It has been two weeks at NBMS and I am loving the relationship I have with my CT. It's kind of funny because I am her first student teacher and she is my first CT for the middle school. Yes, I've been with other CT in the middle school but she is the first that I see day in and day out. She is a teacher by day and an amazing mom by night. I give her so much credit for all she does. I felt the need this week to take a little time out of my TC life and dedicate some appreciation to her.
Mrs. Jerome is not your average 6th grade teacher. She went back for her teacher degree after majoring in fashion. She told me recently that fashion wasn't a career where helping people mattered. She lived the fashion life for a very short time until she decided she wanted to help people. It's funny and ironic because that's why I wanted to become a teacher. I wanted to help people. Not just the people that needed help but also the people who didn't think they needed help.
Although we spend a lot of our time working separately, Mrs. Jerome and I are getting to know each other day by day. This week she took a hit pretty hard from the head of the department about her 7th grade literacy class. The class has quite a few behavioral issues and Monday was the day she reached a break through! The students were working and quiet! All thanks to a little bit of music. At one point the school social worker and assistant principal came in to drop something off to my CT. They were happy with the students and their hard work. The class is a double block literacy class. IT can be somewhat draining for the students because of the block. Two periods of grammar would drive anyone at their age a little crazy.
When it came time for our prep period, Mrs. Jerome and I were visited by the department head. She wanted to give my CT "kudos" for the behavior of the students. At the beginning of the year the department head came in to help teach the students about respect to improve their behavior. We were both pleased to hear this, however, it wasn't all good news. The song that was playing while the students were working wasn't a song the assistant principal would have chosen. The radio was on 92.3fm which is a very reliable station with no swearing. Both my CT and I were a little confused at all of this.
Just after the department head left I could see the defeat in my CT's eyes. She then told me about the horrible news she received over the weekend about a friend from high school that had passed in a car accident. I couldn't believe she not only came to school but also didn't breakdown after the surprise meeting. I couldn't help but tell her about my brother and his struggles as a teacher with administration. I could see a little light in her eyes but just barely.
For the rest of the week I tried really hard to break the wall a little more between my CT and I. By Wednesday we had both been able to have a little bit of laughs and share a little more of who we were. It came as a surprise to me when she told her I was a confident person. I like to pretend that I am a confident person and somewhat confident teacher but I don't think it shows as much as I would like it to. When she told me it showed in both my overall personality and as a teacher I couldn't thank her enough. She then voiced to me about her insecurities about being a CT. I told she was doing a great job and no matter what we're in it together! It's so funny to me because I thought I was the only one with the insecurities at this point but I was wrong. We both mentioned we were merely doing what felt natural to us. I like to think it has been working out well for us.
Not only is my CT a great teacher but she is also a great mom. She is there for her two sons all the time. She tells me all the crazy stories her oldest does and says being 6 years old. He sounds like the type of kid I'd want to hang with for a day. I recently met her youngest and I can't help but want to put him in a swing and push him all day. She seems like the type to have it together but she is constantly telling me she doesn't.
I like to think this semester is going to really shape not only myself but also my CT. I feel like we are both going to be there for each other in very different ways. I hope that I will learn from her skills and that she will take away some of the confidence I never knew showed. Not only do I think we are a great match in the classroom but in general I can be myself around her. We have the same sense of humor and style. Our laugh is probably the funniest thing the students have heard separately and not together they can't get enough of it. Finally, they think we are related. When she told one of our sixth graders, "You only think we're related because we're two white ladies with curly hair" I knew it was meant to be.
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