Lacy's Moving Classroom

           Over the spring semester of 2025, I have learned and gained valuable experiences from the students and teachers around me. To share some of my learning experiences, I decided to write a poem. Please read and enjoy. I hope this inspires others to reflect on their teaching experiences.  My Morning was calm Sounds of my cats meow Hearing the sounds of pitter-batter  Of tiny paws on a wooden floor Squicky hinges of cabinets being open  Setting a bowl down for cereal Finding relaxation in the sound of water from the shower  Like a beautiful storm. The drive to school was loud. I had my backpack in the front So heavy that the car let off a sound as if, somebody did not buckle up.  I swish my iced coffee around.  Listening to the sound of my ice clinking together. The radio was loud, just as I liked it. Taking away negative thoughts during my morning drive. Chords of guitars and drums. Blasting around me. I turn my head to ...

   I don't remember where or when I first fell in love with reading, but I remember being supported in the classroom to continue to read. To further my reading skills by reading something new or different, I actually enjoy some of the school-selected texts we read in class (some of them). Without knowing, I felt encouraged to read whatever I wanted or pick up something I would not generally read daily. This became my normal . For others, it can be difficult to find interest in reading—the motivation to read for pleasure and not for school, work, or business. As a future English teacher, I can see this within students. The lack of interest in reading for fun has slowly become a lack of interest. This makes me wonder what I can do to get students interested in reading anything or to understand that something is interesting for them out there, if not in the classroom.       I want to look more into book bans and book censorship. I want to know more ...

        Regarding gender diversity in the classroom, I have been learning and practicing how to approach it. I am creating different reading material supporting or demonstrating other genders and diverse people. When I was in high school, I had friends who came out as trans or nonbinary. Calling them by their name, the name they love and feel comfortable with, made their whole faces light up. It made them feel safe and validated. That is what I want my students to feel. Even though I might not be able to say at this moment, I have had many similar moments during my practicum. However, the few I did have were worth it if they helped the students. The small experience I gained working with gender in the classroom started last spring when I was able to work with middle school students. Two students in my classroom preferred to use names different from those the schools have on file. They both had more feminine names and wanted to use masculine names. My mentor teacher...

      Welcome back. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Fall is approaching with chilly weather, and most of us want to snuggle indoors with a good book; however, for our teachers and my teacher-intern classmates, that is not always an option. Much work is to be done at this time of year, and I want to ensure I have all my resources to accomplish my goals. This includes creating lesson plans, keeping up with my assignments, and ensuring I have everything lined up for next year when I will be a full-time student teacher.  This year's KATE conference helped, inspired, and prepared me with ideas for the future. The KATE conference is a professional development event for English language art teachers. Sessions that were included this year were local authors, innovative strategies from the classroom, critical thinking exercises, and navigating local partnerships. This was my first time at the KATE conference, and I loved every second; the people I met and the thi...

  Reading and writing can be fun and exciting, but they can also be complicated and frustrating, especially when going over the rules of how we should write. I was never a fan of teachers going over grammar rules. It was my least favorite part of writing in class, and I'm still not a fan of teaching them to students. The problem with grammar and language is that teaching grammar is about setting rules, and language involves a sense of creativity and individuality. These two sides can be confusing for students to master simultaneously. For students, writing is something that is done with creativity. Even when students write essays on the same topic, there will still be that amount of creativity and specific choices that students make when creating their point. Their choice of diction or use of figurative language all show their vision and identity. The problem is that studetsn are still finding their voice out loud and in writing. When we want the student to apply their innovativene...

    Reading is essential, but the context of reading is just as important. For students, reading constantly can help them with their vocabulary and critical thinking, while the context of the words they choose to read can help them understand the text that represents the world around them. Teachers, parents, and students can help by choosing new literacy to read. Try to pick something new they have never read. Pick a book that has a character who looks nothing like you. Read a short story that has a setting you have never experienced. Read an article by diverse authors that can shed light on new cultures or experiences. This is fundamentally important for students, as it allows them to construct meaning from various texts. As a future teacher, I find it frustrating and challenging to find valuable text to share with students. As well as nonprint text to use in the classroom. However, I have learned some tricks and tips throughout my journey, and with the help of "Get Free...