Immersed in the Fieldwork pool and now it is almost my turn to emerge

I feel like I have not updated my blog in a while, but maybe that is because so much has happened between last Wednesday and now! For one thing, two groups have already taught and next week is my my turn: lucky number three!

Let me begin with my last minute remarks about  group one. Group one consisted of Sara and Shannon, two sophomore students who have not had that much experience with education method courses yet, from my conversations with  them. However, they did a great job. Their topic was the Native Americans and they covered topics that ranged from shelters, to traditions, to what different Native American tribes were called.



As seen above, this is a picture of two Native Americans standing outside of their shelter or home. Starting from the direct lesson plan, they explained all of these concepts to the students by utilizing a PowerPoint, having students come up the smart-board and identify traditions and shelters, and even having students complete an in class independent activity to help them remember the concepts more fully. When it came to the inquiry lesson, students were separated into groups and were told that they would become "Native Americans" and work with one another in order to solve a mystery at the History of Natural museum. The directions were read by a Prezi named Erin. Words such as hypotheses was also introduced. For the  cooperative lesson plan, students worked with one another on a project on Native Americans and presented it to the front of the class to promote social skills and group processing.

Even though I already left my feedback, I just wanted to stress that it is not easy to be the first group to teach, especially two students who may not have as much experience as the rest of the class. Keeping that in mind, Shannon and Sara actually did a really good job. My overall suggestions is to make sure that they speak with enthusiasm, do not use the term guys, and make sure the materials they provide to their students are age appropriate. However, as mentioned before, they are only the first group and this is what this fieldwork experience is about. We are supposed to be making our mistakes here, so we do not make those same mistakes when we student teach or when we are out in the field during our professional career. As I look at it, teaching is learning, and we learn from our mistakes. The more mistakes we make, the more we learn, and we learn from one another, from our professors, from observing, and from experiencing.


This past week the second group presented. Their topic was on the first explorers of America, and introducing key figures of early America such as Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, Marco Polo, and John Smith. In addition, the settlement of Jamestown was introduced, pilgrims, Native Americans, and the first Thanksgiving. There were three people in this group: Maureen, Susan, and Kristen. They utilized technology into their three lessons such as Iphones and YouTube videos. It was obvious that they learned from the previous group on what to do and what not to do when it comes to teaching in front of students.

Next week group three presents, and I am part of that group. For the past two and a half weeks I have been hiding in the back of the classroom helping out with the other groups when I came, but otherwise not worrying about lesson planning. Now it is my chance to show not only my fellow colleagues and my professor that I can do this, but myself. I have three chances, three lessons, forty-five minute intervals to take everything I have learned and apply it in the classroom environment. To be honest, I never actually thought that this week would come, but it is here and it is a scary place to be. I have all of the normal fears that I am sure everyone else has: Will Dr. Smirnova like our lesson plans? Will the second grade students understand what I am talking about? Will we have enough time to say what we need to say? Our topic is on the American Revolution and becoming independent from Britain. Even though I know this subject matter very well, I hope I can teach it well. There are also the intrinsic fears that I have: Am I meant to be up in the front of the classroom full of students, teaching?Will this fieldwork experience tell me if I should continue with this field? How about if I am not meant to do this? Even though I have support from my friends, family, and classmates, I hope I have enough support from myself.

Pushing that aside, however, being a teacher means to focus on the positives. I am looking forward to teaching all three lessons: direct, inquiry, and cooperative. I am looking forward to seeing the second graders excited faces when it comes to learning. I am looking forward to hearing myself sound like a teacher. I am looking forward to encouraging students to try their best and to make discoveries. I am looking forward to engaging students in the social process and seeing them take everything I have taught them and creating their own projects. This is what being a teacher is all about. Sure I have fears and concerns about this upcoming week, but I am now going to allow myself to drown in those fears. This is my week to emerge from the depths of the pool, and finding my voice, finding my true teacher. I want to shine bright. I can only hope I shone bright enough.