Today was my first day of my early education fieldwork experience for my Introduction to Education course. My major is Social Sciences Education and ideally I would like to teach 8th grade American History.
At first I was nervous about the fieldwork experience. I'm very shy and I get nervous and quiet, especially in these sort of situations and with public speaking. Of course, teaching is ALL about public speaking. I know I am going to have to take some extensive public speaking courses to help me get over this. I was also nervous about the kids. Everyone says that middle school grades are the worse. The kids are going through puberty so they are at that awkward stage. Plus I look like I'm 12 so I wasn't looking forward to people thinking I was a student (which is why I made sure that I looked like a teacher, in professional attire and heels that were like feet death traps). But all my fears and nerves were settled.
I love the class I was placed in! Its 6th grade World History. Although I love History, I prefer American far over World. But after being in the class I see that if I were to have to teach World History I would love it. It still allows creativity to a certain extent, plus learning about the fall of the greatest empire can be more intriguing than the Reconstruction era for children.
The kids aren't too crazy. I observed my cooperating teacher and her teaching strategies and classroom management techniques. I will definitely implement those methods into my own classroom, years from now.
I even got to "tutor" a girl who was having a really hard time with her math homework during the planning period. Math is not my subject, by far, but I felt good explaining it to her in a way that she understood it.
All in all, this fieldwork experience is intended to see if I am cut out for being a teacher...and after today, I really think I am. :)
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