Sara Jane

I don’t know what I expected being done to feel like but it wasn’t this. Today was my last day at the school and the students were totally nuts because of the snow and Christmas break. It didn’t make it a big deal that it was my last day, I really don’t like a lot of attention. Students brought me gifts. It was really sweet. I really don’t know what to write about. I’m done and that’s good. I think, from what I’ve seen so far, that I will enjoy teaching. I’m not going to say that I’ll be teaching forever because who knows what will happen. But for now it’s great.

Sara

I’m really proud of myself. I’m official going to graduate a week from today. Cheryl came and did her last observation today and she returned my satisfactory work sample. It just doesn’t get better than this. It really hit me today and I started to cry on the way home. This whole thing wasn’t easy for me. I’m not crazy smart and school doesn’t come easy for me. I really had to work hard for this and it means a lot to me. I started this program with a very, probably not healthy, level of anxiety. In the beginning the idea of teaching and being the center of attention terrified me. Sometimes I wondered why I decided that being a teacher was a good idea. But I’m so glad that I stuck with it and pushed through the fear, anxiety and self-doubt. I could not have imagined the joy and fulfillment that comes from teaching. Cheryl asked me what my favorite part of student teaching was and I said that forming real relationships with students was. I didn’t go into teaching because I love kids. But now I do.

Sara

Well, our time at our posts is rapidly evaporating. I’m getting pretty sentimental about the whole thing. I mean these are the first group of students that I have ever taught. These students have watched me learn how to teach. They undoubtedly have seen me grow ad morph into my new semi-teacher state and it makes me sad to have to say goodbye. Looking back to the first day always makes me laugh. I didn’t know the students and they didn’t know me. Now we are like a family. I love the community environment that has developed in my classroom. It took hard work to get to know the students and I’m going to miss them.But only for awhile….

My mentor teacher is pregnant and is going on maternity leave in March. She has asked me to be her long-term substitute and I have gladly accepted. So I will be teaching from March to the end of the school year. I’m excited at the prospect of seeing my students again. So in reality I shouldn’t be sad to say bye to my students because I will see them again.

Sara