I start tomorrow!

I can't believe I actually start my demonstration (student) teaching tomorrow morning! It has been a really long process, and I am excited to get started, but I'd have to say that right now I'm more nervous than excited. First of all, I'm nervous because I feel so unprepared. I know this sounds really bad, but it just seems like such an undertaking. I'm supposed to somehow remember everything I've learned in the last year and a half and put it all to practice and become sort-of good at it in just 12 weeks. I know that I have prepared - I did all of my work and read my texts and watched the case studies. Right now I'm just afraid that I have either forgotten all of it, or what I haven't forgotten I will forget right when I need it. I suppose most of it will come back when I need it to, and what doesn't I can always look up.

I'm also nervous because I'm inherently not an "outgoing" person. I've really tried to work on this in the last couple of years, and have made some good improvements, but I'm certainly not what you would call "bubbly". I get butterflies every time I have to talk in front of people. My friends and family say that this will get better the more I do it, and I'm hoping that they are right!

So tomorrow is the big day. I met with my host teacher last week and she seems very nice and friendly. She's been a teacher for nine years and works with the state to create the state assessments. The school I am teaching in is one of the best in the state, and is in a very "white-bread" community. I haven't yet met my principal or clinical supervisor, but I'm hoping to do so very soon. Wish me luck tomorrow!