This past year, I have depended a lot of people that I know personally, and some that I have gotten to know better through school this year. Being an art major, I am constantly in the studio working on different pieces art. Through this, I got to know my teachers much better than I would in a lecture class, such as the educational classes. The friendships made with these art teachers are ones that will last for a lifetime. I call and talk to my art teachers at least once a month for no less than an hour each time. It is so good to hear how pieces are coming for them and new forms that they are continuously working on as their try to perfect their identity, or style. This past month, however, I needed to fill out the application for the education department which required me to call my high school art teacher, talking about what is going on in my life, and asking her for a reference agreement. I was so glad for this, because I have not talked to Mrs. Nichols (my high school art teacher) since the day I graduated. I have always wanted to catch up with her, but I never really had a good reason to call her. I imagine that we will keep in contact now after that phone call. I have set up a time over Christmas break to go to her room and observe in my alma matter. It will be a great experience to observe her and the classroom that I was brought up in.
This semester I have also been observing at Goshen Middle School for Kevin Gary's class. Part of the requirements for this class is to attend their Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings. This is time set before school in the mornings to talk with fellow teachers about things going on in the classroom. If these were ran in an orderly fashion, I could see how they would be useful, however, they were unorganized and came up being a waste of our time to go to them. The teachers never seemed to engage themselves in the conversation, as they too thought it was a waste of time.
Something I too have done this year to help me understand things in the education classrooms is to talk to current teachers and student teachers about how they run their classroom, especially the classroom management part of it. Having two parents as teachers, I have really had a great opportunity to learn many things from them and how they do things. However, since they took these classes such a long time ago, I found it to be good to talk to other "teachers" that are my age, and see how the people student teaching feel in the school. One I talked to (names are irrelevant) said she really likes being in the classroom, however, control is something that is more demanding than she imagined it would be. She also was quick to say that I may not have quite the problem with the stature that I bring when I walk into a classroom. "Students are more likely to listen and respect of man of your size!" she said as she laughed. Yet, I still have so anxiety about keeping the students in line when I get into my own classroom.
Finally, this year has been one unlike I have ever experienced in the school setting. I have never been forced to study much in a classroom, due to hearing it once in the classroom from the teacher, and remembering it. Usually, if I hear the teacher once, right down the proper notes, I am fine for learning it. However, arriving at Goshen has forced me into learning in a totally new
environment than I was used to. Having to read everything to learn has caught me in a bind. Irina too is finding herself in the same predicament, as we have the same previous schooling and studying habits. We have decided to team up together, studying for most exams together, and doing projects with each other, as we have noticed other students do not like our style we have been taught at Hesston College, along with some professors. Having someone to study with gives different views for most categories, which helps a great amount when I try to remember things for an exam.
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