first day of student teaching = COMPLETED

Hi, I survived my first day! Yes, this is a big accomplishment...okay, not really.

I was a nervous wreck last night...as I knew I would be.  I went to the state fair yesterday with some friends, and I didn't even get home until 12:30.  Well, I tossed and turned all night, obviously.  I had to get up at 6 am to take a shower and make sure everything was ready to go.  I didn't leave until 7:15, which wasn't really LATE but also not when I had planned to leave.  Eek.  I walked into the school around 8:28-ish, went to the office to see what I needed to do, and then had to find my way to my teacher's room.  I got lost, oh...about 3 times, haha.  I finally found it, with the help of some wonderful teachers :)  Ms. L, my first cooperating teacher is wonderful and very laid-back.  We're gonna get along fabulously, I can already tell.  I got a chance to learn the schedule, and she introduced me to her "homeroom" when they were all in the classroom.  They have math "flashbacks" and some beginning activities (like lunch stuff and turning in homework, etc) and then writing.  I had a chance to help with their writing...they're writing a paragraph after interviewing their parents.  I helped a few students proofread, and helped them with run-on sentences, sentence fragments, punctation and spelling mistakes, etc.  At the end of the class, a girl forgot to save her paragraph, so she lost her work and there were a few tears shed.    Is it bad if a student cries on the first day you're there? What if you did nothing to upset the student, they were just upset with the situation? Well, whatever, I was kind of upset for them and felt terrible.  Probably need to work on that in the future...their pain just makes me feel awful.  The students went to Fine Arts (PE/music for today), and I had a bit of time to learn what happens in class, procedures, my requirements, and all that kind of stuff while they were gone.  They had math after that, where I helped 2 girls play a game...then 3rd period they split up and go to Social Studies, Science, or Reading.  I was with Ms. L for Social Studies, and I had a chance to grade a quiz they took.  Then we had Wellness (recess) and lunch, and finally the last 2 blocks of the day. :) I went to science for 4th period, and Reading for 5th.  I mostly observed today, but I can't wait to be more involved.

As I was walking out of the school today, one of the boys who is in like, ALL of my classes said "bye, Ms. Peel!" I love it.

Things I love:
- how safe the school feels
- the hallways and the cutesy names...Perseverance Way, something Cafe, etc.  SO ADORABLE.
- tiny TINY primaries in the hallways. they are SO SMALL compared to the 5th graders
- M, the cutest little boy who is so sweet and so kind
- Ms. L
- Ms. C (my next cooperating teacher :D)
- students saying "bye, Ms. Peel" as I leave!
- "are you married?" "are you a teenager?" hahaha, the things kids ask adults.
- I get to teach social studies!!!!  this is a major relief for me.

I will probably add more to this later, but I feel overwhelmed from the day.  I'm off to eat dinner and then babysit!