So today I only taught one class... as my other block had to go for scantron math testing. I'm really comfortable with the class I taught today. It is my most full, with about 34 students, but there is an energy, and I really click with the kids. I have to work hard to keep their attention and keep things moving, but once we get going, it goes well.
I've taught two 90 minute blocks, and so far....I think they've gone really really well. There are so many things I need to work on. Sometimes it is hard for me to not become disheartened as I really want to be the best person that I can be for the students. Whatever feelings I used to have about teaching being my calling have been completely reinforced with the past week of having students. Working with the kids leads me straight to a big smile, and a heart that knows I'm in the right place...which is one of the best feelings in the world...just below being loved. :)
Today we learned about China - I KNOW NOTHING! But, the lesson was successful, and I feel like the kids did well with it. They respond to me, and I've almost got all of their names down (thank god) and we're clicking well.
I need to catch up a little as I'm doing my lesson plans the night before, and it would be better for everyone if I could get it together a little faster/better. Hopefully I'll catch up to that train soon ... otherwise spring break is looking MIGHTY full of work...haha.
Things I have learned so far:
5:30 is REALLY early in the morning
Teachers hate bad leadership
Kids behave if you expect them to
You will answer the same question 500,000,000 times before the answer is finished
It means a lot to kids when you know WHO they are
I'm good at cracking into those kids who don't want to talk to anyone
I love this job
I need to make sure to establish the TIME PERIOD (duh!) when teaching
:)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
change of a nation
As I am lying in my bed, my never ending mind continues on it's never ending quest to keep me awake at all hours of the night. Currently it is overflowing with ideas and thoughts - some of which must be dealt with immediately or I will spend hours lying in bed thinking about the same things for hours...which means no sleep ... which means a weary teacher.
In 8 days, we will have a new president. This is significant in itself. The MOST presidents that a high school student could have lived under is five. Considering that Clinton and Bush both held two terms - three different people now becomes the top number.
As someone who loves history and finds herself delving into books about the past on a regular basis, I often was frustrated when I was younger. I wanted to experience the "history" of tomorrow. My parents remember JFK's assassination - as well as MLK's. Not only that, but they lived through the Cold War, Man on the Moon, the Civil Rights movement, and the fall of the Berlin wall. My grandparents were alive during the tail end of the great depression, World War II , and Jackie Robinson's first game.
When I look into my 22 years of life, I find significant memories of "history" that I never really understood were to become the history of the future - such as Columbine. This time is different. I know that Obama's election and inauguration will change the face of this nation forever. No matter if you agree with the man's political views, it is impossible to not understand the importance of his election. 50 years ago, this nation was a different place...and I feel like we've come leaps and bounds since then. Do we have work to do? Of course. As teachers, our job requires us to help students understand the great wonders of our nation and the diversity that it encompasses. As HISTORY teachers, we need to make sure to catch the attention of our students when history is happening.
I will be attending the inauguration in 8 days. I couldn't be more excited about personally witnessing one of the big histories of my lifetime. I have the opportunity to listen to some amazing people speak, and wish that I could take my best history pals with me.
I have two thoughts for teachers (including myself).
1. Nominate kids for things that the Congressional Youth Leadership Council puts on. I was nominated by someone in high school and will be taking my second trip to DC becuase of it.
2. We need to help students connect the past to the future through our subject. History IS important...and although students don't need to remember everything, they do need to learn when significant things are happening around them.
My mother always laughed (and I think cringed a little) when I was insistant on saving massive amounts of newspapers. I guess I've always tried to capture the future history - and keep it a memory. What a memory the United States is about to put in the books... :)
In 8 days, we will have a new president. This is significant in itself. The MOST presidents that a high school student could have lived under is five. Considering that Clinton and Bush both held two terms - three different people now becomes the top number.
As someone who loves history and finds herself delving into books about the past on a regular basis, I often was frustrated when I was younger. I wanted to experience the "history" of tomorrow. My parents remember JFK's assassination - as well as MLK's. Not only that, but they lived through the Cold War, Man on the Moon, the Civil Rights movement, and the fall of the Berlin wall. My grandparents were alive during the tail end of the great depression, World War II , and Jackie Robinson's first game.
When I look into my 22 years of life, I find significant memories of "history" that I never really understood were to become the history of the future - such as Columbine. This time is different. I know that Obama's election and inauguration will change the face of this nation forever. No matter if you agree with the man's political views, it is impossible to not understand the importance of his election. 50 years ago, this nation was a different place...and I feel like we've come leaps and bounds since then. Do we have work to do? Of course. As teachers, our job requires us to help students understand the great wonders of our nation and the diversity that it encompasses. As HISTORY teachers, we need to make sure to catch the attention of our students when history is happening.
I will be attending the inauguration in 8 days. I couldn't be more excited about personally witnessing one of the big histories of my lifetime. I have the opportunity to listen to some amazing people speak, and wish that I could take my best history pals with me.
I have two thoughts for teachers (including myself).
1. Nominate kids for things that the Congressional Youth Leadership Council puts on. I was nominated by someone in high school and will be taking my second trip to DC becuase of it.
