Sunday, April 10, 2011
Final Days
Student teaching was fun. It was an absolutely great experience. But...(and there is always a but..) I am so glad it is over. And yes, you heard right: IT IS OVER. I'm done student teaching. Basically done with college. Tomorrow I have to show up for a ten minute interview. Then the 22nd I have to show up for an hour and half ceremony dressed in a funny cap and gown. Then, I'm legit. Quite nuts really. I can't believe I have spent four years here and now we finally get to move on. Was it always the best time of my life down here in Provo? Heck no. Would I have rather been doing something else? No way Jose. It was a great time of life and I wouldn't change a thing. It was a blast and full of life memories and experiences that are irreplaceable. Go BYU.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Summer Adventures
Our summer is going to be great. Here's the update for June.
From June 21-28, we will be in Brazil. We bought our tickets Friday night. It's official.
Exciting. Should be an adventure!
From June 21-28, we will be in Brazil. We bought our tickets Friday night. It's official.
Exciting. Should be an adventure!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A blonde moment...It was inevitable
This week I experienced a blonde moment. I have these once in a while, but only a few that I think I will remember forever. This might be one of those.
Here is how it played out. Two students (we'll call them S1 and S2) were chatting quite loudly while they were working on the assignment. I was just cleaning up from the lesson, so I was still positioned in the front of the classroom. And remember my cooperating teacher is Mr. B.....and action.
S1:....Area 51!
Me: You guys are too young to go to Area 51!
S2 and S1: Really?!?!
S1: But I had a friend that went there.
Me (not wanting to get into any discussions about Area 51 and the things that go on there): Well, anyway, just stop talking about it and start workin'.
S2: Well what is Area 51?
Me: Don't worry about it, just get working on your assignment.
S2: I'm going to go home and go look it up then.
Me (not wanting parents to think it's because of me that they are looking such a thing up) :It's just this dancing place.
S1 and S2: A dancing place?!?! Where?!?!
Me: In Salt Lake. Now work!
Mr. B: The secret government place, Area 51, is in Nevada.
My face then turned bright red. Because of course the students had been thinking of the secret government facility and not the club... in Salt Lake...that I thought of.
Duh.
I've never even been there! (To the club I mean...well actually I've never been to either of them...) The point is that it isn't because I was a clubber that this happened. It was just, just, just a blonde moment. End of story.
Here is how it played out. Two students (we'll call them S1 and S2) were chatting quite loudly while they were working on the assignment. I was just cleaning up from the lesson, so I was still positioned in the front of the classroom. And remember my cooperating teacher is Mr. B.....and action.
S1:....Area 51!
Me: You guys are too young to go to Area 51!
S2 and S1: Really?!?!
S1: But I had a friend that went there.
Me (not wanting to get into any discussions about Area 51 and the things that go on there): Well, anyway, just stop talking about it and start workin'.
S2: Well what is Area 51?
Me: Don't worry about it, just get working on your assignment.
S2: I'm going to go home and go look it up then.
Me (not wanting parents to think it's because of me that they are looking such a thing up) :It's just this dancing place.
S1 and S2: A dancing place?!?! Where?!?!
Me: In Salt Lake. Now work!
Mr. B: The secret government place, Area 51, is in Nevada.
My face then turned bright red. Because of course the students had been thinking of the secret government facility and not the club... in Salt Lake...that I thought of.
Duh.
I've never even been there! (To the club I mean...well actually I've never been to either of them...) The point is that it isn't because I was a clubber that this happened. It was just, just, just a blonde moment. End of story.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Student Teaching Saga Continues
Well I am officially half way done with student teaching. It's fun...but I'll be glad when it'll be over.
Here is the story of week. A boy that is in a Pre-Algebra class (so I'm not the one who teaches it...my partner does) has had to come in during E-time (a twenty minute period four days a week where students have a kind of study hall) to re-take quizzes and tests. He finally passed everything he needed to, but then the class had another quiz so he had to start coming back in. Here is the conversation that followed during the class. We'll call this boy B and two girls that sit by him will be G1 and G2. I'm sitting at the desk in the back of the room with my cooperating teacher...Mr. B.
B: I've been coming in here during E-time so much lately...I'm sick of it. I'm tired of being in here! (He's a way sweet kid...so this was more of a joke than a negative comment)
G1: He just likes to come in to stare at Mrs. Jenkins!
