I am nearing the end of week 2 of institute in LA and I have officially stepped into my class room with 2 other exceptional individuals who share the responsibility of teaching 12 students for the summer.  Together we form a 3 person collaborative that teaches a 3 hour afternoon block.  This week I have taught the middle block and have been responsible for math, science, and outdoor time. Which to pre-k students means sorting shapes, playing red light, green light and calendar lessons. I know, funny right?

While I can’t possibly give you all of the details in this short post I can give you some highlights:

1. “Mr. Myles, can I tell you a secret? I’m going to be a superhero!”

2. “Ok class, next I’m going to need you in the smart car position sitting quietly with your eyes on me.  When I tell you to, you will stand up in place, then walk quietly to the door facing Ms. Margaret until I tell you to go outside. Can I have a volunteer to show the class what I want you all to do?”

3. “You need to sit down, Right-Now!” (Child cries and I feel so bad)

4. 1:30am- “Done! Now to print this off. All I got to do now is wake up in 4 hours”

5. “How do you explain to a 4 year old how you hear sound???”

6. Friend teaching high school-”So, what are you even teaching in Pre-K?”. Me- “Well today I taught them how to put shapes in a bowl based on their color and then based on their shape. And we played duck, duck, goose. Yea, pretty tough stuff”

7. BBM conference with other corp members- “So, I got to my classroom to check it out for Tuesday and there is a key stuck in the door. Security says it won’t be a locksmith here until Tuesday between 8am-5pm; so, we might have to teach outside on the first day. TFA= flexibility???”

Overall, I have had a great time and learned a lot of great techniques.  The best way to decribe the daytime is “Teaching 101/ On-the-job training” which means from 8-11am I learn how to teach then I teach from 12-3pm. Then I have another 90 minute session at 4:15. Lastly, I go home and do around 4-6 hours of lesson planning a night. The dorms look like my college undergrad library during finals time with dozens of people in each corner in huddles rigerously planning except here finals week is everyday. Weekends are fast but fun times where we are all reliving our college lifestyles trying to take our minds off of the stress of the week passed and the week approaching.

Next week look for another post. The next one will likely be on a classroom story (hopefully a victory of academic progress). Until then, be blessed!