Things I have learned in the past 5 weeks...

So I haven't blogged for years (not really, but it feels like it).  Life has been super busy and stressful lately, but I'm learning a lot. I felt I needed to write it all down so I would remember it.

For those of you who don't know I'm a special ed major. I'll graduate in April and be a real life teacher...but to get there I have had to have some growing pains. Since August 2012, I have been going to school full time (even Spring and Summer semester). It has been doable and I have loved it for the most part. But then "Summer Practicum" started...and I hated it. I was all of a sudden in charge of 4 students who were between the ages of 6 and 7 and all had Autism. From 8:30am-11:45am, Monday-Friday I was in charge of teaching these students Math, Writing and Reading along with dealing with their behavior problems. I felt very under prepared and felt like I could barely stay afloat. For the first week I would come home and cry. I am not a crier...but I sure turned into one. I had never felt so inadequate and stressed at the same time. While this was going on I was busy being the Activities Co-chair for my ward and we had a cabin trip I had to help plan, and things with some of my friends were not going smoothly. I felt like I was drowning.

I can't pin point a turning point, but eventually I stopped crying. I had this desire to learn and find new ways to help my students. I started asking my cooperating teacher questions every day, and staying after extra to figure out things I could do better. I tried hard to make my lessons engaging and to truly learn to love my students. Now I'm on my last week, and I love it. Yes, I'm excited for it to be over because I'm tired of all the assignments, observations and stress I have had. But I am so sad to not see my students, and for this time to come to an end. At the beginning I doubted my career choice, at the end I have no doubt in my mind that this is what I love and want to do.

These are somethings I have learned:

• Kids love to play games, so if you make learning into a game you can't loose 
• Praising a kid can go a long way (so constantly praising them can turn them into angels)
• It is easier to ask, then to do something wrong without asking
• Being a teacher takes a lot of patience, humility and humor
• The Spirit is always there to help you to love your students, be patient and to help you be humble
• You can do anything if you keep the Lord as your number one priority 
• Even the hardest kid can become someone you love with all your heart
• You will miss the days when the hardest kid is gone
• Elementary school is cheesy (I'm not cheesy)
• The Temple can be a source for peace
• Having Costa Vida Fridays can help you manage your stress
• My family are my best friends
• Play hard on your weekends and the weeks will feel worth it