Bode Week 12

          This week my mom was the mystery reader for my classroom! She read “Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving” in honor of Thanksgiving this week. My students were so fascinated with my mom and how she was my (the student teacher’s) mom and she was also a teacher at another school near where I live. The students started to make the connection that I want to be a teacher just like my mom is a teacher at a school; this excited them very much. My mom also got to be a part of and see my class event “Author’s Celebration” as a mini celebration for the end of my writing unit where parents come in and see their child’s work they have created in writer’s workshop. This day was a whole day filled with family connections and participation in the school, which I think, is great for children to see. So many students were so proud to share their writing with their families (brothers, sisters, moms, dads, etc) and it was really cool to see that even as you get older (like myself) your family is still involved in your life. Several students don’t have older siblings so they see me as someone who isn’t as old as a grown up but still an adult. When they realized my mom was visiting me and supporting me even as I get older you could tell they were fascinated by me even having a mom. (1^st graders think you must be so old your parents aren’t alive and you already have a family and kids of your own)

            In my opinion, what is important here was the students seeing family support and involvement even as you get older like myself and my teacher. Some of our students come from difficult backgrounds; parent involvement in the child’s life as they get older may not be present as much. I really enjoyed being an example for the students and being able to teach them about the importance of family as well as seeing that support. My mom was so wonderful to come in and take her time to meet the class and read to them and get involved with their writing celebration, I believe she set a great example for my students. This is a case of setting example for our students as teachers and remembering that it is also important for us to be good role models to the kids. Being a role model is something I believe some teachers forget throughout their careers. My mom, as a third grade teacher, stresses the importance of sharing your own personal experiences with the students and incorporating these experiences into your teaching practices. As part of being a good role model, sharing personal experiences is important but along with that, it is also important to incorporate family life into the child’s to make a school and home life connection. Parent involvement is something that is strived for in every school and I was really proud to be a part of the involvement and include my own family in the Ray school community.