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.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
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!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Student Teaching Week 1
Case 1: Third period: Math 7 and totally out of control. There is one boy that has a desire to prove the teacher wrong constantly, we'll call him "Case Study I." There are two boys who talked so much during class that they are seperated and sit on complete opposite sides of the room. This doesn't stop them from talking. We'll call them Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. Next, we have a boy who just loves attention and will spat out every single answer, even if you are asking another student to answer, we'll call him "Case Study G." Finally, we have a girl that sits in the front row and thinks the world revolves around her. Although her personality is cute at first by being extremely confident about herself, one soon finds her confidence and outspokenness is truly just obnoxious. We'll call her "Case Study G."
Let, us now begin our journey of Student Teaching: January 2011: Day 1: Period 3.
Teacher has to address an emergency. I take over going over a homework problem.
Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum start talking across the room. I ask them to be quiet.
The class continues to talk.
I explain that this is homework and the more we get done in class, the less they have to do at home.
Case Study I makes the remark that since we're working on it in class it is not homework.
I say something to counter his smart-aleck comment.
I continue to work on the problem with the students. I ask for someone in Row 2 to help out. Case Study G answers (he is not in row 2). I ask for someone in another area to answer. Case Study G answers. Finally, I tell Case Study G that he has helped a lot and let's try to give someone else a chance.
Meanwhile, Case Study G brings out her cell phone and says she's listening to someone's ringtone and is playing with her phone. And making everyone send their attention her way. I tell her to give me her phone. And continue with the math problem at hand. She gives it to me. I continue. She raises her hand and says "Can I have my phone back?" I ask her to read the rules that are written on a poster in the room and especially focus on number one (which talks about electronics). I continue with the math problem. She continues to ask about her phone and I tell her we'll talk about it later. Then, the teacher returns and takes over again. And now, Case Study G has a favorite saying EVERY time she sees me... "She hates me. She took away my phone."
The sad thing about all of this was that only 5 stinkin' minutes had passed since the teacher left and returned. I might not be the students' favorite yet...but at least they know I mean business. Case closed.
But, overall student teaching will be fun. This week was crazy just trying to get used to everything, but I'm sure there will be exciting stories ahead.
Let, us now begin our journey of Student Teaching: January 2011: Day 1: Period 3.
Teacher has to address an emergency. I take over going over a homework problem.
Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum start talking across the room. I ask them to be quiet.
The class continues to talk.
I explain that this is homework and the more we get done in class, the less they have to do at home.
Case Study I makes the remark that since we're working on it in class it is not homework.
I say something to counter his smart-aleck comment.
I continue to work on the problem with the students. I ask for someone in Row 2 to help out. Case Study G answers (he is not in row 2). I ask for someone in another area to answer. Case Study G answers. Finally, I tell Case Study G that he has helped a lot and let's try to give someone else a chance.
Meanwhile, Case Study G brings out her cell phone and says she's listening to someone's ringtone and is playing with her phone. And making everyone send their attention her way. I tell her to give me her phone. And continue with the math problem at hand. She gives it to me. I continue. She raises her hand and says "Can I have my phone back?" I ask her to read the rules that are written on a poster in the room and especially focus on number one (which talks about electronics). I continue with the math problem. She continues to ask about her phone and I tell her we'll talk about it later. Then, the teacher returns and takes over again. And now, Case Study G has a favorite saying EVERY time she sees me... "She hates me. She took away my phone."
The sad thing about all of this was that only 5 stinkin' minutes had passed since the teacher left and returned. I might not be the students' favorite yet...but at least they know I mean business. Case closed.
But, overall student teaching will be fun. This week was crazy just trying to get used to everything, but I'm sure there will be exciting stories ahead.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Where to Start
I'm to the point that I have so much to write that I don't want to do this. So, to keep it tolerable....this is just a glance into the last month of KateLyn and Andrew.
Finals done. (Andrew officially done with his Bachelor's!)
Christmas with the Jenkins including: bowling, good ol' Johnny's, Christmas morning, movies, church, a Jazz game, Temple Square lights, Tuscano's, birthday soups. Fun Times.
Nights without having to tutor. (tutoring was replaced by some great TV shows :)
I bought a Christmas tree for Christmas 2011.
Laziness.
