Teaching in Salt Lake
In the Block our professors arrange for us to go to 3 different schools during the semester to observe and help teach. The main one is here in Cedar that we go to every week and then for one week we went to St. George everyday and then just this past week we spent a week up in Salt Lake observing and teaching.
I have to be honest I was not at all excited to be going up there. For one it is an inner city school and our professors made it sound like the kids were going to be wild and outta control, for two I was going to be staying with the family of one of the girls in the block with me, that I didn't know very well, and for three i've only been to Salt Lake 2 other times in my life before now and have never had much of a desire to go anyway.
So Sunday night after a full day of work, me and two other girls loaded up and headed up the road. The drive wasn't too bad and we made it in good time with a slight detour when trying to find the girls house but we got it figured out.
Monday and Tuesday were observation days to get a feel of the classroom and figure out the routine of the teacher. I lucked out with a great 2nd grade teacher who has some difficult students but has trained the whole class over the year to be really top notch. Wednesday and Thursday were our real test though because every teacher and even the principal were all gone, out of the school completely. All 33 of us block students had taken over the school and we had to do our best to teach and keep everyone safe and in control. Needless to say it was interesting but it turned out ok. We all survived and no one was seriously injured or crying under the desks, the kids were all safe too haha. I also got to do bus duty. When my teacher first said it I thought she just meant stand by the buses and make sure everyone got on ok. Nope. We had to get on the bus and ride the entire route with them! I was not too thrilled doing that but I did it and everything turned out fine.
Some of the more fun things about the trip were going out to eat as a class and chatting with everyone about their experiences. One funny experience was when I was taking my students to lunch, my friend Sidney who was also teaching walked by so of course we talked to each other in passing and then immediately after, one of my students asked if she was my sister. We've been called each other before but never thought much of it until this week and especially on Friday when we were dressed pretty much exactly the same.
Here's some proof, let me know what you think?
Another fun thing was I got a custom spoon ring made for me. The girls dad we were staying with makes and sells them so he was kind enough to makes all one for free! It was so cool watching him do it and he made it look so easy, even though it really wasn't. I seriously love it so much and wear it every day now.
I thought it was a pretty neat story and fun that both names were so close to mine, which makes it a little more special to me. Burt (the guy who made the ring) gave me his business card so if any one is interested in buying one let me know and i'll give you his info. He also makes bracelets, necklaces, and key chains.
So I have to say overall the trip wasn't to bad and I even had fun some of the time. The kids were pretty good and I definitely learned a lot and grew as a teacher just in the one week there. I will never forget this trip and the people I met there. If I had to I would consider doing it again... If I had to ha.
