WOW, I do not know where to start with this week. My first word choice would definitely have to be unforgettable. Yesterday (Tuesday) 13 students from my class went with the other fourth grade class to Camp Duncan. We went their to explore, work on team work, respecting others opinions, try something new, and ultimately set a goal you would like to reach by the end of the trip.
I am so thankful and grateful that I was able to attend this trip, not only was I able to bond with every single one of my students that went on the trip but I was able to bond with the fourth grade students. It was great to see the students outside of school and see their different skills and personalities come to life. Although, some students were a little unappreciative of this opportunity most students were cheerful, happy and grateful for the opportunity to go on the field trip.
We participated in archery, soccer, rock climbing, a star lab, an orienteering course, volley ball, team building games, trust games, building camp fire, singing camp songs, making s'mores, learning wilderness survival skills and much, much more! The students really enjoyed all the activities and it was great to be apart of them and be on their team, or root for them to reach their rock climbing or archery goal. They really enjoyed seeing the teachers outside of the classrooms as well and seeing us set goals for different activities in which we wanted to reach and be proud of accomplishing.
Another aspect that meant a lot to me was when two parents came up to me (both not parents of my students) and told me that they were very impressed with how I was with the kids and said "not to change one bit when I become a teacher next year. The kids love me the way I am, I am relatable yet still have that level of respect and that is exactly what these kids need. Someone they can talk to, have fun with yet respect when it is time to learn." Hearing that made me feel absolutely terrific and yet it was still not my favorite part.
My favorite part was bonding with each of the students I really never realized how much more you learn about each student when you have the opportunity to be with them and learn about them outside of the classroom. I could not have loved any moment in the past two days more, it was the absolute best field trip I have ever been on. I cannot wait until I am a teacher and I only hope I can take my students on as many field trip opportunities as possible to really bond with them and have them bond with each other like these two classes did over the past two days.
These all sound like great and formative experiences. I think the next in advancing your reflections even further is to think about how you can tie in these experiences to the explicit goals that you have for your students and for yourself as a teacher. What is it specifically that you want to accomplish with students, both in terms of your relationships with them as well as what you want them to learn / think about, and how did this trip tie into these goals, or how can the activities that you did during this trip be linked to the other goals (e.g., other educational goals) that you have for your students? Also, while it is great to receive praise, continue to think about what you are doing with your students, and how you might continue to evaluate and experiment with and advance your instruction and your instructional strategies. It sounds like you are on the road to developing a strong professional career.
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