Carli Vroman - Teaching

Seeing the difference in school cultures between a small middle school to a large high school is such a different experience. The school culture at Mount Vernon was one that was a lot smaller but a very tight knot community. The students all knew one another and there was just a very bug sense of comfort and understanding between these students that thew me off when I first for there. I went to a small school as well and had the same feeling but these students would mess around with one another all the time. The culture of this school with faculty was one I haven't been involved in yet. We had a grade level team which was new to me and the cultures within these level teams was different between grade levels which surprised me. They would do a potluck each quarter for all the staff which I thought was really a fun thing to be involved in. At Linn Mar this community is a 180 with school size and students not all knowing one another but theyare still a very closecommunity it feels lik...

When thinking of my teaching abilities, I am still wondering if my lesson and units plans will be up to par for what my students will need when I get into my own classroom. I am really hoping to have a mentor teacher and a school with a curriculum director ti help me figure all of this out because I know that I will need some guidance in this area. I know that I am 100% capable of doing these and succeeding with them but starting out on my own seems like an intimidating situation that I am curious in how its going to go when I get my first teaching job. 

I have always wanted to apply to a small school but am now thinking more of a bigger school but I have no idea what I want to work at anymore. I know that I will like both sizes of schools but I am thinking it is definitely high school now. I loved middle school but being able to teach speech sounds amazing and I know that I can do that more in a high school setting. Using my speech endorsement is something I am really excited about now that I have sat in on a speech class and seen the theatre aspects of things!

While at Mount Vernon I went to a handful of staff developments where I mostly just sat and listened to the conversations being had because it was over their grading system that staff are still working on. I spoke once or twice with the content area group but that was a big goal of mine while I was there but I never had much input because I did not understand what they were talking about. Other than that we had daily team meetings where I would participate in conversation about students and put my input when we had some worries academically.  While in this placement our first staff development is going to be Friday so I will see what I do there when we get to it! Other then that we are in our own little section of the school being in the little theatre so I haven't had a chance to meet with other staff and faculty really other then going over to Compass their alternative school to do a PLC with the other speech teacher. 

  What has been a surprise for you in your Teaching experience? The biggest surprise I have had so far in my teaching was realizing what I loved teaching grade level and ability wise. I always have thought I wanted to do high school but after my middle school placement I am so torn on what I actually want to do but I know after this placement I will get it al figured out. I also have always thought I wanted to go to an alternative school or teach special education which I still want to do but am nervous on what I might miss out on being able to do with gen ed students with the connections with theatre students and being able to teach speech or theatre and obviously English. But those have been some surprises for me that I am still trying to figure out! 

Looking at what I do for my wellness plan I guess I don't really have one in place because of how busy I always am after school. Playing with my dogs can be part of this I suppose when they are not annoying me to no end. Other than that I watch TV and thats about all I do for my wellness right now. Any tips welcome!!!