Reflection week 1

University of Puerto Rico in Humacao English Department Shirlenne Peralta 842-07-6270 Practice Teaching Practice Supervisor- Dr. Nilsa Lugo

REFLECTION #1 August 18-22, 2014 The first day I had to report to my practice center was a horrible experience for me, because the day before I was feeling real sore from by back and I took everything I knew to make it better, muscle relaxers, I made my mom massage my back. I even googled how to sleep correctly for a lower back spasm and followed the instructions, but the inevitable came; I woke up and could barely get out of my bed. I was taking little steps and almost crying doing it, since I woke up at 5am I took another relaxer to see if by 6:30 I would be better, but I wasn’t. I didn’t know if the Practice supervisor was awake so I waited until 7am and called her to say I couldn’t be able to attend my first day. I went to the hospital, got shots and medicine and a two day rest, but the next day I was feeling slightly better so I went anyways because I was excited to meet my students and I didn’t want to be behind.

The first thing I did was meet the Director. Her name is Rosemary Lopez. I gave her my presentation letter and also a copy of my medical excuse for the day before. The director welcomed me in and agreed to be interviewed later on that day. The interview went great. I felt I got to know her more and I gathered some interesting facts about her too. She was pretty nice and welcomed me with a warming personality. The faculty that day at least, wasn’t all that sympathetic but they weren’t mean either. They walked in the office, some said good morning without a smile, others just smiled and others punched in and left, except for Ms. Matos who saw me and Jaileen and got excited and asked us if we were the practice students. The rest of the week I started introducing myself to the faculty and saying good morning with a smile even If I

didn’t receive one back and it worked. I don’t know all their names yet, but the interviews have helped.

Then I met Ms. Gina. She seemed like a great teacher and you can usually tell by the way the students treat her. I had been observing the sixth graders at my orientation time because there was a slight mess in the school and Ms. Gina’s capacitation hour and our orientation hour was being occupied because of that school change. Then I met Jaileen’ s group and they were very active at first but days after they changed a couple of students who were the most disorderly and placed them in my classroom and now her classroom is so much calmer. After I met her group I went to do some interviews. I met the lunchroom manager her name was Maria del Carmen. She let me know what her job was and a few details about the cafeteria’s workers. Then it was time to observe my group. I didn’t get to meet my third graders until the third day because their homeroom teacher was sick. When I saw them entering into the class I felt mixed feelings. I was excited and I was scared. These kids could intimidate, but I didn’t let it show. Ms. Gina introduced me to the group and told them I would be their new teacher. Some reacted surprised, others excited, and some just complained and said, but Ms. Gina I want you to be my teacher.

Gina told them she would still be in the classroom but that I was going to be the one teaching them.

The group already learned my name but I’m still learning theirs. Working with my third graders is going to be I believe my biggest challenge. Some have attitudes and others are very disorderly. They seem really hard to control but I believe in my capacities. It might take a while but I hope I can be able to control them, teach them and I hope to earn their respect, love, and trust.