My first real challenge…
With an observation experience under my belt I wanted to know more about what it’s like to be a teacher. In pursuing more experience I began to work at an after school program at Lindenwold School #4. The after school program was three hours every day after school. Initially I was paired up with another colleague my age on trial basis until the program coordinator considered me prepared for my own class. The program included students grades kindergarten to fourth grade and the majority of my colleagues were roughly my age about 17-21 years of age. I came in the middle of the year for my first year, so I had to get acclimated to the policies, procedures, and just the everyday occurrences of the program. At first it was a little difficult getting to know the students name and their personalities as well as their likes/dislikes and overall what kind of student they were.
I was assigned to the kindergarten room the first day until the end of the year. I was a little nervous about handling kids at such a young age but I was ready for the challenge. Initially the colleague in charge allowed me to take attendance and do the little things like hand out snack and take the kids outside for their recess period. But the days grew older the kids wore on me more. I knew names, like/dislikes, attitudes, and just common tendencies and eventually it felt like I was in charge. The class became mine. From the time we got in the classroom to the time their parents came to pick them up I was their afterschool teacher. I helped with homework, threw the football around with them outside during playtime, did small projects such as paintings for the hallways, and to wind down the day we had story time. Soon the kids were coming to me for anything they needed. All day I heard “Mr. Bill, Mr. Bill.” But my development of becoming a potential teacher didn’t stop there…