What was the most rewarding work activity you performed this week?

 

The most rewarding work activity this week would be watching the students write their persuasive letters to their favorite restaurants. For the time that I have been working in their class, they have been working on writing persuasive writing. As I work with the students, it is very rewarding to watch them come up with unique ideas and write their best work. I think Ms. Henry and I were very proud for one student who struggles with staying focused and doing his work when he showed us his final letter for his restaurant because he completed by himself and very neatly.  Overall, just working with students in reading, writing, math, and science is extremely rewarding in itself. Seeing students understand something for the first time or use previous knowledge in their work is very gratifying.

 

What have you learned about how you handle stressful work situations?

   

   I have never experienced any stressful work situations yet, but I have learned from Ms. Henry that you always have to be prepared and on your toes. One moment I remember from last week was there was a spider in the meeting area. Of course, some students were scared others were excited, but overall it just caused a commotion and a disruption to the lesson. Ms. Henry and I dealt with the situation very well and used as a learning experience. We asked the students if they wanted to kill it or put it outside, and the vote was put it outside. That moment, for instance, you will never learn how to deal with it in school, so it was a nice learning experience for me.

 

What skills have you acquired at this point that makes you think you will be successful in a

position in this industry?

 

   I have become very confident and comfortable working with students. For me it was hard to develop a line between a fun high school babysitter and a high schooler who would like to learn how to become a teacher; however, I think I have been able to be a little strict when I need to be so the students respect me, but also be a fun person they can read with and work with comfortably. I think that teachers have to develop to sides when they are working with students at that age; a loving side and a strict side. Students need a nurturing person who loves them and cares for them and want them to succeed, but they also need someone who is going to lay down the rules and have control. I think that this internship has helped me see this and develop those two sides.