The 4th Grade

For the past 8 weeks, I have had a co-teaching partner, Kailynn, and we had been participating in a field experience at a school in Waterloo.  Let me tell you, the 4th grade is NOTHING like what I remembered it to be!

We spent about half of our 3 hours, 4 days a week in math.  Seriously, some of this math stretched my brain a little bit.  I was glad I worked with fractions with my 5th grader last semester!  The other half of the time was spent teaching a small group.  Our focus was literacy.

Our last day was Friday.  We were excited for the experience to be over so we could have a much needed break.  All week, the students were asking if we were done, and if we were ever coming back.  They clung to us every day begging us not to go.  Talk about a tug on the heartstrings!  We came later.  We didn't want to be a part of math on our last day!  On our way to the school, we stopped to grab some cupcakes to help celebrate.

When we got to the school, the usual secretaries weren't there, so we actually had to tell the lady our names.  When we got to our mentor teacher's room, we gave her a thank-you note before heading to the 4th grade room.  When the door opened, the kids were quietly watching Reading Rainbow.  I got excited and exclaimed, "READING RAINBOW?!"  I was doomed as soon as I opened my mouth!  They ran to us, luckily I was holding cupcakes, so they momentarily gave me time to put them down.  All I saw of Kailynn was her head as they tackled her with hugs.  Then they were on me in the same fashion.  So many hands and arms and squeezes all over.  Then they went back to Kailynn, and then back to me.  Then the cards started to come.  Each student had made a card for each of us.  Seriously, they were the sweetest things!

They had cute little questions, good lucks, animal pictures, and pleas to stay.

This one had 2 cartoon characters drawn on the front and on the inside said, "Sorry there's nothing on the back!"  How cute is that?!

Yes, I do like smoothies!  :)

This is me playing Just Dance.

One of the little girls literally burst into tears and ran out of the room when it was time for us to say good-bye.  They gave us a little bit of grief throughout the 8 weeks, but all in all, this experience was AMAZING! I learned so much and I feel as though I have grown into a more confident pre-service teacher.  I had a wonderful co-teaching partner and a great mentor teacher.  I'm excited to see what happens next semester with a similar 8 week field experience, except this one will be at the high school level.