The truth is, we've been so lazy lately that I'm utterly terrified for this week to start. I'm scared for my long days ahead. With how many naps I've taken (yes, I actually took naps) and how I've slept in....my body is going to go into shock this week. Here we go...
This time of year is one of reflection. And really it's quite crazy to compare where I was at this time last year and where I am now. Quite a bit. I wasn't even engaged last January. And here I am now...an old married hag that only has three and a half months left of school . It's so interesting to think how much can change in one year. This year is just so different too because we really don't know what our life will be after June. So many unknowns ahead... this year could get crazy!! One can only imagine what is in store for us in 2011.
Finals done. (Andrew officially done with his Bachelor's!)
Christmas with the Jenkins including: bowling, good ol' Johnny's, Christmas morning, movies, church, a Jazz game, Temple Square lights, Tuscano's, birthday soups. Fun Times.
Nights without having to tutor. (tutoring was replaced by some great TV shows :)
I bought a Christmas tree for Christmas 2011.
Laziness.
The truth is, we've been so lazy lately that I'm utterly terrified for this week to start. I'm scared for my long days ahead. With how many naps I've taken (yes, I actually took naps) and how I've slept in....my body is going to go into shock this week. Here we go...
This time of year is one of reflection. And really it's quite crazy to compare where I was at this time last year and where I am now. Quite a bit. I wasn't even engaged last January. And here I am now...an old married hag that only has three and a half months left of school . It's so interesting to think how much can change in one year. This year is just so different too because we really don't know what our life will be after June. So many unknowns ahead... this year could get crazy!! One can only imagine what is in store for us in 2011.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Holidays!!!
Life has just been crazy busy, but absolutely wonderful lately. (By this statement you can see finals are not affecting me too much). So much has happened I guess I'll just really quickly recap. 
This picture is of Andrew on Mikenzy duty while the rest of us do dishes. Ever since they have moved to CDA, Mikenzy, who also loves the movie Enchanted (remember this detail), has decided that there is one Ken doll that is Andrew and one Barbie that is me. There is no tricking her and pretending another Barbie is KateLyn or another Ken is Andrew...she knows! Well, one night, she was playing with Andrew and KateLyn (the dolls). She gets this soft tilt of her head and looks at the dolls then leans them together and says, "True love's kiss." It was the funniest thing I've ever seen.
Thanksgiving: Idaho. We had lots of fun. The roads weren't terrible and with our new tires, we made way good time. We went to Harry Potter, ate, went sledding, ate, boys went hunting, ate, put up the Chr
istmas tree, ate, played games, ate, boys played in the turkey bowl and other stuff too. It was just fun and relaxing. Here are a few pics and a few explanations to go with (some will need it). Like I said, the boys went and played in the ward turkey bowl. It was football in the sn
ow. They came back tired, wet, and cold. Andrew even came back with a battle wound on his neck. You can tell the game got pretty wild. Some ruthless player gave Andrew a run for his money and left him with that mark to remember it. Sadly, the perpetrator was my dear brother, Jeff. Welcome to the family, Andrew.
istmas tree, ate, played games, ate, boys played in the turkey bowl and other stuff too. It was just fun and relaxing. Here are a few pics and a few explanations to go with (some will need it). Like I said, the boys went and played in the ward turkey bowl. It was football in the sn
ow. They came back tired, wet, and cold. Andrew even came back with a battle wound on his neck. You can tell the game got pretty wild. Some ruthless player gave Andrew a run for his money and left him with that mark to remember it. Sadly, the perpetrator was my dear brother, Jeff. Welcome to the family, Andrew. This picture is of Andrew on Mikenzy duty while the rest of us do dishes. Ever since they have moved to CDA, Mikenzy, who also loves the movie Enchanted (remember this detail), has decided that there is one Ken doll that is Andrew and one Barbie that is me. There is no tricking her and pretending another Barbie is KateLyn or another Ken is Andrew...she knows! Well, one night, she was playing with Andrew and KateLyn (the dolls). She gets this soft tilt of her head and looks at the dolls then leans them together and says, "True love's kiss." It was the funniest thing I've ever seen.When we got back, life was still cruisin'! I found out that I passed that test I needed to to get certified! I found out where I am student teaching! Andrew has a countdown for his last semester of his Bachelors! And Katie got home from the mission! It was really fun to see her/really meet her for the first time! I'm really excited to get to know her better and it will be nice for the Jenks to be back together again.
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