I'm Relaxing Now

Well now I can finally relax. I have been super stressed the past two days. I had to come up with a lesson plan which I had to present today to my peers. I actually had to teach the lesson for no less than 20 minutes all the while making it hands on, very creative and integrated with all the newest strategies while making sure I covered all the requirements of a good lesson.

I will say that there is a BIG difference in teaching children in grades EC-4th than it is teaching a class full of your adult peers and a professor. With the kids, if you mess up slightly, you just continue and go with it but with your peers and teacher, they will know you really messed up and were not prepared.

I decided to do a 2nd grade lesson on dinosaurs and introducing herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and the characteristics and traits that are unique to each. I got to class this morning nervous as hell and just wanting to get it overwith. I signed up to go 4th. Today we were having a big potluck lunch and I knew that if I didn't do my lesson in the morning, I would not enjoy my lunch or even want to eat. I am so proud of myself....not to bragg, I did an excellent job. I engaged the entire class and led them in a discussion with a lot of participation. I asked things such as what they had for dinner last night and introduced the concept of herbivores, omnivores and carnivores and based on what they ate, had them classify themselves accordingly. I passed out miniature dinosaurs and had vivid color printouts of various dinosaurs and we went through each and their unique characteristics and how they adapt to their environment. I had them make their own paper dinosaur, name it, write a short story about it and share it in their groups. At the end of my lesson, I asked the class to stand up and we went around the room simulating the behavior of different dinosaurs while I sang a little poem about each...it was so much fun!! My classmates were so funny, we were all actually acting like little kids and asking silly questions and pretended to fight with our classmates.

I got my review from the teacher observing me today (turns out she is a teacher for several children from the San Antonio Spurs) and I think I will frame it. She said that my lesson was very well planned, that I had the class actively engaged and participating, that I created great visuals and that I did a great job and was going to be a wonderful teacher. That just about made my day and now I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep!