Student Teaching and loving it!

Since August, I have been student teaching at an amazing IB Middle School in Houston, Texas. I am in a sixth grade World Cultures classroom with an excellent cooperating teacher and I am so blessed to be learning to teach in such a great environment!

Yes, the workload is tough with being at my school four days a week plus going to my UH classes on "my day off and nights" BUT it is so worth it. I'm on my way to finally being the teacher I have always wanted to be!

As I continue with this blog, I will be recording the trials and tribulations of my experience... here we go!

"Why Middle School?" By: John Spencer

I took this all from John Spencer's "Why Middle School?" Blog and I really love it; it definitely sums up how I feel about my middle schoolers:

http://bestpartofteaching.wordpress.com/why-middle-school/ 

For all their awkwardness, they often surprise me with their creatvity

8th graders are the most misunderstood people on the planet.  Perhaps even the universe.  Sure, they might talk too loud or tell a sub to fuck off or wear jeans that vacillate between sagging to their knees or skinny jeans that severely limit their movement.  True, they have a tendency to be self-centered and to care too deeply about peer approval and to say things that are socially awkward or rude as they try to be ironic or cynical or whatever it is that grownups hold as social capital.

Get past this facade and you’ll see that the act is so opaque that the student becomes transparent.  You see the pain and confusion of inhabiting a world of childhood and adulthood.  You see the insecurities that they haven’t learned to mask as well as adults.  You’ll see that they are misunderstood.

Look even further and you’ll see generosity and kindness.  You’ll see an honesty that is rare among adults.  You’ll see that they’re just beginning to question the answers after spending so long answering the questions.  They haven’t bought into the lie that it must be “practical” to be important.  You’ll see the dreamers, the existential wanderers, the rule-followers who are now questioning the world of rules that they’ve spent so long serving.

You’ll see documentaries that aren’t professional, but are amazing in their viewpoint.  You’ll see murals that aren’t flawless but are beautiful in their flaws.  You’ll hear voices passionately pursuing social justice without yet feeling jaded by the system.

And you’ll hear laughter.

You’ll see smiles.

You’ll see why some people have discovered that this age group is the education system’s best kept secret.  And you’ll realize why we feel fortunate to have this job.

“People fail to understand that a Middle School student vacillates, sometimes daily, err hourly, along a scale of deep depression (for both real and imagined reasons) and pure jubilation (for both real and imagined reasons).”

Here Goes Something...

Hello world!

My name is Nina Flores (aka Miss FLO)

So, I wanted to start a blog for all of my teaching experiences, starting now in my last year of college. I am currently a senior at the University of Houston's College of Education. I am specializing in 4-8 Social Studies so yes, I am one of those "crazy" middle school teachers!

I sure am crazy but aren't all of the best people?!

So, let's see how this plays out!

Peace and Love