And thus it begins...

January has been a roller coaster of a month! I began my student teaching, and I am loving it! I've never been so happy, stressed, overwhelmed, fulfilled, and tired in my entire life. I got to observe for the first two weeks, and now I am teaching. I love my students! They make me want to bang my head against a wall one minute, and the next they're giving me a hug and all is forgotten.
At my first faculty meeting I was introduced and told that part of the initiation process all newcomers had to sing the high school fight song. So I did. Half of the teachers stared at me like the were embarrassed for me. A few were making motions for me to stop and mouthing that I didn't have to. The rest looked at me as if they were sizing me up, trying to decide if I'm really as awesome as I look. (The answer, or course, is YES!) Later the principal came to me and told me that he had only been joking about singing. I wasn't sure how to tell him that I had been kidding too... Now when I get introduced to someone it's usually followed by "You're the one who sang!" Looks like maybe I did start off on the right foot!
I have learned so much the past few weeks. Every now and then my cooperating teacher asks me if I'm sure that this is really what I want to do. We spend every spare moment testing students, sorting referrals, gathering data, teaching small (and large!) groups, dealing with problem behaviors, and loving students. Am I sure this is what I want to do? Yes. Even when I get my 1st grade tsunami every afternoon, I still want to do this. I love teaching! I love learning! I love what I do!