(B blushes...I just ignore the comment)
G1: No, really, Mrs. Jenkins...he wants to marry you.
Me: (Since they're all looking back at me now, I have to respond.) I'm already married.
G2: Just get a divorce.
Me: Well, I'm happily married.
Another boy from the class: Wow you just crushed his dreams!
(This point I'm blushing and just grateful the conversation has stopped....so I thought anyway.)
Mr. B: Ya know, that isn't the first time I've heard stuff like that.
Me: What do you mean?
Mr. B: Well, I just didn't want to tell you because I didn't know how you'd react...But, one day you were teaching and the door was closed and I was coming back into the classroom and there was a group of boys standing outside the door and looking through the window. I asked them if there was somethign they needed to talk to my student teacher about. Then as I was coming in to the classroom I said 'Sorry boys, she's married.' And they said 'Oh. Dang!'.
Oh, those sweet little seventh-graders.
Here is the story of week. A boy that is in a Pre-Algebra class (so I'm not the one who teaches it...my partner does) has had to come in during E-time (a twenty minute period four days a week where students have a kind of study hall) to re-take quizzes and tests. He finally passed everything he needed to, but then the class had another quiz so he had to start coming back in. Here is the conversation that followed during the class. We'll call this boy B and two girls that sit by him will be G1 and G2. I'm sitting at the desk in the back of the room with my cooperating teacher...Mr. B.
B: I've been coming in here during E-time so much lately...I'm sick of it. I'm tired of being in here! (He's a way sweet kid...so this was more of a joke than a negative comment)
G1: He just likes to come in to stare at Mrs. Jenkins!
(B blushes...I just ignore the comment)
G1: No, really, Mrs. Jenkins...he wants to marry you.
Me: (Since they're all looking back at me now, I have to respond.) I'm already married.
G2: Just get a divorce.
Me: Well, I'm happily married.
Another boy from the class: Wow you just crushed his dreams!
(This point I'm blushing and just grateful the conversation has stopped....so I thought anyway.)
Mr. B: Ya know, that isn't the first time I've heard stuff like that.
Me: What do you mean?
Mr. B: Well, I just didn't want to tell you because I didn't know how you'd react...But, one day you were teaching and the door was closed and I was coming back into the classroom and there was a group of boys standing outside the door and looking through the window. I asked them if there was somethign they needed to talk to my student teacher about. Then as I was coming in to the classroom I said 'Sorry boys, she's married.' And they said 'Oh. Dang!'.
Oh, those sweet little seventh-graders.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Best V-day Ever!
I work tomorrow night...so we celebrated V-day yesterday. But, let's begin with the start of the day.
8:00AM- Andrew starts the GMAT
12:00 Noon-Andrew finishes the GMAT
4:45 PM-Andrew and I go indoor skydiving
5:00 PM- Andrew and I can't get over how fun it was
Sunday 7:55 PM- Andrew and I still talk about how fun yesterday was and wonder when we can go again.
We have a video from our experience and once I can edit it a bit...I'll post it. It's hilarious actually.
It was a great weekend. Andrew did great on his test. We actually got some time to hang out and indoor skydiving is always a fun way to spend it. Definitely the best Valentine's Day yet!
8:00AM- Andrew starts the GMAT
12:00 Noon-Andrew finishes the GMAT
4:45 PM-Andrew and I go indoor skydiving
5:00 PM- Andrew and I can't get over how fun it was
Sunday 7:55 PM- Andrew and I still talk about how fun yesterday was and wonder when we can go again.
We have a video from our experience and once I can edit it a bit...I'll post it. It's hilarious actually.
It was a great weekend. Andrew did great on his test. We actually got some time to hang out and indoor skydiving is always a fun way to spend it. Definitely the best Valentine's Day yet!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Life is weird when nothing weird happens...
Student Teaching Week 3:
Nothing noteworthy happened. Nothing out of the ordinary. No major misbehavin'. It was kinda nice, but strange. I've decided teaching is a very humbling occupation though. No matter how good you want to be, there's always ways to improve or be better. You can never do a lesson perfectly...or even near perfectly for that matter. You can plan all you want, but things never go as planned. You never know what students will say. You never know how they will interpret or understand what you are teaching. You constantly have to be on your toes and think quickly. It's challenging and I only hope I'll continue to get better as we go.
