Success and Setbacks

       The three biggest successes I have had at my mentorship are receiving my first thank you note, learning to be comfortable in front of the class, and creating a "Ta-da!" moment in a few students. In the middle of the first semester, a student gave me a note that thanked me for coming down from the high school to help teach the class. I was not expecting to get anything like it. Mrs. Brooksher told me to always keep that note and other ones like it because they help get you through a bad day. After doing a brain teasers for a few weeks, I had become very comfortable in front of the class. Mrs. Brooksher even told me that I was more comfortable in front of a class than most of the student teachers she has had. That comment meant a lot to me, and it motivated me. I also was able to work with a group of 4 students who were struggling with exponents, and I was able to get that "Ta-da!" moment out of every one of them. Being able to do that also motivated me a lot, and it let me know that I am doing something I enjoy and am good at.

       The biggest setback I had was during one of the brain teasers I gave the class. The brain teaser I gave them was very hard, and when I tried to explain the solution, every student became confused and frustrated. When that happened, a lot of students stopped paying attention and started talking. I did not know how to control the room and get it back on track, so Mrs. Brooksher had to come in and save me. I hated the fact that I needed Mrs. Brooksher to step in. Although that was one of the hardest days of my mentorship, it reminded me to take it slow and calm when explaining to the class and that showing frustration and not confidence can force a class to get out of control.