This week has been a complete wave of emotions. It is hard to believe that in about three weeks that I will be graduating. It is hard to believe that in about two weeks I will be saying goodbye to my fifth graders. These fifth graders have definitely been an emotional roller coaster, but I feel like I have learned so much about myself and my teaching practice throughout this practicum experience. At first, I was so excited to work with this age group because I love how mature they are and how much personality they have. As time went on, I felt overwhelmed and unprepared to face the day in and day out issues that were always occurring the minute Megan and I walked in the door. On a positive note, I feel like I have made some really great connections with the students. But, this was also one of the downfalls I had this semester because it has been a struggle to distinguish with our students the difference between teacher and friend. Of course, it was important to me in the beginning to develop close relationships with my students.  I do still feel that way, but I have come to realize that the most important thing that I wanted from my students was earning their respect. This is still a work in progress as we are nearing the end of our practicum, but I think it is because they truly love having Megan and I in the classroom and feel comfortable around us. That is definitely a rewarding feeling and I hope to use these last two weeks to perfect that balance and leave a lasting impression with my students. This topic has been one of my main focuses throughout the semester and that is why I chose to write my inquiry about beneficial ways to manage my classroom. I think it is safe to say that all of us will be very young starting our profession, so it is extremely important to establish the ground rules with our students straight from the start. As I enter into my internship, this will continue to be my main focus. I want the students to know that I am an authoritative figure, but that I am there to have fun with them as well. Also, I want my students to know that they will never be inferior to me. I want to play on the same playing field as them, but there will be rules and expectations for them to follow. Like I stated last week, Mrs. Roe is an excellent role model for my beliefs. She was wonderful with her students and knew how to control their behavior and have fun at the same time. She explained that she took the first month of school to establish and practice classroom community because that is her priority and she feels like it is how the students will be overall successful. I love that idea and she is a living example of a teacher who makes it work. After meeting my future internship cooperating teacher, I feel like she has the same perspective as Mrs. Roe. I can't wait to work with her and learn so much more about my passion for managing behaviors and create a classroom environment that is welcoming, engaging, and safe!