It seems like just yesterday when I drove through what seemed like towering cornfields last May to find Pekin District 108. Filled with excitement, I came for orientation to meet my mentor and see the school. This meeting calmed many of my nerves of the exciting year to come.

When I returned in August, I got right to work: getting to know people, helping out in the classroom, and studying my course material. I found that I had a new wonder for learning after seeing the school system from the other side. My methods course work no longer seemed like work without an immediate purpose. I now began to use what I learned right away. Fourth grade allowed me to work with students that I was comfortable with as I got used to my new roll.

When I moved to first grade, I was ready for a new challenge. At first, I was not comfortable with this grade, but my impression quickly changed. The more time I spent with them, the more I loved working with this grade. Their wonder for learning and newness to the school system gave me great joy as I taught them. My mentor guided me in developing well planned lessons. I was well on my way to being successful when I returned after winter break to student teach here.

Winter break came and went. I returned to first grade where I began student teaching which was easier than it had ever been. The activities I planned and the way I interacted with the students just seemed natural to me. I could not help but think it had a lot to do with the experiences I have had at Girl Scout Camp. We "popcorn" read stories and spelled words with yarn. We studied how to be health and did experiments on why we should brush our teeth. Altogether, we learned and had fun doing it.

It was a sad day when I parted with the class I had grown to love so much. This bitterness was also filled with a new excitement. I was on to finish my student teaching with a new fourth grade class. This time when I returned, I reflected on the differences between teaching fourth and first grade. I quickly jumped into teaching full-time. Here we began to study the Midwest and long division. This was a big change from teaching first graders how to tell time. The challenge was a new adventure that turned out well.

Now that the year has come to a close, I feel confident in both first and fourth grade. Surprisingly, the grade that I was concerned about when I started has become my favorite. This year, which has been filled with self-discovery, has been one that I will never forget.