Nearing the end, only to begin again

Believe it or not, I have almost completed all my undergraduate courses at Eastern Michigan University. I only have one more class (CHL 208) which I will be taking this summer. Once I finish that course, I will be student teaching this fall and then I will graduate! Speaking of student teaching, I met my cooperating teacher, Cory, a few weeks ago. Here is the story that led up to meeting Cory and his wonderful 5th grade class.

After arriving home from class at 4:40, I noticed I had a missed call and new voice mail. I checked to see who called, and it was a 734 number that was not saved in my contacts. Calling my voice mailbox, I immediately got nervous because a few of my friends started getting their student teaching placements. Skipping the previous messages, I heard a male voice on the line introducing himself as a 5th grade teacher and that he would like to meet with me and talk about student teaching this coming fall. My heart was pounding. I jumped in the air and shouted to my girlfriend, Kelly, that I have a prospective cooperating teacher. I returned Cory's call only to leave a voice mail and waited for a call back the following day.

I was in class when Cory called again, so I left another voice mail for him. This went on for a few days because I only had his school number and he did not check his messages over the weekend. Finally on a Tuesday, I didn't have class in the morning and received a call from Cory. He asked if I could come in that day and speak with him and get a feel for the class to see if the placement would fit. I gladly accepted and hung up the phone. "This is finally happening!," I said to myself in joy. I called my mother (a retired school teacher herself and current Wayne State student teaching supervisor) and probed her on what questions I should ask him. We talked for a few minutes and then I had to rush to get ready and leave for Cory's classroom because I had to work at Joe Louis Arena for a Red Wings hockey game.

Next thing you know, I pulled in to the school parking lot and walk into the main office. I am greeted by the secretary and explain to her why I am there. All of a sudden, the principal exits his office and introduces himself and shakes my hand. Now, as you can imagine, I am extremely nervous at this point. Not only am I about to meet my prospective cooperating teacher, I already meet my prospective principal! He says, "I hear you might be student teaching with us this fall?" I stumble out a, "I hope so, I've heard great things about your school." He manages a small smile and walks with me to Cory's classroom. He stops halfway and says, "Down on the left, second door. Nice having you here" and exits into the gym. I manage a "thank you" as he slowly walks out of my vision. The moment is coming, I'm about to set foot in my future student teaching classroom.

I slowly edge my way into the classroom when I see a familiar face sitting at a table in the classroom. It is a girl from my MATH 381 class. I become defensive for a second thinking she is here for the same reason I am. Then, Cory steps out from his desk and says, "You must be Michael, I'm Cory" and extends his hand for an introduction. I smile and say, "Yes sir, glad to meet you" while shaking his hand. He introduces me to the girl at the table and I say, "We have a class together." He smiles and lets me examine the classroom as he exits because he needs to get his kids from play practice.

After viewing the classroom, I edge my way over to the table and talk to Amy. I ask why she is here. She explains that she is earning a few pre-student teaching hours. "Phew," I say in my head, "we aren't competing for student teaching." We chit-chat for a few minutes until Cory returns with his students. They start to enter the room and size me up like I am prey. Before they can come over though, Cory explains that they need to finish an assignment before they take a break.

The assignment takes 10 minutes to complete. Cory excuses his students to eat snacks, talk, and read for 20 minutes. He sets the cooking alarm and then the students are off to the races. Except, I am the finish line!



How will I make it out alive? What did the students ask me? How did my first talk with Cory go? Did I get the placement? Will I ever graduate? These and many more questions will be answered next week when Part 2 of "Nearing the end, only begin again" concludes!