Wow...sorry its been almost 2 months since I wrote. Crazy is the only word that describes life these days.
Topic #1: Student teaching- this has been my life the last two and a half months. I did my first block at Ceder Ridge Middle School in Hyde Park, UT teaching in a 6th grade science class. This was an ok experience...it wasn't the best but it wasn't horrible either. The kids were amazing (all 150 of them). I did learn however that middle school set up is NOT for me. I hated teaching the same lesson five times and only that one lesson. I think I could like 6th grade if it was in an elementary school. Right now I am in a 2nd grade classroom at Wilson Elementary in Logan and I love it. The kids are adorable and my teacher is awesome. I am so looking forward to having my own classroom and teaching my own students. The conclusion I have come to about student teaching is very simple...it is good practice for the actual teaching part, especially being able to work with a veteran teacher and have good feedback, but as for the planning, management, and other smaller aspects of the classroom, its kind of a waste of time. It's not your class or classroom so you can't really do things the way you would do them and you just kind of play the part of a puppet to pass. However, with that said, overall its been a pretty good experience and good practice time.
Topic #2: The past couple of weeks I have gotten everything in order to graduate. I turned in my Utah State Educator license so I will be a legit teacher upon graduation. I ordered my cap and gown and my graduation announcements. And to top it all off, last Thursday I attend the Northern Utah Teacher Fair and stated having job interviews and turning in applications with school districts around the state. This was absolutely terrifying!!! Hopefully, withing the next 4 or 5 months, I will have a job, teaching somewhere (anywhere) in the state of Utah, being an adult, and living my own life!! It is almost not real...I do NOT feel ready for this at all!!
Topic #3: My number one stress reliever the past couple of months has been Aggie basketball! I love my boys!! It has been an amazing season as they accomplished earning the WAC season title for the third season in a row!! We had some great wins against BYU, LA Tech, and New Mexico at home. We had some close ones, but after losing their first two WAC games they did what they do best and won every game from there on out. After a disappointing loss to New Mexico state during the WAC tournament they were still given the opportunity to go dancing in the NCAA tournament as a 12th seed playing Texas A&M (5th seed). They played hard, but the ref's made some tough calls and the boys just couldn't get a shot to fall. They lost by 16. It was a sad day, but I am still so proud of them and the great season they had...going 27 and 8. I am sad to see the season end being the last season I will see them play as a student, but I will always be the 6th man!!
Topic #4: This week has been one of the longest weeks of my entire life. It is Spring Break for USU and all my roommates took off with their families. However, because I have given my life over to the ELED department at Utah State, I did not have the fortune of having Spring Break this week. I have endured this week alone as the rest of Logan leaves to enjoy spring elsewhere. I still have two full weeks until my Spring Break. Sad day I know! I have watched more movies and read more in the last 7 days than I ever have before in my life.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Overdue...
This blog update is long overdue. Sorry it has been so long since I wrote. Life has been SO crazy the last couple of weeks. I got to spend Christmas break in Tooele with my family doing absolutely nothing and it was marvelous. It was a much needed break.
This semester marks a big benchmark in my schooling. I have officially started student teaching! It is so crazy to think that in a few, short months I will graduate and be thrown head first into the real world of grown-ups. I like the class I am in now. It is a 6th grade science class. This is a big change from my 3rd graders last semester. It is kind of a struggle for me to switch, but I am hoping my attitude will get better the farther in I get.
My one true passion on campus, Aggie basketball, of course, gave us all a scare with two losses on the road over the break but have come back and had some major wins against Nevada and Fresno St. since. I love my boys and they are doing so much better!
Sorry its brief, but its better than nothing right!
This semester marks a big benchmark in my schooling. I have officially started student teaching! It is so crazy to think that in a few, short months I will graduate and be thrown head first into the real world of grown-ups. I like the class I am in now. It is a 6th grade science class. This is a big change from my 3rd graders last semester. It is kind of a struggle for me to switch, but I am hoping my attitude will get better the farther in I get.
My one true passion on campus, Aggie basketball, of course, gave us all a scare with two losses on the road over the break but have come back and had some major wins against Nevada and Fresno St. since. I love my boys and they are doing so much better!
Sorry its brief, but its better than nothing right!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Winning Team...Losing Team!!!!
