Last Blog of The Semester (In Review)

Looking back at my blog posts this semester, it seems like there were a few topics of interest, namely:

• Remembering Names
• Getting new students after Week 4
• Classroom Management
• Time Management
• Stressing out

It seems like I had been using my blog as a source of venting, which is all well and fine, but I predict that the last point would be less prominent if I took some time to focus on the positives in the experience.  That may be easier now, when I'm basically finished for the semester, as many things didn't seem all too positive at the time.

The issue with remembering names seems silly now.  I know all of their names extremely well, and now I think I have some confidence in myself to remember names in the future.  It sure seems like it'd be easier, anyways.  It also seems silly that I was stressing out over the new student in class as well.  Everything was super smooth after the first few weeks, and now they are just like anyone else.  We even got classes mixed around after the first trimester, and the transition was smooth and stress-free.

Classroom management and time management are still big concerns but I feel infinitely more comfortable with each of them at this point.  I feel like I'm way more comfortable in front of the class in general, which is good news to consider.  I think classroom management has become easier because students have a clearer idea of what I expect of them in class and I feel they respect me a bit more.  Time management is not something I'm yet completely comfortable with - I tend to want to run class right up until the end of the hour, but we always end up needing those last few minutes for housekeeping sorts of things.  I'm hoping it gets better at the high school level (or at least can be better)

I believe that stressing out is the one constant that'll be there for a while, though.  I'm feeling incredibly de-stressed at the moment, since I got two major project finished.  It feels like the semester is basically over, and it feels nice.  However, I know that a whole new line of stresses are ready to meet me on the other side of winter break.  Hooray!

Lastly, I'm gonna miss the kids in my class once next week ends.  I'm not sure about the level of reciprocity, but I love the little buggers.  It's weird to think that I will likely not see them again after this placement.

See you on the other side of 2011!

:)