Time to let some classes go

Well, friends...I am officially finished with my full load teaching of my student teaching semester. It seems weird to have already taught all of the classes for 6 weeks, I can't really imagine what I am going to do now that I don't have over 100 kids to worry about! Over spring break this week I need to grade over 100 tests, write comments and grades for report cards, and plan out what is left of my student teaching assignment. I have one more observation with my US and 4 more weeks with my CT. HOW has time flown this quickly! I guess they say "time flies when you are having fun"....which I am having fun, most of the time ;)

Last week I taught my last lesson with my beloved intermediate Spanish class. And when I say beloved, I mean my most challenging class. I do love the students and I love watching them learn and grasp the language, but I have to say my days will be a little bit less stressful now that I am not in charge of these kids anymore. This class probably taught me more than any other class in my student teaching assignment, mostly about classroom management. I think I have had a scratchy voice for the past few weeks just because speaking loudly is the only way these kids can hear me. 24 kids in one class of 3-5 graders might not seem like a lot to the observer's eye, but once you are in front of those kids and in charge of them, everything changes. I have grown so much in the past 5 weeks thanks to these kids, so it is bittersweet to give them back first.

I am excited about the homestretch, but also kind of sad. I had a little girl in my advanced class, a 5th grader, tell me the other day "Senorita Orsega, I am going to really miss you when you are gone." Needless to say I almost teared up because some of these kids genuinely love me as their teacher and I genuinely love them as my students! I can really see how rewarding being a teacher will be. I also have 2 little girls in 1st grade who run up to me every morning in carpool and give me the biggest hugs. How excited do you have to be about seeing someone to literally run to them in the morning and give them a hug! It seriously warms my heart to have students like this and shows me exactly why I came into teaching.

I am excited about the last few weeks and intend to finish strong as I approach May 4th, my last day as a student teacher.