December already?
I can’t believe it’s December!
It seems like it was just August and I was setting up my mentor teacher’s classroom. About a million-and-a-half lesson plans later, I’m done student teaching. My last day was so nice. Many of my student’s parents gave me thank you gifts and I was showered with thank you’s from teachers around the school. They had a big lunch for me. I just felt really appreciated. Student teaching is hard. It’s 15 weeks of full-time, unpaid work. But I had such an amazing placement that I looked forward to going every day. The kids were great and I totally miss them already.
So, now my plan is to apply for substitute positions in the school districts I would prefer to work in and apply for any open positions I find. Ideally, I want to be hired right away. But if that doesn’t happen, then hopefully I can sub to get my foot in the door. I’m not really one that likes things up in the air. And this is the epitome of “up in the air.” Where I find a job will also depend on where my boyfriend and I move. There’s a lot of change about to happen.
This week and next week, I wrap up my seminar and turn in all of my work (which I have yet to do). As of December 14, I am a graduate. It’s a little anti-climactic if you ask me because I get my diploma in the mail and wait for my entitlement to come through. BUT I know that my family and friends will watch me walk at the graduation in May. Then I can celebrate all over again!
My last blog will be next week. Stay tuned as I wrap up my almost two years of blogging for UIC! Good luck with finals!
Lauren Muellner will receive her master’s degree in early childhood education with an endorsement in special education in December. She is student teaching in a self-contained special education preschool classroom in Oak Park and is a part-time nanny. Born and raised in Chicago, Lauren likes culture and adventure. She received her bachelor’s degree in theatre from Columbia College Chicago. She plans to integrate music and theatre into her curriculum and teaching.
