Reflection On Level 1 Internship

When looking back at my first internship experience I have to say that I couldn't ask for a better group of students and CT. Every single day at internship I loved being there but there was one challenging thing I did encounter. A few weeks before my last day of internship my classroom got a new student. This student was already in the classroom almost a week before I met him and already was sitting by himself at the front of the classroom. My CT told me that she had to move him because he was talking too much in his group and was distracting the other students. I went up to this student and told him who I was and that I would be in the class once a week and right away he asked me to help him on his work. I thought that it was great that he wanted my help right away so I started to help him. I started to notice that he just wanted me to give him the answers and that he didn't even read the passage. I told him that I would come back to him if he still needed help once he read the story. About ten minutes later and I noticed that he wasn't working. I went over to him and ask him if he was done and if he could show me his work. After reading over his work I asked him to add a little bit more information and without any hesitation he said, "No" to me. Then I said, "Make sure you draw a picture too." and he responded back, "No, I'm good." I told him that my CT/his teacher clearly stated to the classroom that she wanted the class to have a written response and a picture to go along with it. Without even looking up at me he said, "Well I don't feel like drawing a picture, so I'm good." I was so thrown back by his behavior because all the other students never gave me this type of attitude before. I just stayed calm and didn't give him any attitude back. I did go up to my CT and told her about it and asked her what I should do. My CT said that she would talk to him and after their talk he started to do his work and listen. Did he not want to listen to me just because I was new to him and he didn't think of me as his teacher? Was he still trying to adjust to a new school? Does he always act like this? I was just trying to figure it out. That experience by far was the most challenging thing during my internship this semester.

The most enjoyable thing that I have encountered during this semester in internship would have to be my last day there. It was in the morning before school started and the students were coming in. One student always has her parents drop her off at the classroom each morning. Her parents always come in and talk to my CT and say hello. The father of this student came up to me and said, "What is this I'm hearing about it being your last day?" I responded saying, "Oh, it's my last day for this semester but I'll be back in January." and he said, "Okay, good to hear because during bedtime last night our daughter was all upset saying that this was your last day and that she is going to miss you." It was so nice to hear something like that and I never thought that the students went home and talked about me. Also, it was nice to know that her parents wanted me to come back to the classroom too. Then later that day all the students gave me cards saying how much they were going to miss me until January and that I was a great teacher. Even my CT gave me a card saying I did a wonderful job this semester and she couldn't ask for a better intern. I am really critical when it comes to myself and I always worry if I'm doing a good job. Hearing that I am doing a good job from my CT and the students felt great and it just makes me know that all my hard work is paying off.

In my level 2 internship I am really looking forward to be working with the same group of students again. I already know them and how they act so I don't have to waste any time and I can jump right back into things. Also, it will be interesting to see how much they have learned by the end of the year from the very first time I came into the classroom. Also, I am looking forward to doing more lessons with the students and improving on my teaching skills. Overall, level 1 internship went great and I learned a lot and I can't wait to see what level 2 internship has in store for me.

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