Week 15 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

       I can't believe I already finished service. It was a short year I unfortunately realized. I loved going to my class everyday during third period. Seeing my students and working would always cheer me up. Unfortunately it's already over, and I don't know if I'll ever see them again although I want to. It was a sad but great last week with my kids. They were all sad it was my last week but I tried to make the most out of it. I don't really remember the first two days that week because the last day trumps my memory. Unfortunately John's car had to be in the shop the next day so I had to tell my class Wednesday that today was my last day. They were all really sad and couldn't stay away from me. The last ten minutes of that class the kids sang me a song which I thought was very sweet of them and on my way out, they each came up individually and gave me hugs. It was so great and I miss them already.

       Now to my first grade class. Just like my kindergarten class, it was unexpected that it was my last day. So when I told them it was my last day they were sad too. They enjoyed working and talking with me and I enjoyed being with them. The teacher made the whole class about me which I thought was really nice. She just asked me questions about college and asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and explained it to the kids. Then the kids would ask me questions, but they were all kind of bummed out that I was leaving. On my way out the door, I got a handshake from the teacher and a thanks, a good bye from the children and that was it. One semester of working with those kids wasn't long enough.

Week 14 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

     Well after two weeks of being away from my class I finally got to return to them this week. I did miss them and was excited to go back to the class on Monday. Fortunately, they were good and behaved just as well from the last time I saw them. Unfortunately though, I only have one more week with my class. I will truly miss them. It's funny to think I really didn't want to come to this class because I really liked my old one. But now, I'm thankful that I had to switch classes. I don't know if I would have liked my other class as much though. But I guess God wanted me to come to this kindergarten class and I am very thankful. I will be sad when this next week is over, but I will try to enjoy it as much as possible because I will always remember my class.

     Now for my first grade class. I wish I had connected with them as much as is did with my kindergarten class, but I did not. I still have had a great semester with them though, and like my kindergarten class, I will remember them too. I hope even after I leave, that they keep up their reading skills because they did so well this week and I was proud of them nothing bad really happened this week with my first grade class, so in all it was a good week. The only downside I guess was physical education when I had to stand outside in the cold. That wasn't very fun. But other Thant hat it was a great week.

Week 11 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

       Week 11 was a short yet fun week. My class behaved so well and were extremely attentive, I was very proud of their improvement. We didn't do much though, since I was only their for two days but I had a good time with them. The kids love me and cannot stop hugging me. I get there with about with about five minutes left of recess and all the kids always run over to me and want me to play with them or talk to them. There is this girl named Alison who cannot keep away from me. She always, always comes over to me during recess and when the bell rings she stands by my side while we walk to the line, she is so sweet. Unfortunately I will not see my class for two whole weeks! I will miss them a lot and I can't wait until I will see them after thanksgiving break. Hopefully they do well without me and by the time I get back hopefully they will be very attentive and always listening instead of having off an on day.

       I really had only one day with my first and second grade class last week. On Tuesday they had a field trip that they didn't inform me about, so I just did playground duty the time I was with them. It was kind of boring but it wasn't that bad. When they came back the next day it wasn't any different than the usual. They just read to me and they did well. I'm happy that they read well but same as my kindergarten class, hopefully they do well when I'm gone. I will miss that class two while I'll be gone for two weeks.

Week 10 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

     Compared to last week, this week was ten times better. The kids behaved and actually listened and payed attention, I was very proud. Nothing extraordinary really happened last week, everything went routine as usual. The only difference was that one class was all about bullying, and the whole week was dedicated to anti bullying. This just makes me remember when I was back in kindergarten getting to dress up in crazy socks, or dress up as a super hero for the week. Or just discuss about bullying. Luckily both schools I've been to have really had no bullying what so ever. I'm not quite sure about bullying at Thomas Edison. I haven't seen anything that bad except kids being kids in the sense that they will hit each other now and then but that's it, nothing long term. But at the same time I'm also only in a kindergarten class.

     My first grade class is doing well also. I'm doing the same thing with them, just having them read to me. I think they did a lot better two weeks ago in reading because last week I saw a few kids not knowing easy words. Hopefully though, they pick up the slack in this upcoming week. I have seen a great improvement in following directions during physical education, and the teacher only has to tell them once what to do. Hopefully the stay like this the rest of the year. And I'm looking forward to working this week.

Week 9 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary.

       My kindergarten class didn't have the greatest week last week. They weren't paying attention and were being very disruptive. There is this one girl who never sprays attention and is always wandering around the classroom. Last week it seems that everyone was following what she was doing, so everyone was just not behaving. Even at recess this one boy was hitting kids and when we got back to the classroom the teacher had to have a discussion with him and I was kind of left in charge of the class. Well you probably know how kids behave when their teacher isn't present. I couldn't keep them under control. I had to give the kids verbal warnings, which is like a punishment to them, it's hard to explain. But hopefully they are better next week and I am looking  forward to working with them tomorrow morning.

