Ashley+Boyd


 * Genre Reflection #5**
 * 4-3-11**
 * When I look back on this experience, I realize that the time I’ve spent in a middle school classroom has taught me more than almost any class at KSU. I felt prepared for my 6th grade “angels” don’t get me wrong, but the ideal classroom we imagine in our college classes doesn’t exist. I found that one of my students walked to school every morning…if he wanted to come that day at all. I discovered when students leave almost none of them will give the homework a second thought until they walk in the next day.**


 * Yet, I also know that students will share their writing if they are encouraged and not afraid to do so. In addition, just because students don’t understand something—like what revising an assignment actually means—may not be because they are “dumb” or “stupid” as I heard too often throughout my experience; the students may have never been taught what revision really means—don’t discount their knowledge before trying to give them an example or a simple explanation first.**   Girl, I could not agree with you more about how having been in a middle school has been so educational. It just taught me so much about people in general. I feel like we are prepared for either the ideal classroom, or told that because we are white and female, we have no chance of relating to a more diverse group of students (thank you 2010/2020). I'm glad that you took all the troubles you had and instead of becoming defeated or just changing yourself, you took it in stride and mentally made a list of what not to do. There is a process to learning and it is the teacher's job to help with that process...oddly, this is something some people forget or don't care about.-Bethany 4/4  Ashley, I absolutely feel that this experience has made me more preapred to be a teacher than anything we have done thus far at KSU. I know that you and I have had similar experiences, and I must say, I am super proud of both of us for getting through it-- and not only did we get through it, but we are both able to look back and see why the struggles we've gone through are so important and, in the long run, will make us better teachers. I think it's so funny how expectations can be sooo off base. A wise man once said, "Ya don't always get what ya want... ya get what ya need." And this experience has made that ring more true than ever for me. There is no doubt in my mind that we've been put through the ringer this semester for a reason, and our future students will be the ones to benefit from it. So, cheers to you for making the best out of a not so great situation! And, perhaps someday soon we can replay that toast with a margarita in our hands! ~Lauren

Dear Second Period, Over the past two weeks, you have taught me more than the past 3 years in college ever have. You taught me to expect the unexpected, and although I may say 10439847389267235 times to bring your journal with you to class everyday—you will still forget it in your book bag. I have learned your quirks as a class. I know that you love to talk out of turn, and you find having to raise your hand to speak an inconvenience if anything. In the ten days we have had together, all 23 of you have taught me that I do indeed have patience which I thought I lacked. Not only did I find patience deep within I found compassion to listen to how you didn’t complete the homework because you had a headache, left your notebook in your car, took a walk through the neighborhood, or my favorite… didn’t know we completed homework at home. You all have made me laugh when I taught point of view and you made the comparison that Santa can be a stalker if writing in third person omniscient, and you made me cry when I read your writing assignment and you wrote about your choice to walk to school or not go to school that day. You have given me so many gifts over the past weeks, and for those gifts I will forever be thankful.

Sincerely,

Miss. Boyd

Ashley, This letter was a touching response to the types of students that you have dealt with over the last few weeks. I love the part about the student that said they didn't know homework was to be completed at home! Kids will come up with anything it seems like to tell a teacher just so they don't have to complete assignments. I believe that you will make a great teacher and by knowing that you have patience you didn't think that you had is a great tool that you will take to the classroom. I also love the fact that you tell them they have given you so many gifts over the past few weeks. I truly believe that students give the gift of hope to teachers so that we teachers can make the best of students success in life. Great letter, Ashley! <span style="color: #5d135d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">---Molly Davenport 3/23/11

<span style="color: #5d135d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It is so funny to think about how much the students teach us...and it is all stuff that simply cannot be taught in a classroom at KSU. I love how to mention their "quirks" because that is just so true. No matter what, each class is going to be different because each person in the room is so different. That is probably one of the coolest things to see as a teacher, or TOSS student...whatever we are now. I'm glad that you got "so many gifts" from your students and that you have not lost your desire to teach, instead taking your troubles and growing stronger because of it. Good job and good luck with the next week and a half!

