Summer 2015: The Season of Teaching Moments

I think I touched on the biggest lesson I learned was that I absolutely do not have it in me to be a teacher. When I was younger, I occasionally thought about being a teacher. Not necessarily as a career but definitely something I wanted to get the chance to do. Man oh man! This experience has been exhausting and overwhelming. I knew that it would be difficult but I kept a very optimistic outlook on the then upcoming weeks. Now looking back I don't think that that was a good decision. Not to say that I shouldn't have been optimistic at all, but I should not have thought that there would not be many behavioral problems in my class. Through those trying times with the students, I have found that I won't be teacher. I'll maybe teach a few things here and there but for the most part I will not be doing it often. My personality does not allow for that. I knew that there would be a high chance that I would not be able to accommodate all students in the area of learning because I think in a way that they can't connect with. My mind takes shortcuts. I think most adult minds take shortcuts. I had never had too much experience explaining an exact process and when I did it made no sense to others. That is also what was challenging. Overall, I don't want to teach students unless it is in college. Perhaps as I get older I may gain more tools and knowledge on ways to use my thought process to benefit future young students.

Students. Kids. I have solidified my idea that kids no matter how young or small are people. 'People' to most of us seem to think that that term only includes 'adults'. It seems to be kids are 'kids' before they are people. Babies are babies instead of tiny people that need bigger people to help them grow. Kids are people. That means not every kid you meet will be likable simply because their personality does not meet yours on a favorable level. There were kids in the camp that I hadn't wanted to converse with or get to know more about. It sucks, but it is the truth. It did not stop me from teaching some of them or interacting with them. It made me more confident in the fact that kids are people. Kids are people with a bit less structure in a few areas. They are blunt and don't have a filter. As people get older, they are taught to keep things to themselves and to filter what comes out of their mouth. And this idea that kids are people explain why some teachers just can't be objective when they teach. They take a student's personality and begin to shape and mold the way they see their work. I have experienced this so many times. Both positively and negatively. It astounds me. It is completely unfair. It is not impossible to be objective, but I know it can be difficult. If only more teachers could take it into consideration. Camp has made me understand teachers a bit more and really see the relationship and nature of teacher and student.

It's been quite an insightful summer. Since I have a much better idea of how to handle children that have difficulty with behavior I am not as hesitant to consider being a counselor again.  It's been real. A teaching moment indeed.

A Look Back

My summer with SuperKids taught me many lessons.  One of the biggest was about all of the contributing factors that play a role in making a classroom fun.  Learning can and should be fun.  I believe, and have witnessed, that the two can go hand-in-hand and the effects can be tremendous.

 

I was lucky to work with some amazing people this summer, kids and staff.  My site staff did an excellent job of ensuring everyone was part of the team.  I am very appreciative of that fact.  Teamwork makes dream work, and my site worked very well together.  Even when I had a challenging day with the campers, I knew that I could depend on the staff for a pick-me-up.

Not just my site, but the other interns as a whole were very helpful.  It was great participating in a cohort where we could share our similar experiences.  Our weekly meetings were something that I consistently looked forward to, not to mention the delicious food.

Being in front of a class, even for just the summer, is an experience I will never forget.  This was my first authentic teaching experience and I learned so much about both the practice and myself.  It is incredible all that goes into making a positive classroom experience.

In terms of myself, I learned the true benefit of being patient, particularly with kids.  In terms of the practice, I learned the vital need of personal connection.  As the summer progressed my class and I become more and more invested in one another.  Because of that, problems that I had in the opening weeks soon began to naturally fall by the wayside.

I thought it would be difficult, but I never could imagine how hard it would be to leave my class, especially a week early.  I would have loved to see them at the camp graduation.  However, I do know that I will never forget my summer spent with Superkids.  For a few weeks, I was a teacher, a friend, and a superhero.  That fact is something I will never forget.

When It Feels Right...

This time last summer, I was so relieved. I had just finished my 12 week internship program at an insurance company and I had officially decided that being in a cubicle all day every day was not the job for me. I knew that whatever job I had this summer would have to be creative or with children.