       I guess it was opposite week last week because my first grade class behaved better than my kindergarten class. What surprised me the most and what made me proud of them was that during physical education they were actually paying attention and following the instructions of the teacher. They are even doing better in reading. The teacher put out a rule that if they missed a word that I had to take a tiger ticket from them, which is like a reward. So this really put them into concentration mode and only a couple of kids missed words. Hopefully they can keep up their work and attentiveness into this week.

Week 8 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

        It was a good week for my kindergarten class last week. The only bad part was that they had a field trip so I just had to hang out and monitor recess for the first forty five minutes I work with them. Actually I kind of take that back. On Thursday the class had an off day. They weren't paying attention and they were talking and being disruptive. A couple of them got in trouble and were sent to the principle's office. But other than that Monday and Tuesday the class was well behaved. They listened to their teacher and listened to me when I gave them instructions. I love those kids and I'm going to be upset when my semester is up. The love me too and are always so excited when I show up in the morning. Hopefully I keep in touch with the kids after the semester is up because I'm going to miss them and vice versa.

        My first grade class was okay this week. They were not the greatest they have ever been but at the same time they were not the worst. The things that made them okay is that a kid got punched in the face and kids were lying while they were having an argument with the teacher. It was a complex mess but I tried to keep my kids focused when they were reading with me. But other than that they were fine. I really enjoy working with those kids too, but there are some that just make me mad. I will miss most, but I don't want to be mean but some I won't. They just don't listen and they dont't care and distract others. They even hit other kids and they come in with ice on their bodies. I feel bad for them.

Week 7 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

       Week 7 was a good week for me. Nothing bad happened all the kids were great. The only bad thing I can think of is that while I was monitoring recess before class started two kids ran into each other and one girl got dinged up pretty bad and blood was dripping from her mouth. I took her to the office but I haven't heard about her since, though I believe she is okay. My kindergarten class has been great though.nit seems like more kids are participating and learning more. We are finally moving on in the lesson and actually learned a couple of new songs. One of the songs is boxing to the alphabet and the other song is about kissing your brain where in fact I have to kiss my brain. I feel a little weird doing it because I haven't done songs since like 3rd grade. But I find it amusing when I watch the kids doing it because it's just so funny.

    My first grade class wasn't the best last week but at least they weren't the worst. It seems they have resorted back to their old selves. I thought they were really improving the week before. It's just these kids don't want to be there, don't want listen and don't want to learn. There is this one kid who is always a problem and he got sent to the office for hitting other students in the head. About five minutes later he came back in the classroom with candy. My teacher was furious, I mean I would be too. Why did he get candy? That is a problem with that school is that the kids don't really get punished as bad as they should.

Week 6 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

           I had a good time this week with my kids and I wish I could have spent Thursday with them too. The kindergartners love me and I can tell. Everyday I walk in to get them from recess they always run up to me and give me hugs or just shout my time from where they are standing. And I love those kids too. They are so funny and well behaved. I don't like to admit this but I would have to say my kindergartners are better then my first graders. I don't mean in character but academicly. But they are a very smart class and I'm glad I get to teach them. I even get to go up in front of the class and teach for a few minutes. Nothing special really, just colors, numbers, shapes and the alphabet. But it is a cool experience to be in charge because obviously I've been a student my whole life and teaching is just different and fun.

          My first grade class wasn't all bad this week like they usually are. I would say the worst thing they did this week was pay attention in physical education. One kid had to run next to a girl and he didn't want to so he cried. I feel they are very immature for their age but it seems they have been improving. As usual I've just been helping the kids read and I've seen major improvements. I mean almost every kid that comes up to read to me passes and that makes me proud. I hope they continue to improve in this next week and I'm excited to start again Monday.

Week 5 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

         I can't believe it's been five weeks already. I'm am really starting to connect with my kindergarten class. I know most of their names by now and they all know mine. All the kindergartners are so excited when I come and they always say hello with such enthusiasm. As I've said before, I'm mad that I was moved out of my fourth grade class but I can't complain now since I was moved into this wonderful class. This week my teacher told me should was going to be absent. So she told me that I was going to teach the class instead of the substitute teacher. I was kind of nervous at first but I did well helping the kids with their shapes and alphabet. I did have trouble keeping the kids under control at some points but the substitute helped me keep the kids in check. In all it was a wonderful experience. I might even consider becoming a teacher.

        Now as always my second grade class. I thought they were getting better but then they proved me wrong. They had to take an easy survey. All they had to do was raise their hand if they came to the school in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade. Yes, you might think well they're just second graders it should take a couple tries maybe five minutes tops. Well no it took about 15 minutes and the teacher was getting frustrated. I always keep that class in my prayers and I really hope they start improving.

