BP # 1

          The start of a new adventure! It's always a very exciting time. This semester, I will be participating in a service learning project for my University, in which I spend at least 20 hours of observation time in an elementary classroom from the surrounding area. I will get the opportunity to observe a seasoned teacher in a different perspective than I did as a student myself, and I will also be tasked with some minor duties to get a better understanding of what daily life as a teacher is like. A great stepping stone to student teaching!
          The school I've chosen to do my placement at is Mountainville Academy in Alpine, UT. It is a public charter school that incorporates the famous "7 Habits for Highly Effective People" business model written by Dr. Stephen Covey. Although the habits were written for people in the workplace in mind, the founders of Mountainville Academy thought that these habits were relevant to many different aspects of life, and that includes school. It's a really cool concept and I think it's a great way to set kids up to be productive adults! 
          I've had the opportunity already to meet my cooperating teacher and introduce myself to the students I'll be working with. I can already tell I'm going to enjoy this experience, the students are lively and seem to be ready for the new school year! In terms of demographic information, the school seems to be located in a moderately well off caucasian community. With my background as a math tutor for grades K-8, my cooperating teacher has arranged for me to work one on one with some of her students that need a little extra attention. One of my favorite parts of the job is watching the light bulb go off over a child's head when something finally clicks if explained a different way. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction!
          With all of that said, this journey has only just begun. I'm excited for what this experience and the students I work with will teach me, stay tuned!