5th Grade?

Yesterday I got my teacher assisting placement. I am assigned to a 5th grade class at Beach Elementary. I am excited to be so close to home! I am a little nervous about being in a 5th grade class though. Fifth graders are starting to become more independent and less enthusiastic about rules and authority. Their horomones are also starting to kick in and drive everyone around them crazy. They are becoming interested in the opposite sex, but would rather die than anyone find out, so they just pick on each other mercilessly. Then there are the emotional issues they are beginning to face. The boys are wired for sound, and the girls are breaking down in tears. They are also a little more critical of each other and authority than younger kids.

Not only will I have to deal with all of this, but 5th graders are required to do real math! Now we get down to the nitty gritty. I'm not sure what the phobia for math is, but I'm pretty sure I have it. I observed in Katie's 5th grade last year and the teacher recruited me to keep score on the board for a geography game. I only had to subtract and add, but it made me so nervous that I dropped the eraser on the floor. I think it had something to do with standing at the board with everyone staring at me while I attempted math. I've had bad experiences with that as a child.

I'm pretty sure I will like it though once I get to know the kids, and I'm pretty sure they will like me too. I hope that my supervising teacher is nice, and wonderful, and helpful to my learning experience. I will be calling on Monday to set up an interview time with her. Pray that I have God's favor as I go!

Exam studying commences this afternoon with the arrival of my geography study budy. Unfortunately, I have strained my right eye, which is very painful and annoying. Whenever I read or look at the computer screen I feel the muscle pull. Now is not the time to deal with something like this.

I am really looking forward to our spa party next Saturday!