OH MY!!!! OH MY!!!!!! Last night would rank as one of the best nights of my entire life!!! BYU vs. USU in the Spectrum!!! Can I just say I love Aggie Basketball!?!?! There is a magic that happens in that building that cannot be replicated in any way shape or form.
Now, I am not one of those crazy people that camped out over night. I am dedicated, but not that much so. Members of my group were there at 7:00 A.M. and we rotated throughout the day. We were about 50 or so people back in line outside the Spectrum. It was a long, cold wait but totally worth it.
As the doors opened, there was this mad push from the back of the line, completely crushing those of us in the front. Well, little did I know, there was a giant trash can in the way. As I got pushed by it, I got pushed into it so bad that I had no way to move. Luckily, the three guys across the garbage can from me saw what was happening and lifted me up and over the garbage can. I have some pretty sweet battle wounds to show for it too.
Once inside, the pandemonium didn't lessen. After getting enough seats for our group, we all settled in for the next hour until the start of the game. This game was one of the best I have ever seen in my life. Not only is BYU our biggest rival, they are also a bunch of egotistical, cowardly pansies I have ever seen. Not only do they refuse to play in the Spectrum for years, but they come in expecting to win! What a bunch of crap!
After being down by 3 at the half, we can back with some amazing plays, and won 71-61!!! Sweet victory!! The dream of chanting WINNING TEAM...LOSING TEAM to BYU was the best feeling in the world!!!!
Now, I am not one of those crazy people that camped out over night. I am dedicated, but not that much so. Members of my group were there at 7:00 A.M. and we rotated throughout the day. We were about 50 or so people back in line outside the Spectrum. It was a long, cold wait but totally worth it.
As the doors opened, there was this mad push from the back of the line, completely crushing those of us in the front. Well, little did I know, there was a giant trash can in the way. As I got pushed by it, I got pushed into it so bad that I had no way to move. Luckily, the three guys across the garbage can from me saw what was happening and lifted me up and over the garbage can. I have some pretty sweet battle wounds to show for it too.
Once inside, the pandemonium didn't lessen. After getting enough seats for our group, we all settled in for the next hour until the start of the game. This game was one of the best I have ever seen in my life. Not only is BYU our biggest rival, they are also a bunch of egotistical, cowardly pansies I have ever seen. Not only do they refuse to play in the Spectrum for years, but they come in expecting to win! What a bunch of crap!
After being down by 3 at the half, we can back with some amazing plays, and won 71-61!!! Sweet victory!! The dream of chanting WINNING TEAM...LOSING TEAM to BYU was the best feeling in the world!!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Flash of Reality
This week is becoming an eye opener for the rest of my future. This is my last full week of classes...ever. Crazy I know. I start my last teaching practicum on Monday. This means in exaclty 2 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day I will start student teaching. That is a scary thought at the moment. I can't believe that I am almost done with school. It seems like just yesterday that I was graduating from high school and getting ready to move away to college.
Another eye opening experience was signing my graduation packet today with my adivisor. The next couple of months are going to fly by. I can't believe the end (and the beginning) is that close.
I am looking forward though, to getting back in the classroom. I miss the students and all the funny things they do.
Another eye opening experience was signing my graduation packet today with my adivisor. The next couple of months are going to fly by. I can't believe the end (and the beginning) is that close.
I am looking forward though, to getting back in the classroom. I miss the students and all the funny things they do.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Oh my!
Oh my, oh my!!! We are only 4 weeks into the semester and I already feel like I have been hit by a semi truck. I now understand why the education program at USU is ranked so high in the nation. I am so overwhelmed and stressed, but I am going to be one of the most prepared first year teachers EVER!
This semester is what we call our block, or methods, classes. I have 5 main block class (science, language arts, social studies, math, and instruction for struggling readers). I am also taking intermediate classroom management. For the main 5 I switch between two different classrooms, that are right next to each other. I am in class with the same 26 other people and the classes are all 3 hours and 15 minutes long. I know what you are thinking...it's really not as bad as it seems (except Tuesday's when I sit in the same classroom for almost 7 hours straight).
My favorite class of the week is the social studies class. I have never enjoyed social studies more. It is amazing!!! I love the way the professor teaches the class, by example and doing the lessons with us, instead of just telling us about how to teach.
My least favorite class of the block is the struggling readers class. Now, I have come to two conclusions...one is that I just have a bad attitude about the class and go already dreading it or two...the class is just boring, uninteresting, not pertinent half the time, and once again, BORING!!
