The end of the road

Today is my last day student teaching and I am writing this to sum up my documentation of student learning. I think that the most important thing I learned at Augsburg and at Crosswinds is to take my time when thinking things out. I see teaching as more of a management position rather then a boss position. By letting the kids make their own decisions as teammates rather then me telling them what to do we build a relationship faster. I also have learned that different schools have different rules for staff and what they can and can't talk about. Crosswinds was very free with no fear of repraisal for anything said. I liked that we could be vocal and that it was listened to rather then shot down and frowned upon. Through my time at Augsburg and Crosswinds I have learned that student behavior is usually a result of a lot of things and that you can't blame just one person for the way a kid might act. I have also learned that parents expect you to cater to them if they do not want to do something. But then again there were parents that went out of the way to make it an easy transition for their child. The open school environment was a great way to learn and the kids were great. I loved working as a team and having team meetings all the time. All in all my experience was positive and I took a lot away from it. It helps to get outside of your previous experiences and really learn new stuff.

Congratulations Dana!

Today is your last day at Crosswinds. I'm sure it will be like a whirlwind with it being the last day for the students and Kristin until Sept. You have made your mark at the school, and certainly established yourself with the students. They will miss you.

This blog has helped me to read about your experiences, and it will be a great way for you to reflect upon your time at Crosswinds. I have certainly learned a lot from the school about how they set up a school and district, the curriculum that they bring to the students etc.

Enjoy your future making a difference in the lives of your students.
Gretchen