Molly+Davenport

Molly Davenport Genre Reflection #5 4/1/11

Dear CT:

First of all, I would like to say thank you! You have showed me the meaning of teaching to an advanced level of students and the rewards that come with teaching the lower level classes of students. Okay, that's the second thing I wanted to say. The first thing I wanted to say is I'm going to get your job, lol. Teaching is something that most of the time takes a special type of person to qualify for in order to get and give the best to their students. Students are kids, and kids need attention non-stop. You proved to me that teaching can be an ongoing, life changing experience that you will someday walk away feeling like you touched at least one person for the rest of their life! I watched you for several weeks trying to observe the most of what you had to offer. The number one thing that I observed from you is that you have a heart the size of Earth. Your students know that you will not tolerate misbehavior, but you will do anything in the world for them in hopes that they will succeed. Thank you for giving me an understanding of what it's like to be the teacher and be the role model. I wish you nothing but success in your classroom, and I hope that I am as good of a teacher as you are someday.

Sincerely,

Molly Davenport

Molly,

I joked with my CT that way too. I told her, "You'd better watch out...I'm coming for your job." We would always get a good laugh out of that, and then she would send me to make copies. I can appreciate the relationships we have made in our classrooms, especially our CT's. They can see that we are there because we want to be and they like that. My CT told me that she loves TOSS students and student teachers because she gets to see new teaching strategies and it "re-charged" her batteries. It was a great experience to have conversations with people as equals. I just hope my CT for student teaching has the same passion as my TOSS CT...great job and thanks for sharing!!! Tony :)

Molly- I agree that "teaching can be an ongoing, life changing experience." I could not wait to go to my school, some days more than others, but it made me realize that I could be paid for doing something I love. I could be paid to watch my student's eyes light up when they grasp a concept I am teaching. I'm sure you will be an excellent teacher and I can not wait to hear about your student teaching experience!- Ashley

Molly Davenport Genre Reflection #4 3/23/11

Acronym for Supervisor Mrs. Kriegel:


 * S**trict but in a good way for intern success
 * U**nderstanding about intern issues
 * P**leasant to communicate with
 * E**nsures our education with success
 * R**eceives our complaints without hesitation
 * V**oices her own opinion, sincerely
 * I**nstructive about what interns should improve on
 * S**upportive to intern feedback
 * O**ptimistic about our future
 * R**eflective about our teaching skills


 * K**ind-hearted so that interns are at ease
 * R**elevant about the material we should be teaching and learning
 * I**mportant to me for my job career
 * E**ager to get interns in the classroom
 * G**ood in grammar
 * E**xample of what a great teacher should be
 * L**oves working with interns

Molly, I saw Carlyn today. I was the last one observed. I agree, she knows her stuff, and she is a proponent for more grammar. We should have a "grammar" movement. I am appalled at how kids write. But then I ask myself, did I write like that? Nooooo! not me. Who knows. I do know that Ms. Kriegel and I are from a generation where there was more time invested in getting into the 'meat' of literature, analyzing, dissecting, and mauling it. I remember in my junior year in spring time and we all went out on the green grass with blankets and read poetry. She rocks and wants us to not get discouraged by all this testing and conformity. It sounds like we must carve our own niche, prove some awesome things, teach children how to use their senses in literature, score highly on those blasted tests, then maybe we could be left alone to continue taking young people on the literature ride of a lifetime. //Jody Thomas 3/24/11//

Molly Davenport Genre Reflection #3 3/9/11

Dear unsupportive parents:

Hello to you. I know that I’m just an intern and not the real deal teacher yet, but I must say that I know more about your kid than you do. Yes, that’s right you heard me. Okay, so maybe you cannot hear me through this letter but I know you can read what I just said. You don’t even know your own child! He is an excellent Language Arts student and excels on every lesson that is given to him. Don’t be proud so quickly of his success because maybe you haven’t realized that your child is on PROBATION and just got arrested this past weekend! Yeah, your 7th grade son has been arrested! Not to mention that your sixteen year old daughter ran away, too! I am sending you this letter to inform you on one important thing. That one thing is your child. Your nasty divorce should not have ever interfered in your child’s life for the worse. I was beyond shocked when I learned that is on probation and got arrested again. He does not, by any means, appear to be the type of child that should already have a criminal record. While you are fighting with your soon to be ex, your son is finding crimes to occupy his time. Wake up and smell the cycle of life, divorce happens but you only get one chance to make an impression on your child’s lives.

Sincerely,

The anonymous intern

﻿Dear Molly: What a great letter. Parents are sometimes clueless on how their home life can intefere with their school life. This student is headed down the wrong path and the parents don't seem to care. Your letter is very heartfelt and I can tell you are truly concerned about this child. This child is just an example of how a lot of parents consider teachers full-time babysitters and social workers. LaShelle Turner Gaston 3/10/11

Molly, I feel you. It's hard not to wonder sometimes if these parents are at all aware of their children. Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with runaways or students with criminal records, but I imagine that I will once I'm actually teaching full time. Its a way of life for some of these kids, and you're caught in between wanting to hug the life out of these kids or shake some sense into their parents. Keep on keeping on! Your passion for these kids and the insight that you have into their lives will really serve you when you are the 'real deal teacher'. :) -Adriana Vanderheyden