Now, my one special class of the week...intermediate classroom management. This is a special class because I seem to have a talent for ticking the teacher off. I refuse to call her a professor because she is only a Ph. D. student and man does she act like it!! She is the brattiest, rudest, and crappiest teacher I have ever had. She drives me crazy!! When I asked her if she would be able to post her powerpoints online, her response was "No! I am new to teaching this class and I don't finish preparing my lessons until noon the day of your class. If you were in the wednesday class, that may be possible, but not for this one!" As if, I had asked her the most ridiculous question on the face of the earth. The next week she said the reading would be posted online by wednesday morning, and as of wednesday night at 11:30 pm, the readings were not there. So I emailed her. The next morning the email back read... "If you want to read at your own pace, buy the book." That was it! How rude!!!
Now, as I sit here, I am venting and letting all my thoughts run out on paper (well, being typed), it feels so good I realize that I am so glad to be graduating and being done! Yay for spring semester!!!
This semester is what we call our block, or methods, classes. I have 5 main block class (science, language arts, social studies, math, and instruction for struggling readers). I am also taking intermediate classroom management. For the main 5 I switch between two different classrooms, that are right next to each other. I am in class with the same 26 other people and the classes are all 3 hours and 15 minutes long. I know what you are thinking...it's really not as bad as it seems (except Tuesday's when I sit in the same classroom for almost 7 hours straight).
My favorite class of the week is the social studies class. I have never enjoyed social studies more. It is amazing!!! I love the way the professor teaches the class, by example and doing the lessons with us, instead of just telling us about how to teach.
My least favorite class of the block is the struggling readers class. Now, I have come to two conclusions...one is that I just have a bad attitude about the class and go already dreading it or two...the class is just boring, uninteresting, not pertinent half the time, and once again, BORING!!
Now, my one special class of the week...intermediate classroom management. This is a special class because I seem to have a talent for ticking the teacher off. I refuse to call her a professor because she is only a Ph. D. student and man does she act like it!! She is the brattiest, rudest, and crappiest teacher I have ever had. She drives me crazy!! When I asked her if she would be able to post her powerpoints online, her response was "No! I am new to teaching this class and I don't finish preparing my lessons until noon the day of your class. If you were in the wednesday class, that may be possible, but not for this one!" As if, I had asked her the most ridiculous question on the face of the earth. The next week she said the reading would be posted online by wednesday morning, and as of wednesday night at 11:30 pm, the readings were not there. So I emailed her. The next morning the email back read... "If you want to read at your own pace, buy the book." That was it! How rude!!!
Now, as I sit here, I am venting and letting all my thoughts run out on paper (well, being typed), it feels so good I realize that I am so glad to be graduating and being done! Yay for spring semester!!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
First day of school
Today was the first day of classes and for the first time in a long time, I felt completely terrified. It was that, first day of first grade feeling all over again. I am entering into the world of the unexpected. This semester is all about learning how to teach, all my methods courses. Next semester, student teaching and graduation. I can not express in appropriate words how terrified I am of that idea. I was on campus, camped out in front of the elementary education advising office at 6 AM this morning. Oh, the things we do for our education. There are a limited number of spots open to student teach in Cache Valley and they place us on a first come first serve bases. So, all of us crazy students lined up to put in our applications. I then proceed to orientaion and my first class. I walked away feeling only slightly less overwhelmed than I had this morning. We'll see what the rest of the first week brings. Each day is different so I still have no idea what I am getting into!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Catch up...
Because school is starting in a little over a week (not counting Connections week), it has made me stop and ponder over what I have done this summer. I have come to the conclusion that this has by far been one of the best summers of my life, if not the best.
Last night, as I was lying in a gravel parking lot with a rock sticking into my back, getting cold, I realized that I was 100% happy and content with life. I loved the fact that every time we saw a shooting star, every one's hands shot into the air and we all "oh"ed and "aw"ed together. I loved just being there with everyone. I thought about each person there and all the memories I have with them. It was slightly overwhelming. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by such great people and friends.
Last night, as I was lying in a gravel parking lot with a rock sticking into my back, getting cold, I realized that I was 100% happy and content with life. I loved the fact that every time we saw a shooting star, every one's hands shot into the air and we all "oh"ed and "aw"ed together. I loved just being there with everyone. I thought about each person there and all the memories I have with them. It was slightly overwhelming. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by such great people and friends.
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