I've been reading the book How to Make Friends and Influence People. It's an awesome awesome book. The only thing I'd like better is to be able to remember and apply every word in it. Every page has something fascinating and worthwhile, so the problem comes in remembering all of it. In the preface of the book the author suggests reading each chapter twice. When I read that I thought "Who does this guy think he is? What he says is so deep that I'd do better if I read it twice?? We'll see if I can even tolerate him to make it through the first chapter once!" But, I take it all back. It's a good idea. He knows what he's talking about.
Nothing noteworthy happened. Nothing out of the ordinary. No major misbehavin'. It was kinda nice, but strange. I've decided teaching is a very humbling occupation though. No matter how good you want to be, there's always ways to improve or be better. You can never do a lesson perfectly...or even near perfectly for that matter. You can plan all you want, but things never go as planned. You never know what students will say. You never know how they will interpret or understand what you are teaching. You constantly have to be on your toes and think quickly. It's challenging and I only hope I'll continue to get better as we go.
I've been reading the book How to Make Friends and Influence People. It's an awesome awesome book. The only thing I'd like better is to be able to remember and apply every word in it. Every page has something fascinating and worthwhile, so the problem comes in remembering all of it. In the preface of the book the author suggests reading each chapter twice. When I read that I thought "Who does this guy think he is? What he says is so deep that I'd do better if I read it twice?? We'll see if I can even tolerate him to make it through the first chapter once!" But, I take it all back. It's a good idea. He knows what he's talking about.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
ST Week 2
Story of Week 2:
Thursday was the last day of the term, so my student teaching partner and I did a getting to know you activity with all the students. Students must say their name, where they were born, and what their dream job would be. Responses were creative and anywhere from a vet to a gunsmith. It was going great, until...
Case Study 2- Exhibit S said he wants to be a terrorists when he grows up. Half of the class laughs. I look at that half and very sternly say "That's not funny at all." Then I stared at the kid, trying to figure out what the correct way to handle this response was. I knew I did not want to give it any more attention, because that is what he was going for. So, I moved onto the next student.
Learning experience: I should have told the kid to see me after class. That makes students know that he is being reprimanded for such an inappropriate answer. And also gives the teacher time to really decide what to do .
Remember cell phone girl from last week...well, she has been living in a city like 45 minutes away and had to drive to Spanish Fork everyday for school. But, with the end of the term, her parents decided that she should just go to school in the city they live. Problem Solved.
But another thing can be learned from this situation. I had talked to her and found more about her situation. Her parents are divorced and she is having a hard time with her new step-mom and step-sibs. It's just proof that you need to understand someone before you judge and make opinions. I was having a hard time with that student, but after understanding her, it explains why she does the things she does. Definitely makes you more understanding when students act up.
On another note, Andrew recieved his diploma in the mail! What an awesome feeling! And hallelujah! Way to Go Andrew!!
Thursday was the last day of the term, so my student teaching partner and I did a getting to know you activity with all the students. Students must say their name, where they were born, and what their dream job would be. Responses were creative and anywhere from a vet to a gunsmith. It was going great, until...
Case Study 2- Exhibit S said he wants to be a terrorists when he grows up. Half of the class laughs. I look at that half and very sternly say "That's not funny at all." Then I stared at the kid, trying to figure out what the correct way to handle this response was. I knew I did not want to give it any more attention, because that is what he was going for. So, I moved onto the next student.
Learning experience: I should have told the kid to see me after class. That makes students know that he is being reprimanded for such an inappropriate answer. And also gives the teacher time to really decide what to do .
Remember cell phone girl from last week...well, she has been living in a city like 45 minutes away and had to drive to Spanish Fork everyday for school. But, with the end of the term, her parents decided that she should just go to school in the city they live. Problem Solved.
But another thing can be learned from this situation. I had talked to her and found more about her situation. Her parents are divorced and she is having a hard time with her new step-mom and step-sibs. It's just proof that you need to understand someone before you judge and make opinions. I was having a hard time with that student, but after understanding her, it explains why she does the things she does. Definitely makes you more understanding when students act up.
On another note, Andrew recieved his diploma in the mail! What an awesome feeling! And hallelujah! Way to Go Andrew!!
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