How is this experience shaping your teacher identity?
This was my first time ever being the teacher rather than the student and I think it was a great place for me to start. Although I am in school working on my secondary education degree, starting in an elementary school was a good way to get a feel of being a teacher. The experience taught me how to be patient, how to interact with students (especially the unresponsive), and how to adjust accordingly to each student. I worked with 5-7 students every week at my school and they couldn't have been a more unique group of kids. They were all very different from each other. They had different personalities, different learning levels, and responded to me differently. As the semester went on they all became more comfortable with me and I was able to adjust in the ways that I thought would benefit each of them. In the end I really enjoyed it. I have become close to the students that I work with and I have seen how some of the teachers don't take the time to work and adjust to individual students. I think this experience was a great way for me to step into teaching and it has opened my eyes and made me a better person. I have one more class to go to and it will probably be strange when it's over. I've become close to these little kids and I'm probably going to miss them. I just hope they do alright in the future and have teachers that are willing to work with them and take the time to understand them. The experience has been great and I think the VIPS program is a great idea for students going into teaching.
