Today was somewhat awkward. Mrs. L was in the hallway, and I could hear her talk about me to another teacher. I heard her say that she gets along with me, but that i'm very headstrong, hands-on with the students, and concerned about the students.
  This upset me. Yes, I have been hands on and concerned about the students. Part of the ed tpa standards is I need to learn students names and the context for learning, which means I need to talk to them. I do know that sometimes I linger on some students, but thats because they are struggling or telling me concerning things. If a student has a bruise on their face, and doesn't want to tell you why, that's concerning. The only reason I linger is because I know that Mrs. L is around to help the other students.
  I don't know if I agree on the word Headstrong. the word is defined as " being set in ones ways, stubborn." It has come to my attention early on in the semester by my program director that I do come off this way, and I let Mrs. L know that if I ever came off this way, I wanted her to tell me so I can change it. I honestly have tried my best to listen to her, and I thought I was doing things the way she wanted me to do. And then I heard this, and I don't know what to say. I really wish she would have told me these things right away. I can't change a behavior I didn't know I had. I need to learn, and not telling me these things to my face won't help me.
  I'm just so confused. I need help.

second week of practicum

  The fifth graders started a new project. They are exploring abstract portraits. They chose to either make a portrait in Fauvism or Cubism, the difference being either using irregular colors or making geometrically shaped faces. Mrs. L gave the students a rubric explaining what she was looking for, but she didn't demonstrate. She explained that she didn't want to give them any ideas on what to do. When they started their rough sketches, I saw what she meant. I saw at least three students copy from the portraits that were on the whiteboard. However, I did see a lot of students make great original portraits. I can't wait to see how they turn out.
  I think the one thing I envy about these students is the freedom they get in their classroom. I've seen the fifth graders choose an animal, artistic style, they didn't even need to make a portrait of an actual person! And the kindergartners got to chose their patterns and got to draw their own near and far drawing. They get way more freedom in class than I did when I was their age. When I was in school, we had to do everything EXACTLY the same way as the teacher. It was terrible. I know that I want my students to have the same amount of artistic freedom that Mrs. L gives her students.