Week 8: First Week At Carl Sandburg

I started my second placement at Carl Sandburg High School. I was very nervous going into this placement because of the size and how different it was going to be from pervious student teaching. At the same time I have never been more excited! I fought so hard to be at this school because this is the type of placement that I want to be doing the rest of my life. I love being in a large district and I love the type of classroom that I am in. I will be able to teach six different subjects. They are: Science, a second science at a lower level, daily living skills, vocational, and daily math.

This week was a hectic one for me. I was very ill the whole weekend and I ended up missing my first day at Sandburg. On Tuesday I pulled up into one of their many lots and walked until I found the main office. I was able to meet the principal and dean of the school and have a sit down and talk to them on why I want to be a special educator. It was so great that they took an interest in me and I felt so welcomed in their school.

I took this week to observe on how my teacher not only runs her classroom but how she handles all her staff as well. My cooperating teacher has been teaching at Sandburg for about 10 years and is involved in many things within the school. She runs two programs called Snowball and Friendship Connections. These programs are created for the general education students to make friends with students within the special education program and to help them out in their social areas. I was able to experience one meeting on Wednesday and there is so much that goes into it and I cannot give my teacher enough gratitude on what she does for her students.

On Friday, my teacher allowed me to go to the Special Games with our students. It was held in Lincoln Way Center in New Lenox. This was such an amazing experience! I was able to experience my first Special Games (five districts take part in creating “games” for the students to participate in such as: 100 meter dash, 55 meter, ball throw, free throws, bowling and many more. At the end, the school with the most sprite receives the spirit stick. The students were so excited for this event and it was easy to say why. This event was created for the students to succeed and to see that they can do so many things in life and be supported and cheered for. Each student was given a mentor from “Friendship Connections” (general education student who volunteers to take their “buddy” out once a week). The student had the job of being their coach, number one fan and to help them through their events. It was such a great opportunity for me to talk to both my students and other staff at Sandburg.

I cannot wait for the experiences that I will be introduced to at Carl Sandburg. It is going to be an incredible 10 weeks!