Bode Week 11

          I started a knitting club for my first graders since the school only offered knitting to the 4th, 5th, and 6^th graders. So many first students were interested in knitting but weren’t allowed because they weren’t old enough so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to get involved in the school. The librarian at Ray is in charge of the knitting club for the older students and instructed me on how to get started and what I would need, etc. I already had a good idea of what to do since my mom actually teaches the knitting club at her school were she teaches. When the librarian was going on basic information she informed me that I should take only 1 students at a time to begin and add one every week but only take 5 students total otherwise I wont be able to focus on every student. I didn’t listen very well because I had received notes from 8 students who were interested in joining and I really didn’t want to say no to anyone. I began the club with only 4 students, it wasn’t 1 student like the librarian instructed but at least it wasn’t all of them. Some of the students who were interested I wasn’t sure if it was because their parents needed an after school activity for them to do or if they were genuinely interested. I think I quickly learned the dynamics of running an after school club. The 4 girls I started off with were excellent learners but it took a lot of patience from them and me to try to make sure everyone got a turn to learn and watch how to knit---maybe I should’ve listened to the librarians advice. 

            What I felt was most important here is that this club is teaching me how to manage a little after school club and see how much time it takes to prepare for the club but also make sure you are mentally prepared for the needs of the students especially little ones trying to learn how to do a complicated thing like knitting. The librarian even told me that she was worried the first graders wouldn’t be able to do it but I had faith they could and someone needed to give them the opportunity to learn how to knit! What I took from this experience and am still learning is that you really get to know the students on a different level when you work with them in an after school club. As a student teacher this has been an awesome opportunity for the students to see me as an authority figure in and outside of school but also someone who they can like and work with on fun things like knitting. I really want to maintain that relationship and that is something that is my main goal throughout this internship year, authority but kind. The knitting club has not only given me an opportunity to get involved in the school and get the students involved but also allow myself to practice being that authority figure in and outside of school and getting to know the students through a learning activity like knitting.