Final Wrap-up : Family

I never knew that in six weeks time it was possible to grow so close to a family of strangers. Tonight marks my final night with that host family who graciously accepted me into their home. It is hard for me to think of those goodbyes tomorrow. I have to thank Ashland University for finding this family. Living with them has felt like complete home, as if I never missed a step, and never had the opportunity to feel home sickness. 

While spending time with this family, they spoiled both myself and the other Ashland intern as if we were their own children. On most weekends we spent our time outside or at one of the four Disney parks. I must admit, going back to the Disney parks after five years was such an incredible experience. Although it does take some patience, to look at the sparkling eyes of the children witnessing a dream come true, was truly magical. Each adventure into a park provided me with another opportunity to explore my own childhood imagination and experience a new type of "magic" and passion that does not exist merely in the movies.

I could talk about the magic of the parks for entries upon end, so I think that I should continue on to other experiences that I have had here in Celebration. Many days after school the other AU intern and I would lay outside by the pool, ride our bikes to downtown, or drive to downtown Disney and walk around for a few hours. We looked for something to do outside, to help us relax after a long day at school. Soaking up sunshine brought back a positive attitude in myself that the winter grays had hidden away. 

Other experiences that we had while in Celebration, Florida include : wild boar hunting, riding air boats, visiting parks, going to the beach, and so much more. After living through this experience, I can honestly say that I wish I had chosen the 12 week experience instead of merely 6. However, if I have learned anything from this experience it is that I have truly found where I want to teach. After graduation, there are three of the AU interns that are returning to Florida for a career fair, where we hope to apply, and earn our spot in the Florida education system.

Final Wrap-up : Schools

It is hard to believe, but this is my final night in Celebration, Florida. Tomorrow marks my last day in the school, and it is much more difficult for me to leave than I originally had thought. With that said, and my final moments in view, I feel it is appropriate to do a few wrap-ups summarizing the moments that taught me the most.

The diversity at Celebration High School is much different from any high school I had been to before. There are students from every background at the school. Whether they be Caucasian, African American, Latino, or other ethnicity; whether they be from a wealthy family, or a less fortunate one; they are all so diverse from one another. Many of the students that I have speak Spanish as well. The majority of them also speak English, but it is very common to catch side chatter in Spanish during class.

I think that the most crucial lesson I have learned from Celebration is classroom management. That does not mean to say that I am the master of controlling my students, because that only comes with years of experience. I feel more confident in my abilities now. There have been multiple students during my time at Celebration that have challenged my authority, and questioned my teaching methods. With help from my mentor teacher and past field experiences, I have discovered new tips and tricks to working through those challenges.

One of the most positive aspects of the school system here is the faculty. Eating lunch daily with the English department is the most relaxing portion of the day. They are such a fantastic group of teachers, who share ideas with one another, share resources, and are generally concerned for their co-workers well being. The atmosphere among the faculty is so reassuring. These educators are there because they love to teach. Many of them have come from other professions for that purpose. In fact, the creator of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal works at this very school. Being around professionals who have such great personalities and a passion for teaching created a dream environment for an internship.

Teacher Days

As the days go by, the more comfortable I am beginning to feel in the classroom. Today marked my first observation by a University supervisor. It also marked my first time teaching a Socratic seminar in a high school setting. A Socratic seminar is one that is mainly student led, where they ask and respond to one another. In order to prepare for the observation third period, I was allowed to teach first period. Teaching the seminar was an interesting experience. With each class I learned new questions, and new ways to guide the students in a certain direction, while still allowing them to have their opinions on the text. Overall, today (Thursday) I was allowed to teach four of the six class periods, the most I have taught in one day thus far.

With that update in place, I would like to dedicate the remainder of this post to describing the high school in more detail. Teaching in Florida, although similar in some ways, is very different from that of Ohio schools. The high school itself is comprised of seven buildings. Within each building is a different subject, or area of the school. For instance, one building is dedicated to administration, another the library, and another the gym. The only inside hallways are those for individual subjects. To get to each indoor hallway of classrooms, the students walk outdoors. The school itself has the feeling of a small campus. There are gates surrounding the entrance, and the buildings form themselves around a stone patio area. It allows the students a safe environment with the freedom of moving around and enjoying the outdoors.

Another interesting difference is learning about the programs, as well as tests, within the district. One program that my mentor teacher is a part of is entitled AVID. This is a program that is designed for students who are "at risk" or on the edge of attending college. These students have specific AVID classes designed to help them with study skills, as well as extra tutoring in areas needed. Due to the fact that many of my students are AVID, I am still learning about the program on a daily basis.

The second program that is different from Ohio schools is the International Baccalaureate, or IB program. In the English department, IB classes are supposed to be the second highest in degree of difficulty. From what I have learned on the program thus far, it is designed as a cross curricular program. This means to incorporate sciences, histories, and math into an English curriculum. There are specific goals that this program must follow, but overall it is a program designed to challenge students into a well rounded individual.

