My clinical experience at Barb City this semester was one I will never forget! I really enjoyed being able to connect with the kids on a deeper level than I am able to with younger kids. It gave me a great opportunity to get a glance into what teaching Middle School would be like, and I have to say, I'm leaning a little more towards expanding my preferences for whom I want to teach! These kids, even though we didn't have very many of them in our group, are fantastic in every aspect. I got to see what care looks like to them through their eyes and what they think the best way to show it is. It's incredible how each kid has their own experiences with care and what they want to give back to the community as a whole. As this was a collaborative card game to create as a whole group, we still got in a few chances to play card games with the kids, such as UNO and Spoons, and eventually, Ask and Tell (our game). Seeing the kids have fun, laughing, and getting to know one another in the group, it really put a smile on my face, and I genuinely cared about every student and staff member who was with us!

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Our project centered around the theme of "Circles of Care" this time, and I have to say, even through a fun card game, our group was able to achieve that, no problem! During the first few minutes of our first couple of days, we would spend time playing card games, as I mentioned above. Then we would sit and talk critically about certain aspects of the game, its rules, the design work, what makes them fun, and so much more. We spent time brainstorming with our group on how we wanted our card game to be played and seen. We helped them gather up their ideas with our Brainstorming Worksheet, which helped to highlight the important aspects of what card games should consist of, as well as how we can incorporate care into our game. After some long talks and consideration, as well as critiques within the group, we decided on our game and got to work! As we began to lay out the groundwork of our game, we did happen to run into some hiccups along the way; some of our students actually caught some "pot holes" in our work, or things that could go wrong. We were not only shocked that we personally didn't catch it as teachers, but also overly happy that our students were paying enough attention to the game to catch something as important as that. We worked and worked throughout the days, but working on Canva, it made it a lot easier for us as a whole to collaborate on our ideas and share what we had done. We eventually got it down to what we wanted and were satisfied on all accounts on how our card game turned out, which is when we turned to printing out the cards on specific paper and laminating them to make it easier for everyone to play our game. Students and staff were able to help with this process and learn how precise you needed to be when cutting out the cards. If something were to be cut by accident, we would have to restart! We talked about craftsmanship and being careful with how to use the scissors correctly, as in moving the paper around, not the scissors. But, I do have to say, overall, our lessons and group as a whole were amazing in every way! We were all very impressed with how everything turned out in the end! 

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Looking back at our time as a whole, I would have to say my favorite moment was seeing our students not only come together as one and collaborate, but also seeing them have fun and laugh at any given moment. We had fun as a whole group, and to be able to see that as a teacher makes me so much happier and feels as if I did something right in the world. We made time to have fun. We made time to get to know one another and see what likes and dislikes each person has. It went from any topic around, from Consolaita telling us she loves the colors Purple and Pink, to Chrissy quoting movies and TV Shows that we may or may not have known from time to time. It was moments like those that made me love being a teacher and showing up for those kids and staff members.

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This experience as a whole was just perfect in every way. There may have been some mishaps here and there between students, staff, and even us teachers, but at the end of the day, I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was a time that I will always keep with me down the road as I continue to teach in my own classroom. I will remember the little things that mean the most to kids and how they see the world through their eyes. I'll cherish the laughs and smiles that we shared as a group, as well as the struggles and moments of learning that we had as well. I'll miss these kids and staff members like crazy, but knowing they've helped me become more of who I am and be a part of my journey in teaching is just enough for me!