Right where I need to be

So I started my field experience observation today. [Well since it's technically Wednesday I guess you can say yesterday] It was very interesting to say the least. I've never had classroom experience with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders so I went in not knowing what to expect so I was quite nervous since my specialization is in middle grades after all. And yes, I did say 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. In fact, I must mention the "school", when I drove up to the "school" the only sign saw read Snook Independent School District. And it was the entire school district indeed, it included the administration building, elementary, middle, AND high school all in one building! I had never seen anything like it in my life. Snook's secondary school is a 1-A school and coming from a 5-A high school, I could not believe that grades K-12 were all in the same place. Thus, the science teacher that is my mentor this semester is the solitary middle school science teacher. [WOAH]

So in the mornings I'm there from 8:00-11:00 a.m. which includes 1st period (consisting of 8th grade girls), 2nd period (6th grade boys and girls) and 3rd period (7th grade boys, oh dear). At first I was a little overwhelmed, after observing my first two periods I was like ooohh my Ashley, what the heck are you getting yourself into. I mean, I knew the pre-teen/teenage years were rough but I didn't exactly realize the true handful they are. Although, I am the type of person who always likes a challenge. So during the tutorials period, (TAKS tutoring session between 2nd and 3rd period) my challenge threshold was certainly tested. Three 8th grade boys came in the room for science TAKS tutoring, at first they were acting sly and cool [attempted to at least] and weren't showing much interest or care to be there. I took a deep breath and told myself you can do this. [Phil 4:13] I worked with them, taught them strategies, and pushed them until they were thinking on their own and after they stopped the acting dumb part...it was amazing to see the prior knowledge and potential they each had. Then I realized, this is why I am here and I'm right where I need to be. All the discouragement I had felt at the beginning completely dissolved. If I felt so rewarded by just tutoring TAKS for 30 minutes...I can only imagine the feeling that will come being in a classroom of my own all day.

"Treat [students] as they are what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." -Goethe