Where I've been for the past month.

I'm at the very end of my first practicum, and I could just cry. In the elementary education program we do two practicums, which are like student teaching except that they're only a month long. I have become so attached to my second graders, it's insane. I just love every one of them. They are endlessly entertaining and wonderful. For instance:

-- The time that I was teaching a phonics lesson and a kid raised his hand. Thinking he was going to ask a question perhaps about the long e vowel sound, I called on him and I got, "Um, Ms. Foster? I'm not afraid of dead people."

-- The first day that I was at the elementary school I told the kids a few things about myself. When I was in the middle of telling them about my family, a girl raised her hand to inform me that, "One time, we put a dummy out on a bench and it got stolen."

-- The girls are sweet as pie. They are always blowing me kisses, giving me big hugs throughout the day, and holding my hands, four or five of them at a time. When they have free time, they color me pictures and write me stories. Little girls are just the best.

-- I had to miss one day because I was very sick. When I came back, 9 or 10 of my students had made me get well cards. One of my favorites: "Dear miss. foster i am mad you are not hir today but I am still happy." Another favorite: "Dear miss foster pleas get better. it makes me sad at my house. i cry to my house i cry to my mom. pleas get better." I laughed so hard!

--Yesterday everyone was sitting on the rug while my mentor teacher was teaching. One little girl decided that she no longer wanted to be sitting, but they obviously aren't allowed to walk around while their teacher is instructing. To get around this rule, she got up on her knees, grabbed her ankles and pulled them up to her waist, then walked all around the rug on her knees. No one seemed to find this funny or unusual except me. I didn't stop her and this continued for several minutes.

And so on. I have laughed and smiled every single day. Second graders are such funny little creatures and they don't even know it. I've also loved the opportunity I've had to become a better teacher. I've learned so much and loved every minute of it.