Thus far, these programs are the only major difference from Ohio to Florida schools. I am hoping to study and gather more information on these programs and how they affect the intellectual and personal development of the students. With only four weeks left in my stay in Florida, it may be a bit challenging, but it is still important to better understand the school district in which I'm in.

Teaching Beloved

This week marked the first time I would be teaching in a Celebration classroom. It is very strange to have only met the students a few days ago and already be teaching them. Tuesday my classes began the unit on Toni Morrison's novel Beloved. It is the brutal and horrifying work of fiction, loosely based on the life of Margaret Gardner, a slave from Kentucky who escaped to Ohio. The introductory lesson was a PowerPoint, and after observing for four periods, I was given the opportunity to co-teach in periods four and five. The co-teaching went very well and even the "trouble" class was very receptive and finished their worksheets entirely.

Today (Wednesday) was the day that I taught my first full class period. The lesson was discussing what happened in the first chapter, which is also one of the most confusing if you have never read the novel before. We made a full character web for the students and had them copy the chart, and then we discussed each character as a class. I taught both periods three and five, allowing me both fourth and lunch to evaluate one lesson from the next. Below is the web:

During period three I unfortunately ended and came to find that there was eleven minutes left in the class. I attempted to have them read their homework, but the lesson did not end as I had intended. With this in mind, I diligently paid attention to my mentor during the class in between. I wanted to evaluate what she had discussed that was not talked about during the prior class, and that I could carry on to the next class. Teaching period five went much more smoothly. I had a clear focus, as well as better transitions between each individual character. Although there was a few minutes left to spare at the end (six to be exact), the students were specifically instructed not to pack until the ring of the bell. By the end, the majority of the students had started, or had nearly finished, one of their weekend homework assignments.

Overall, it was an experience. Teaching a unit on a novel is not something that I have done before. It will be a challenge to work alongside my mentor and make sure the students are heading in the right direction, but I am willing to take that challenge. With Friday being an in service day, the AU interns headed to one of the Disney resort beaches to watch fireworks over the castle. It was an excellent way to wind down after a long first week, and a long first day of teaching. There are many more experiences to come, and I am very excited for them all.

The First Day

Today marked the first day of school for the Ashland Interns. It was certainly interesting to say the least. We began the morning bright and early, only to be greeted by someone who had no idea interns were coming. Needless to say the morning brought with it lessons of patience and flexibility, but in the everything worked out.

The other Ashland intern and I were given the choice between two teachers. It was a difficult decision, because both had such different teaching styles and both had different classes. After we met with them both, we headed to a local lunch with our University supervisors and the other interns. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we ate underneath the awning of a downtown restaurant. It was here the decision was made about which mentor teachers we would select and returned to the school to let them know which mentor had who.

I am pleased to say that I will be teaching six full periods of eleventh grade honors English. What is even more thrilling is that the texts we are reading include Beloved, The Sun Also Rises, and The Great Gatsby. Thanks to the education I have received over the years, I have read all three texts, but I am going to have to work vigorously to re-read them before the students. Aside from my classroom, what pleases me most is the layout of the school. All of the hallways are outside. The seven buildings that comprise the high school are in an oblong shape, and in the middle portion is "the beach," or the concrete patio portion in which students walk to classes and hang out before school.

Overall, I have a positive outlook on the remainder of my experience. What is most nerve racking is that we begin to take over one period by Thursday, and three periods by next Wednesday. I am hopeful that I can make this happen, but it is still very little time to prepare so many lesson plans.

Let the Celebration Begin!

It is difficult for me to believe that my Senior year is coming to a close. What is even more difficult is wondering and hoping about my life after graduation. Yesterday I arrived in Celebration, Florida to begin my student internship. How do I even begin to describe what I have already seen and what has already happened? The answer need only be that this is going to be one of the most incredible things in my life.

Celebration, Florida is a community unlike any other. The entire community looks as if it belongs in a story book.  The houses are absolutely stunning. While I am down in the area, I will be living with a host family and another Ashland intern. The family took us on a bike ride around the town, to help us get a better feel of the community. Although it may be difficult to explain, it is both the feel of a large city and a small town. While the city itself may be large in number, walking and riding around down town feels like a small town community. Everyone is sitting and dining outside, others are fishing off the pier, while others still are just sitting and admiring the view. 

Other pathways of the trails took us through "forests" of palm trees and other native plants. It was a surreal experience. It is hard for me to believe that it has only been a little over 24 hours here, and I already feel a sense of home. Hannah is the other intern here with me, and we have both begun to develop a liking for this town. On Monday we enter the high school. I hope that it is a wonderful experience, because as of now, I can picture a future here. 

There will be more to come, as the adventure itself has only just begun.