(via ache)
So. I completed my first sample teach today. When I say first sample teach I mean very first lesson of my future career - planned, practiced, and executed.
I have no background in education as far as actually teaching material. So when I was asked to phone interview a week after my graduation then fly down the following Sunday to sample teach on Monday and fly home on Tuesday, I figured I needed to get into gear.
The kids in NOLA have 2 more days left of school. They’ve checked out for the summer. So when I thought a group of 7th graders would be able to sit through an hour lesson about biomes (which they were quick to tell me, they “already learned this stuff”) I may have been naive in my planning. I thought what I had would suffice. The skeleton was great. 2 plane rides, 2 taxies, and an official sample teach prep session in 19 hours, 8 of which were spent at the office working on making new materials, editing the old, and continually practicing and perfecting my lesson from feedback sessions, proved to be successful.
The Dean, Mr. G (the teacher I’d replace), and another teacher, recommended me to come group interview. 1 step closer. The nerves, waking up at 5:30am thinking about my lesson, trying to go back to sleep but can’t because the words from my lesson are scripted into my daily speech, endless cutting and pasting, printing and copying, searching for supplies last minute and my character (cheesy but true) helped me get to where I am in this process.
But then again I am one of the elite 4,500 2010 Corps Members of Teach For America selected from a record 46,000 applicants.
Job suggestions and positions can be placed before you, but at the end of the day YOU are your biggest advocate.
I know I’m doing something right.