2. We need to help students connect the past to the future through our subject. History IS important...and although students don't need to remember everything, they do need to learn when significant things are happening around them.
My mother always laughed (and I think cringed a little) when I was insistant on saving massive amounts of newspapers. I guess I've always tried to capture the future history - and keep it a memory. What a memory the United States is about to put in the books... :)
Gearing up for the first FULL week...
I'm not sure how it is possible to learn so much in so little time...but I really have. I've had the opportunity to teach four 50 minute classes and two 90 minute blocks. The timing etc went really well for the blocks, which I was pleased about.
But, here I sit...knee deep in Tokugawa era Japanese history trying to figure out the best way to present it to my students. I haven't had these kids yet, so we'll see how it goes. I miss the comfort of not having my "own" kids...but enjoy the freedom of having my "own" kids. Tomorrow I must brave the copy room - which makes me nervous too... I have had the opportunity to learn (and witness) all of the ways that it breaks. Ha ha ha. I am afraid of the copier.
I did some grading this weekend which was good. I realized that I need to set standards for myself BEFORE I create the assignment as I was reading through the questions and realized that I'm not sure what I was looking for - so how can I grade it? Haha. Oops. I think that I probably learned about that somewhere along the line, but obviously forgot it.
On the upside...I LOVE this job. I'm still new at it so I have a lot of butterflies and questions still, but I really think that this is going to be a great fit. I wish there was an easier way to go about things than falling on my face, but I am skilled at that...so I guess it doesn't matter :)
I leave for the presidential inauguration on Saturday morning, and I am thankful for the opportunity to attend as well as to help my students understand what is going on - and how important this particular inauguration is in the span of history.
That's all for now. I best get back to my activities etc. for tomorrow...
:)
But, here I sit...knee deep in Tokugawa era Japanese history trying to figure out the best way to present it to my students. I haven't had these kids yet, so we'll see how it goes. I miss the comfort of not having my "own" kids...but enjoy the freedom of having my "own" kids. Tomorrow I must brave the copy room - which makes me nervous too... I have had the opportunity to learn (and witness) all of the ways that it breaks. Ha ha ha. I am afraid of the copier.
I did some grading this weekend which was good. I realized that I need to set standards for myself BEFORE I create the assignment as I was reading through the questions and realized that I'm not sure what I was looking for - so how can I grade it? Haha. Oops. I think that I probably learned about that somewhere along the line, but obviously forgot it.
On the upside...I LOVE this job. I'm still new at it so I have a lot of butterflies and questions still, but I really think that this is going to be a great fit. I wish there was an easier way to go about things than falling on my face, but I am skilled at that...so I guess it doesn't matter :)
I leave for the presidential inauguration on Saturday morning, and I am thankful for the opportunity to attend as well as to help my students understand what is going on - and how important this particular inauguration is in the span of history.
That's all for now. I best get back to my activities etc. for tomorrow...
:)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Day One... :)
So.
I survived!
After a minor altercation at the gate to get on base - I made it to school. I got to meet and "re" meet a lot of the staff and get comfortable in my new surroundings. I handed over the CSU packet to my cooperating teachers and worked on some unit stuff.
I don't get keys which is OK, and I now have a badge that should allow me to get on base without having to call the school every morning (but wouldn't THAT be fun??!).
I'm really excited. A lot of my nerves have fallen off from last night to tonight. I'm thankful that we have several days without students as it is giving me a lot of time to plan and process which is really nice...but at the same time I'm rearing to go.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow...and all the other tomorrows.
I survived!
After a minor altercation at the gate to get on base - I made it to school. I got to meet and "re" meet a lot of the staff and get comfortable in my new surroundings. I handed over the CSU packet to my cooperating teachers and worked on some unit stuff.
I don't get keys which is OK, and I now have a badge that should allow me to get on base without having to call the school every morning (but wouldn't THAT be fun??!).
I'm really excited. A lot of my nerves have fallen off from last night to tonight. I'm thankful that we have several days without students as it is giving me a lot of time to plan and process which is really nice...but at the same time I'm rearing to go.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow...and all the other tomorrows.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Goals and such
So, since tomorrow is the big day, and I tend to be a fairly big goal-setter, I decided that it be appropriate to set some for my semester of student teaching...so here they are (in no real order).
1. Control the Classroom
This may seem somewhat obvious, but I think it is important for me to focus on. I'll be spending the rest of my life with groups of students under my control, and I think that we'll all be happier if I can manage the room. Am I worried about this? Not really. I have always done fine with my lacrosse girls (although that is always on a FIELD and not in a CLASSROOM). Some of my friends have asked me how my smallness changes the way I manage the classroom with all of the "big" high school kids, and my answer is always that it doesn't. Just because I am a small person doesn't mean that I don't have a big voice and a big presence. I will not stand for cell phones...that I can tell you right now.
2. Never stop being creative.
So far, whenever I get to work in the classroom (i.e. have my own lesson) I have worked really hard to make it fun and creative. I don't see this stopping as it is one of my favorite things to do ever - but just to make sure it doesn't, I'm setting it as a goal too. Kids deserve teachers who are excited about the subject that they're teaching and assignments/projects that are more fun and useful than the typical "take notes, take test" approach.
