Friday, September 23, 2011

Having Fun!

This is a mini update of sorts on my student teaching experience. 

First off...someone got bit by a snake.  Don't worry!!!  It wasn't one of the kiddos.  We were having a presentation and the animal handler got bitten by her own snake. It all happened really quickly.  Needless to say, that organization probably will not be coming back to The Children's Center anymore.  That's the most interesting thing that has happened so far.  I have also been able to go on two outings.  One to the Oklahoma Science Museum, the other to see Thomas the Train at the Oklahoma Railway Museum.

Second...(this could take a while, but hopefully not)...
There are several people whom I go to church with, that also work at The Children's Center.  I see 3 or 4 people everyday who I know very well and see regularly at church.  As I was walking down the hallway during transport the other day, I passed one of the ladies in the hall.  I said hello, and she said, "I just want you to know that every time I see you these days you look like you're having so much fun.  You just seem happy." 

I don't know if she was implying that I didn't look like I was having fun or happy before, but I have really been thinking about what she said.  When I found out I would be student teaching at The Children's Center, I was excited, nervous, anxious, scared, etc.  Basically I felt the whole range of emotions that one can feel when getting ready to experience something completely new.  The first few days were overwhelming.  Like I said in the earlier post, there is so much to learn and take in.  Even after three weeks, I am still making lots of mistakes.  I get confused and lose a lot of self-confidence.  I finally realized that, no matter how many mistakes I make, how many times I forget some procedure, how many times I feel like I will NEVER get it, she was absolutely right.  Whether or not she thought I was happy before, I am really happy at The Children's Center.  I am having a blast.  Definitely loving every minute of it. 

Seriously, though, how can you NOT love a kid like this?...


Sunday, September 4, 2011

Time Marches On

Sometimes, when life gets going so fast, I feel like I need to crawl into bed and hide under the covers to make everything slow down (...because obviously, time stops when I go to bed.  I'm that important...in my mind.)   Life has been like that lately.  It seems to be zooming by and I am not able to catch up with it all.  My little bloggy world has suffered because of it.  Not only have I not been able to write on my blog, I also haven't taken the time to catch up on the blogs I follow.

I have learned that time marches on, though, whether I am hiding under the covers or not.  So, now it is time to play catch up.  My last post was in June.  How sad. 

On August 25, I started my last semester of classes.  (Seriously, this time, no more school.  I'm tired of being in school.  It's been a long, long time.)   On September 1, I started student teaching.  As a special education major, my degree is K-12.  I have to student teach in two placements for around 7 week each. 

My first placement is at the Children's Center in Bethany, Oklahoma.  I can't describe the facility better than they already have, so watch this video to learn a little bit about the place that has stolen my heart. 


I have been there only two days already and I have fallen in love.  I wish I could tell you about each and every one of my students. (There are 23.)  Unfortunately, because it is a hospital, everything is extremely confidential and I can't share. 

I have already learned so much, though.  Teaching at the Children's Center is not just teaching.  There is so much involved with just getting students to class each hour.  Some students need oxygen tanks.  Some students have all kinds of extra equipment for their tracheotomy.  Most students come with a pulse oximeter that monitors the heart rate and oxygen of the student. 

It is so much to take in and so much to learn.  I'll keep you updated on how its going!