What a Week!

Wow is about all I can say. This past week I got to do my Clinical here in Lynch and Loved it! My cooperating teacher was great and I knew all the kids so that helped. I even got to work on my behavior management skills with one individual young man who has a whole mess of issues brought on by parents that are less then stellar. They even threw in a field trip just so I would feel like a "real teacher". They told me that they wanted me to have the full teaching experience so in addition to the field trip we had an assembly, and a birthday celebration.

For the field trip we went to the Niobrara State Park and Kreycik Ranch where they raise buffalo and elk. The trip to the state park was fun if not a little educational for me. The first thing I learned when it comes to filed trips is that I need FLAT land! The Kindergarten teacher thought that the kids would love to see the old railroad bridge that use to go over the river, which I agree it was very neat and the kids did in fact love it. The problem was, the parking area was at the very top of the park and the bridge was at the very bottom. Going down, not a problem, coming back up, big problem! I was just praying that I could make it up by myself without having to have 10 seven-year-olds pushing on me from behind :o) I made it and it was probably really good for me that I had to do it but WOW I was ready for a nap after that, but that was first thing in the morning so I still had the whole day to go!

After the park and picnic lunch we headed to a local ranch that gives tours where you are allowed to feed their buffalo by hand. Being as I was the "teacher" I got to show the kidos the proper way to hold the corn and feed the buffalo. As I am shoving a cob of corn into the mouth of a very large buffalo he takes it upon himself to blow snot all over me, the fellow adults and all the students of course thought this was hilarious.

I ended my week as the volunteer parent for Honor Band for Kendra. It was a nice day but let me assure you that 8 hours on hard bleachers listening to 100+ 6th graders play musical instruments is not high on my pleasure meter. By the end of it I was wishing I was anywhere but there. I've attached a short video of Kendra playing, they really did do a nice job.

We also had a family visit from Papo Mike, Grandma Ellen and Grams. It was a short visit, lasting only about 48 hours but there was a lot accomplished in that 48 hours. I think we played 10 games of Uno Attack :o) We even got all of them to play the Wii.

It was nice seeing them even if it was for such short time.