i've only just begun...

I have started my student teaching!
Well, not the actual teaching part. So far, I have observed & tried to learn names.

On my first day, one [male] student walked into the classroom & remarked, "Oooh - you got a female student teacher?! Your class is gonna be better now."

Our schedule is:
1st period - study hall
2nd period - English 3 (juniors)
3rd period - AP English (seniors)
4th period - English 2 (sophomores)
5th period - lunch
6th period - prep
7th period - English 3
8th period - AP English

I've already learned that it is awesome having a prep period right after your lunch period. :)

The class sizes vary from day to day. For example, the morning session of English 3 is supposed to have 28 students. We have 15 on a good day. The English 2 class should have 20 students, but 8 show up regularly.

I've had a little experience now reading some of the students' essays. . . when they bother to turn them in. I don't even know what to say about the writing levels. "Substandard" would be an understatement.

But I love the kids already. Love them.
They are so funny & helpless & misguided.
What's not to love?