With SuperKids, I got both. Despite the fact that every day I came home dead tired, frustrated, and hungry, each morning I woke up at the crack of dawn eager to get in my classroom and spend time with my 12-14 campers. It didn't matter that I would spend more of my morning telling them to sit down and listen so we could finish the lesson and go outside. It didn't matter that I'd be constantly interrupted by "Miss Diamond, can I go to the bathroom?", "Miss Diamond, is it time to go outside?", "Miss Diamond, he won't leave me alone!" for six hours.

No matter how many headaches and sore throats I developed. No matter how many times I felt like I was inadequate and I was failing at teaching the kids anything much less giving them an enjoyable, super summer, I truly enjoyed each and every day of my internship this summer.

Getting to know each of my kids and watching them learn and grow together was so heartwarming, as well as getting to work with the staff team at Medfield. This has truly been one of my favorite summers. I have learned and grown so much in terms of how I work with other people, what teachers go through on the daily basis, and who I am as a person.

When I ended my internship last summer I was desperate to work with kids again, thinking that that is the work I truly loved.

I was right.

Do You.

My biggest takeaway from this internship this summer is: don't be afraid to be yourself. 

As I've said in a couple blog posts and during the dinners, I have a big heart for people. I want people--child or adult--to feel loved, heard, and wanted. I found myself denying my class and other kids at my site one of my greatest gifts. I found myself to be a bit more stoic and colder toward the kids than I normally am in my everyday life. Instead of allowing my compassion and easy-goingness flow out of me, I feel I was more rigid. 

It's hard to pin point exactly why I acted in this way, but it is almost like a reflex. A survival tactic, if you will. Because of my strong sense of love for people, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed with how to express it in a way that the other will appreciate. So instead of acting on it, I shut down. I feel in many instances with the kids, I would "shut down" and wasn't totally myself. 

I can actually be pretty silly and goofy as well, but I feel I didn't show enough of this side of me either. I'll spare you the details of 'why' for the sake of not wanting to ramble on too much and make this post too long. However, I do feel as though my kids could have benefited if I did reveal that part of me more.

Nonetheless, I am intentionally making the effort to learn to be more comfortable with having a big heart and wearing said big heart on my sleeve.

It was definitely a difficult summer. Admittedly, there were some days I did not want to get out of bed in the morning for work and days where I wasn't totally mentally checked into my class. But there indeed were days that were less stressful and I felt confident in my "counselor/inter" abilities. And though I feel I was not 100% myself during the camp, there are no regrets, just lessons learned and mental notes taken to help me later on. 

Brief Reflection

I honestly don't know how to begin explaining my SuperKids experience . This has been one of the most difficult , yet life changing summers of my life thus far . The kids are truly a blessing and I have learned so much about myself , and kids in general just by being in their presence , observing them .

My biggest lesson from SuperKids is that no experience is a bad one . What I mean by this is that every job experience is different . Some may be the perfect match , other experiences may totally not be the fit for you , but ALL will be a learning experience . Each experience will teach you something new whether it being what you want to do , or what you know for sure you don't want for your future career .

As I'm looking back on the past 6 weeks , it was truly a journey . A long , challenging , and demanding job ... but also very rewarding . I loved my summer with SuperKids and I would love to do it again !

Final Reflection

During my time at SuperKids Camp I have learned much, not only about children and teaching but also about myself.  I have really come to appreciate all of the hard work that teachers do day in and day out, whether it be managing a classroom, comforting a crying child, or all of the late evenings spent preparing the classroom or curriculum for the next day.  Also, I have come to realize how much patience it requires to be a teacher and work with children.

That being said, I believe that my greatest takeaway from SuperKids Camp is what I have learned about myself.  As a counselor intern this summer, I discovered how flexible I can be in a teacher's position: I have the capacity to take directions as well as give them; I can be patient and understanding, but also firm and disciplinary; and also, importantly, I can be fun and silly but also serious and diligent.  Overall, I believe that teaching with SuperKids this summer has provided me with many new skills, as well as helping me to realize skills that I already possessed.  It has been a great summer, and I will never forget the opportunity.

Reflecting on SuperKids 2015

What have you learned from your summer with SuperKids Camp? What has been your biggest lesson learned or take away?