3 Dimensional Figures from the mouth's of innocent babes?

I have survived week three in the terrors of terrors. On the upside, I am learning many things in methods and ways of Classroom Management. I am learning to use my "loud teacher voice" and see the looks of astonishment on the students faces on the occasion that I have to yell a little bit to get their attention. I am sure that with my voice it doesn't seem like yelling, but if they push my buttons enough it makes it easier to have the "umph" to get my vocal chords to work hard.

I have been taking the class solo this week because my Cooperating Teacher's daughter had a baby, and while I am not supposed to be the substitute, that is exactly what I was. Due to the fact that Utah State will not let their Student Teachers be paid while in their last semester of school I will not get compensated in any form other than the joys of being a teacher.

Highlights of my week:

Teaching the students how to play SPARKLE and seeing the light in their eyes and the desire and determination to earn playing the game.

After reading Purple, Green, and Yellow by Robert Munsch to the kids and asking the students to finish the story. In this story Brigid gets coloring markers, three different kinds, in which she gets bored with them. The last kind of coloring markers her mother buys for her is "Super-indelable-never-come-off-til-your-dead-or-maybe-even-later-coloring markers" and then the students finished the story. I had all sorts of endings. One of which Brigid received 3-D coloring markers. These kids amaze me with their creativity.

Today during our math lesson on 3-D shapes we were talking about width, and for some reason got on the subject of the width of me as their teacher. I had one student actually tell me that "I was as plump as a pig" of which I like to think that I am no where near that, and then the reassurance of all the other students "No teacher! You're as skinny as a stick!" :) Oh from the mouths of babes...

And I still have to add, I have not resolved the issue of the students sticking their papers in my face, they are so excited to hand them in and let me look at them, there is no patience from them at all. Therefore, numerous times a day I proclaim to the children, "Calm down, do not stick your paper in my face, I will not take it!"

Have a good weekend! May yours bring you rest and relaxation!

Teacher! Teacher!!

So the days begin of my student teaching and the joys that come from it. With 3rd graders it isn't as bad, but there is still the occasional "Teacher!" or the more often than not papers shoved under your nose as you are trying to answer a question from students who are too impatient to wait nicely.

I am so glad that I have reached this point in my education, but I can say that I am ready to actually be a teacher, and not have to report back to so many people, when I am a teacher my main person to report to will be the Principal, not my cooperating teacher, principal, supervisor, and the University.

The classroom I am in right now is going to teach me a lot about classroom management, which is actually a blessing in disguise. To have a class that I have to work to control will teach me how I need to manage one of the hardest classrooms, my supervisor tells us that "Classroom Management can make or break a teacher." This is proving to be true, he also told me that he can tell what teachers have control as early as the second week of school. You can be an amazing teacher, but if you can't get your students to be quiet long enough to learn then you are not going to get anywhere.

Highlights of my two weeks student teaching so far:

"Teacher, I didn't recognize you with your hair down, I have to get used to you looking this way, and then when you wear your hair up again I won't recognize you then either!"

"Mrs. Luke, when I grow up I want to work at Disneyland as an Imaginier (spelling?), they are the people who invent all the fun rides from the movies."

"Mrs. Luke, so and so won't stop touching me!"

"Mrs. Luke, I drew this picture for you."

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and the semester in which we will never see each other!

Christmas was an enjoyable holiday for both of us. Daniel and I had our second Christmas together. Daniel wanted to open presents on Christmas Eve so we could sleep in the next morning, I wouldn't let him! We went to my parents house after we did our own thing, had a breakfast of delicious sour dough pancakes and buttermilk syrup, and then exchanged presents. Daniel then went on to play Jared's new game for the Wii for the next two hours, Cabela's Big Game Hunter. I finally had to pry Daniel's fingers away from the controller to get him to the car to get to Orangville and Ferron to visit with his family. We had visited my Grandma Wilson and Uncle David in Huntington the night before Christmas Eve, so went straight to Orangville to visit Grandma and Grandpa Luke. From there we went to the Luke's and had Christmas there, and watched Daniel play nintendo with Conlee for a few hours (Which is why we do not have a Nintendo of any kind.. nothing would ever get done, and Daniel would have bad grades) We had dinner that night, yummy roast and cheesy funeral potatoes, and frog-eye salad.

For New Year's we traveled down the Richfield to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hansen, Uncle Brian, Aunt Debbie, and the kids. We had a blast down there, even though Maddie still won't give Daniel a hug even if I am there to help her. :) We went sledding with the kids, Brigham was a stud going down any hill, and Daniel would carry him back to the top because his legs got tired. Maddie loved eating the snow, Maren missed out because she was still taking her nap back at the house. I made cookies for the kids to decorate, Jake, Maddie, and Maren were my helpers and boy did Maren love the sprinkles! We didn't stay up to welcome the New Year, we're old now and like our sleep. The next day we built a snowman with the kids and played in the snow.

We came home Saturday and did some deep cleaning, I finally have that big pile of shed horns out of the front room! Well, most of them. Daniel did haul a lot away, but still arranged some around the lamp, but I can now vaccum my carpet!

This week is bringing a lot of new beginnings, Daniel is starting school for spring semester, taking on 19 credit hours, and telling me he is going to try and work 40 hours for as long as he physically can. I get to go to Logan for two days next week for a mandatory student teaching orientation, and then start my first student teaching block the next day on the 13th. It's going to be a busy 16 weeks for both of us, and maybe we will get to say hi to each other once in a while, but I keep telling myself that it will all be worth it. I graduate in May and will be done! I am very happy for that to look forward to, just a few more hoops to jump through. Daniel is liking his classes so far, so we will see how things go.

Also, our friends the O'Neil's had their little baby girl. She is the New Year's baby here in Price, born January 1st, 1:43 am. 7 lbs, 5 oz. 20 inches long. She's a cutie! Congratulations to them!