Squirt Guns, Freshman, and Perfection

Copied from my personal blog http://teachtodayteachtomorrow.blogspot.com/

What a wonderful day in the classroom!  I'm getting used to the schedule, the students and I are becoming more comfortable around each other, and Jon is planning lessons with me (which makes me panic A LOT less).  Yesterday was hard, as we all know, but today was over in a flash.  In fact, I wish it was longer.  I'm finding my place.  I'm learning my role.  It's all getting easier. 

In the AP Psychology class and in Leadership, the transition of responsibility has begun.  Today, I was lucky enough to assist Jon with a lesson on conditioning (a form of psychological learning).  The lesson consisted of a large plastic garbage bag, a towel, a blindfold, a squirt bottle and a list of words.  Jon chose a student at random and had them walk up to the front of the classroom.  In both classes, the students walked up when asked, but they were wary.  I can't blame them, who knows what wacky idea Jon has come up with.  When the student arrived in front of the classroom, Jon pulled out a stool and, ever so sweetly, asked them to, "Take a seat."  Once seated, Jon cut a hole in the top of the plastic bag like a rain poncho.  The plastic bag was then placed over the student.  After the student was completely covered with the makeshift rain poncho, Jon covered their eyes with the blindfold.

Next, he handed me a list of words and a squirt bottle.  The words were mostly random, except the word CAN appeared more often than the rest.  The word CAN was the signal for, "squirt the student."  The first student, a boy, began to anticipate the squirting after a while.  He even opened his mouth and tried to catch the water from the squirt bottle.  The second student, a girl, responded a little differently.  She tried to dodge the squirting, flinched, and even whined a little every time she heard the word CAN.  The students had no idea we had prepared this activity for today.  But, I guarantee, none of them will ever forget their experience with conditioning.  And, Jon and I conditioned them today; we conditioned them to expect the unexpected.

I also had the opportunity to visit my student teaching placement (just right upstairs) in Mr. Museaus' room.  I met his two of his Freshman classes.  And, his classroom is amazing.  The students are even more amazing.  The Freshman are reading a fantastic book right now called Two Old Women.  It's about two elderly women abandoned by their Native American tribe, and left to a certain death.  The book tells the tale of the women attempting to save their own lives and the journey they take to do so.  Next, the class will read the Hobbit (which I will help to teach) and then we move on to my unit, Romeo and Juliet.


Even from my short observations today, I found out that I absolutely adore Freshman.  I love their energy, their questions, and even their immaturity.  The remind me so much of kids, and I love that.  Seniors and Juniors and almost, "too cool for school."  They've mostly got school figured out.  They know what they can get away with and they try everything they can.  But, Freshman are still trying to find their way, to find their place.  The Juniors and Seniors in Jon's classes sort of rolled their eyes when they met me, the "student teacher." But, the Freshman were intrigued and wanted to get to know me.  I think they are my favorites so far. 

In other news, next week is the second round of Spirit Week at Madison High.  The spirit days are:
M: Twin Day
T: Opposite Gender Day
W: Pajama Day
TR: Ugly Sweater Day
F: School Spirit Day

I can't wait to get my spirit week on! 

The end of week one has come.  I have never been more tired in my life.  But, at the same time, I've never been more completely fulfilled.  I smile every day as I walk to my car.  I think about all of the kids who I get to know.  All of their stories I get to hear.  And all that they have left to teach me.  This weekend holds lots of lesson planning and research, and I can't wait to get back to "my" kids.

Next week brings more teaching responsibility.  I can honestly say that I'm nervous.  I'm a little frightened because I still don't know exactly what to expect.  I'm also a bit of a perfectionist, and I know that I'm not going to be perfect the first time.  This makes me a little anxious, but I've been talking myself down all week.  I'm still learning, and if I was already perfect, I wouldn't be a student.  I've got a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the journey.

Caitlin