Week 4 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

         As much as I was disappointed about being transferred out of my first class I am glad to say that I do enjoy working in my new class. The kindergartners are starting to warm up to me and talk to me and I do like talking to the kids they are funny. But I'm happy that they are better than my classmates Keegan and Chris' kindergarten class. I do feel bad for them because they have tough classes to work with. But I'm glad that my class is easier and that they pay attention and actually do there work. I get to give out stars to children who are paying attention and participating which makes them participate and pay attention even more. I am also glad but kind of sad to say that this kindergarten class is easier or more mature then my first grade class. My class is doing well and I hope they continue do do so in the future.

       Now for my first grade class. They weren't that bad this week and seem to be improving. Most of them are doing their work and listening to the teacher and I can tell the teacher Mrs. Hubell is really grateful for having me working with the kids. Yes, I'm still doing the same work where the kids read to me but I can see them improving in their reading to. In the first few weeks I could tell that they weren't practicing their reading because most of them would fail the reading test. I urged them to practice and it seems like they have because now most of the kids are passing the tests. I am extremely proud of my students.

Week 3 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

        I can't believe this is only the third week. It feels like I have been working with these kids much longer than that, it's crazy. Unfortunately I was moved from my fourth grade class to a kindergarten class. I was a little bummed out. I was really enjoying my time working with the fourth graders. I loved working with that class. I had a lot of great students I helped out with and I will miss working with them. My kindergartners are fine though. I have been working with them for only a week so I haven't really got to know them as well as my old class. But what surprised me was that they moved me to my new class because the principal said the teacher needed help and the fourth grade teacher didn't. But to be honest I was doing more work in my fourth grade class than I am doing now. Hopefully the teacher will need me soon, but in all the first week with my new class was a little dull and boring. But as I said hopefully it will soon change.

       Now to my first grade class. I have been doing the same exact thing with them for every week I've worked there now, and that is just helping them read to me. But I do worry for that class a little. They are behind mentally it seems like. I am not trying to be mean but it's the truth. Even the teacher is getting frustrated with them because that can't remember the simplest instructions, for example their seating arrangement on a mat or a number given to them. Even the physical education teacher was telling me how they can't even follow an instruction like running around the basketball court, he said even the kindergartners can do this! I want to help these kids out but I'm not sure how to, it feels like I can only do so much. I've been praying for them and their teachers every day so that they will mature and in for the teachers to become a little more patient.

Week 2 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

          My second week went very well. I am still working with the same students and they are beginning to warm up to me. But I have also worked with other students. Some have been challenges like a kid named Cory. He is a bit of a trouble make, and his reading is under average. I'm really trying to work with him because he needs to step up his act and his reading. I have also worked with this girl named Tamyra. She is a sweet little girl and loves to read to me. Not only that but she is a superb reader, way above her grade level it seems. The only problem is that I don't get to work with her a lot because she is doing so well. I think a weird part of this class is that, besides Cory, all the troublemakers seem to be the best readers. I'm not sure why this is but it is the truth.

         I have also been doing the same things with the first graders, which is just listening to them reading to me. I can tell that this class has a lot more behavioral issues but that's probably because they are younger and immature. But it seems that the first graders are warming up to me a lot faster. Most of them are not afraid to talk to me and a few have even come up to me and given me hugs, after just two weeks! I do enjoy this class just as much as my fourth. I'm trying to keep the kids in check, but it is hard. But just like my fourth grade class the best readers are the biggest troublemakers it's a little weird. But in all I have had a good couple of weeks working with these kids and I'm glad to work with them for the rest of the semester.

Week 1 Service at Thomas Edison Elementary

     Going into my service place for the first time was exciting, but at the same time I was a little nervous. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the kids I was going to work with. But when I got there the principal explained to me everything I need to know, showed me to my classroom and I was ready. I was kind of surprised the way the kids acted. I went to a Catholic school before Jesuit and all the students respected and listened to the teacher. At Thomas Edison Elementary it was a little different. Kids roamed around the class and students would only listen to their teacher if they were threatened with a call to their parents. I didn't know what to do, but I was ready for the challenge of these kids.

      The first few days I worked on reading with a 9 year old boy named Abdulases. He was a nice young boy, rare for Thomas Edison Elementary, and enjoyed helping him read. I don't think he is from America so he had a little trouble at first but I helped him out. I also worked with some first graders on reading too. I didn't spend a particularly long time with anyone of them so I didn't get to know any of them really well. I would have to say my favorite student is a fourth grade girl named Ani. She is a nice, polite young girl who is eager to learn. The first couple of days she just watched ,e and Abdulases study and would try to join in but get told to go back to reading by the teacher. Fortunately on my last day of service this week I got the pleasure of working on math flash cards with her. She was also pleased to work with me and I hope I get to help her in the future.