Awaiting my placement

Well, this week should be a big one, since it is the week I find out my tentative placement for student teaching! 

On Friday, applications were due for the PDS student teaching program here at ISU. PDS (Professional Development School) is a year-long student teaching program. During the fall semester, students are in the classroom 3 days a week, and taking their methods classes 2 days a week. Students get to choose for the most part what grade level they want to be placed in, and are put with a cooperating teacher chosen after an interview process to get to know you better. You also get a short experience in a different grade level. In the second semester, you get to take over the classroom and teach.

I'm very excited about this opportunity! Our advisors work to ensure that if we apply for PDS, we will be accepted and placed in one of our top two locations. 

I've been feeling a huge amount of emotions about this experience. For one, I am so incredibly excited! I will get to experience inservice, teacher meetings, and the whole classroom experience from the first day of school until the end. I will also have experience with resumes, interviews, and more. I will be able to feel like a second year teacher when I graduate. I am also very nervous! The schools we are placed in are in diverse environments. I'm looking forward to experiencing a real environment outside of my hometown, where everyone is basically the same. At the same time, it will also be a huge challenge! But, I am looking forward to being prepared for the real world. 

It's also a bittersweet feeling that this year is my last living in Normal at ISU. I love my roommates, boyfriend, and classmates so much. But, living at home will help cut costs and also give me the suburban experience I want. 

I have a lot of things to take care of before student teaching (besides all the academic things!) The girl in me is worried about my teacher wardrobe of course. I also need to buy a car! I also want to make a plan to visit ISU and my boyfriend often enough. 

This experience was something I could not pass up for the traditional 16 week student teaching semester. I am going crazy in the best possible way!