<span style="color: #5d135d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Bethany 3/23/11 <span style="color: #5d135d; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;"> Ashley, I love this letter. I feel my patience has been tested during my intern expereince. I love how you captured the crazy excuses that students have come up with.I feel I have heard it all during my 3rd period class. I have to say if I had to do it all over again I would. These students taught me so much about myself and who I want to be as a teacher. As much as they were a handful they also stole my heart. ---Natalie Christiani 3/24/11

Ashley, I absolutely loved this letter to your class. I agree I have learned SO much from my students which I really wasn't expecting going into the internship. I agree some of the excuses I hear amaze me. I can't help, but think how creative they are sometimes. Your students are so lucky to have you! See you soon. -Lizabeth

Ashley, I think the reason why this letter is so great is because it really works to sum up what all of us are feeling. Yes, the experience has been trying. Yes, the experience has made us scream out of frustration. But at the end of it all, we'll walk away with so much gained that it really makes the whole thing worth it. And I particularly like this piece because I have learned so much from my students, and its a bit funny when you think about it considering my purpose in the class was to teach //them// something. The other day, it suddenly dawned me on me that our time with is nearly up, and I found myself more than a bit sad. Awesome job! -Adriana

The Façade In they walk Their steps hitting the ground They sound like a stampede of elephants. I’m not ready for this. I can’t breathe. Hang on…. Okay, there’s some oxygen. They sit down. Their journals are out on their desks. “Do we HAVE to do the warm-up, Miss. Boyd?” The million dollar question. “Yes.” They must do the warm-up. Can they see my fear at this point? Can they see through this facade? I’m just a student Standing in front of students. All of a sudden words… Somehow they make their way out of my mouth. “Today, we are going to talk about simple sentences” 70 minutes, 4,200 second later They are out the door. Homework in hand. Did I fool them? I think… They think… I’m a teacher.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Dear Ashley: 70 minutes worth of simple sentences, eh? Madness, but knowing you, you pulled it off. Teaching feels like a stage production everyday. God love those people who stay and perfect their techniques for thirty years. If only the public knew how much heart and soul goes into teaching. I have yet to visit other classrooms, and my CT has set me up with the good, bad, and the ugly. I can't wait to get your opinions on the "journal" concept. Do you think it is over-used? I have heard students say, "Not that dumb thing again." I am interested to know, are you reading interesting literature along side the journal writing? I like how you used the simile "herd of elephants" to describe the tremendous energy that fills the halls. Don't worry, they do thin of you as a teacher. Jody Thomas 3/10/11

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">I feel ya on the "facade" idea. I am so afraid they are going to think I'm not a real teacher, or that I am not actually teaching them something...or that I am teaching them the wrong thing. I had to sit at the teacher lunch table today and I felt like I was in the wrong place. How do you think they are handling simple sentences? By the way, when you put the 70 minutes in terms of seconds, it seems like forever, but when you are teaching, it is like 70 minutes still isn't enough! Good luck with it all! Bethany 3/10/11

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">﻿Ashley, I loved this. I think you've done such a great job articulating the fears that we're all feeling. And I loved how honest you were. 'Did I fool them? I think...They think...I'm a teacher'. Great stuff! Its almost like, on the one hand, you want to stand up there and blow their socks off with how cool and confident you // want // them to think you are. And on the other hand, you almost want to plead with them not to penalize you for not being good enough. But I guess it is all a part of the process. I can't wait for the day when all of this feels natural....or at least, less natural. :) -Adriana Vanderheyden

This is great, Ashley. I really love this stream of consciousness style. I go through the emotions with you as I read each line, and I literally feel my heart start to race, because it describes exactly how I feel about playing this role of teacher in front of real live kids! That's exactly what I'm thinking when I'm in front of these kids... "Am I fooling them?" "Do they really think I belong here?" I have never more understood Dr. Montgomery's statement that teaching is a performance: I rehearse, dress the part, hope my improv skills are up to par, and then cross my fingers for a good review. I can't wait for the day that I feel like I deserve to be in this starring role, instead of living every day like it's an audition. I hope your internship is going well and can't wait to hear the great stories that you will surely have for us when we get back to class! -Lauren

Ashley, This is amazing. I love how you pretty much summed up my and I'm sure everyone else's thought process. The first week of teaching all of those thoughts were running through my head. I love the statement "I'm just a student standing in front of students." That is exactly how I felt along with the anxiousness and slight panic. Awesome job, I can't wait to hear your stories! - Lizabeth