today I am driving to Edgemont Elementary School which is going to be the second elementary school I have been placed for my primary student teaching.  I will be teaching at Savage Elementary three days a week and Edgemont Elementary two days a week.  Today I met the other elementary art teachers in the district.  My co-operating teacher and I will be sharing the classroom at Edgemont with the other two elementary art teachers throughout the week.  I started organizing the cupboards in the this room The teachers were there until about 4 p.m. because they had a staff meeting at 2:30.  I myself had to leave at 1 to be at a meeting with my College of Education Coordinator. 

Student Teaching - Pre-Game, Day 1

I showed up early for the first of three in service days which would serve as my introduction the the world of teaching.  The days started off warm and wet because it was steadily raining I made my way to Bellville MI, for the open house introduction for the returning and new staff of the Van Buren Public School District.  I was amazed how everybody casually slowly arrived I was expecting the majority of the returning staff to arrived close to 8 a.m. like myself.  but instead I saw some still rolling in as the program was about to start at 9 a.m.  The high schools marching band put on a live performance for the staff.  The administrators of the individual schools introduced their new and returning staff members.  After the program was over I made my way down to the cafeteria with my co-operating teacher for the reading writing workshop for the elementary teachers.  Overall I came away with the impression that being a teacher is just another layer to an individual a definition of who they are every waking hour.  I was amazed I guess in a way how they reminded me of people I hang out with at college yet they have also been able to move past that phase.  It was during this workshop that I met Mr. Cooper a third year teacher at one of the elementary schools who I hope to model some aspects of my teaching style after.