Our student teaching program usually consists of phasing-in, taking on a full-load for about 3 weeks, then phasing-out.  Last Friday I showed up at school and was told that I was getting it all for that day.  Turns out my cooperating teacher’s son, age 2, had strep throat and she was going home.  I had the opportunity to teach the entire day while the substitute (required to be there thanks to Kansas’ law forbidding student teachers to be paid) sat around watching.  That was an extremely easy day for her and a quick $95.  After that my cooperating teacher has basically been letting me take over whatever I want to, which was not at all what was written on paper for my phasing-in schedule!  Actually, I’m rather pleased since she obviously likes what I’m doing.  She gives me feedback and jumps in when she feels the need.  Now I just need to figure out how she’s doing the planning . . .