A Day in a Teacher's Shoes

Have you ever actually sat in a classroom for an entire day and saw all of the interesting things a teacher or student experience? Let me tell you... I did not think it was going to be like this. Of course I have had some experience in a classroom before student teaching, but nothing prepares you for five days a week, eight hours a day. I have learned so much the past two and a half months that I couldn't just learn in a college classroom. I swear every day I say the words, "Don't hit your neighbor", "Bring it down a level", "Wow, interesting! Time to go back to your desk." I thought I would share my past day with you... (I promise none of this is made up). 

The students sprint (yes, sprint) up the stairs to be the first one in the classroom. As they run in, they hurry and look at the board for directions. Every day I put the same thing on the board, "Make a lunch choice, do Bellwork." After they read it they go to their seats. Then! It triggers that they need to make a lunch choice. They stand up walk back to the door and makes a lunch choice. But it isn't just a second, they ponder it for about three minutes which lunch they would like to consume later in the day. As soon as they get back to their desks they have already forgotten about the Bellwork assignment that we do every single morning. I walk around and tell those who are sitting with a blank stare that they need to do their Bellwork. Oh wait. I then hear, "Miss Draper. I lost my pencil." From about three students in a possible two minutes. 

Rotations start. We do math everything is going great. I accidentally mention that I will be going to Disneyland soon. Mistake on my part. Now I have to listen to 28 stories about how they went to Disneyland once, or not even on the same topic and I hear a story about their dad going hunting. After I patiently listen, I have to cut them off. It's time to do some serious studying!

It's now recess. Oh. But wait. It's raining outside. So I can't get rid of them for 15 minutes to relax! We send them to the hallway to play board games. Now it is Science and Reading (which I am not teaching right now, so I get to see the other fourth grade classes and go through the math torture story again). 

I don't know what it is about lunchtime... But after lunch something always happens! Barely back in from lunch and I hear twenty new random stories. A student is crying or upset. I tell them to go grab a drink of water. A student is rubbing his eyes uncontrollably. Come to find out he put kiwis on his eyes to replace his eyes. Turns out he is allergic to kiwis.... Yesterday, a girl told me someone had a frog in their backpack. Yep. A frog. I didn't have the heart to tell her to put it outside. So I let her keep it in her backpack... After lunch is an interesting time in our classroom. 

Now it is art. All hell brakes loose. The students immediately think all rules are thrown out the door. And honestly, I feel the same way. So I just let them do what they want. But of course at a reasonably voice level. 

Now it is time to send them home. Get their attention for maybe one minute. Talk as fast as I can before I lose them. Tell them to grab their cubbies and form a line quietly. A line is never formed. Cubbies are never grabbed. And voices are NEVER off. We walk down the stairs and I wave goodbye with a smile.

As I walk to my classroom, I think about all the things that had happened that day and I breath. Then, I actually miss the little monsters within five minutes of them gone. You create this amazing bond with them that you never want to brake. Being a teacher is one of the most special things I could have ever imagined. Yes, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. But I wouldn't change it for the world. I can't wait to be a teacher in my own classroom and live this type of day everyday. I love how everyday is always slightly different and you never know what will happen after lunchtime or what story you will hear and question if it is true or not.

Happy World Teacher's Day! (Yesterday)

Until next time!

-Allie