3. Find my teacher self.
I enjoy being in the classroom, but I have yet to have an every-day opportunity to work with kids. This is it, and I am stoked. I want to find out through this semester what I really want to be like in the future. Although we're always changing as people and as teachers, I hope to find a good grasp on who I am in the classroom and be able to share that when I'm getting ready for jobs.
4. Bring art and music into the classroom.
Art and music are an important part of culture, and although students are not in a 'culture' class, history and culture are completely intertwined. Also, music and art are things that they UNDERSTAND right now...so it will be easy for them to relate to. I think that it is imperative that kids learn to connect to the past, and I think this is one of the best modes to do so.
5. Keep reading and keep writing.
I love to write, both academically (no matter how much I whine about it, I love it) and personally. However, I often get bogged down with "other" things and forget to make time to write. Writing allows me to be reflective, which I think is a HUGE part of becoming a good teacher. I plan to keep this blog going as a space that will let me think no matter how small or how short. I also love to read, and even if it is a few pages a day, I should be reading something that I WANT to read.
6. Balance!
When I was in high school I did the works - honors classes, band, sports, etc. Since I've been at CSU, there haven't been as many things going on at one time as there were when I was in high school and I think that I've lost some of my ability to balance some. I want to get this back...I'll be coaching and teaching (something that I plan to do together forever) and it will take me a bit to get in the swing of things. I need to remember to make sure that I make time for my personal things too - as they are important to me AND they'll help to keep me sane.
7. Get back in shape.
This may not seem school related, but it really is. I always feel better about myself when I'm in good physical shape. The better I feel the better teacher I can become. This does not mean that I have to be ready to compete in the olympics, but a little bit 'o running would do me good. Yoga is good to clear my mind as well (something I think I'm going to need to work on so I can, you know, sleep).
8. Ask for help when I need it.
This can be really hard for me sometimes...not all the time, but sometimes I'm really stubborn about stuff and I need to stop that. I'm going to need a lot of help - from my friends and family as well as peers and collegues. I need to break down my wall and ask for help when I need it...I am not supposed to be able to do everything right now....and the sooner I get that through my head, the better off I will be.
9. Eat Breakfast.
Breakfast is important. I have not eaten breakfast on a regular basis since I was in middle school and I think that I need to figure out how to start consuming food (ENERGY!) before I teach every day. It will be a difficult routine for me to get into, although I think important.
10. Keep my spaces clean.
So, I tend to have issues keeping stuff clean - my room, my car, my desk, my email box, you know...everything. I don't LIKE to be that way, I just sort of am. I've decided that I don't want to be that way anymore, and with so many other changes going on, it seems to make sense to get on top of that now...probably easier than later.
I suppose that is it for now. There are more than that, but these are the big ones...and since soemone is reading this, I expect you to help me remember that I've set these. I think that I will in fact write these out and post them on my mirror along with my mirror postings
(Imagine and Be a Hero Today)
My new life starts in less than 24 hours. Time to stop being a college kid and start being a teacher. (Insert deep breath here).
1. Control the Classroom
This may seem somewhat obvious, but I think it is important for me to focus on. I'll be spending the rest of my life with groups of students under my control, and I think that we'll all be happier if I can manage the room. Am I worried about this? Not really. I have always done fine with my lacrosse girls (although that is always on a FIELD and not in a CLASSROOM). Some of my friends have asked me how my smallness changes the way I manage the classroom with all of the "big" high school kids, and my answer is always that it doesn't. Just because I am a small person doesn't mean that I don't have a big voice and a big presence. I will not stand for cell phones...that I can tell you right now.
2. Never stop being creative.
So far, whenever I get to work in the classroom (i.e. have my own lesson) I have worked really hard to make it fun and creative. I don't see this stopping as it is one of my favorite things to do ever - but just to make sure it doesn't, I'm setting it as a goal too. Kids deserve teachers who are excited about the subject that they're teaching and assignments/projects that are more fun and useful than the typical "take notes, take test" approach.
3. Find my teacher self.
I enjoy being in the classroom, but I have yet to have an every-day opportunity to work with kids. This is it, and I am stoked. I want to find out through this semester what I really want to be like in the future. Although we're always changing as people and as teachers, I hope to find a good grasp on who I am in the classroom and be able to share that when I'm getting ready for jobs.
4. Bring art and music into the classroom.
Art and music are an important part of culture, and although students are not in a 'culture' class, history and culture are completely intertwined. Also, music and art are things that they UNDERSTAND right now...so it will be easy for them to relate to. I think that it is imperative that kids learn to connect to the past, and I think this is one of the best modes to do so.
5. Keep reading and keep writing.
I love to write, both academically (no matter how much I whine about it, I love it) and personally. However, I often get bogged down with "other" things and forget to make time to write. Writing allows me to be reflective, which I think is a HUGE part of becoming a good teacher. I plan to keep this blog going as a space that will let me think no matter how small or how short. I also love to read, and even if it is a few pages a day, I should be reading something that I WANT to read.
6. Balance!
When I was in high school I did the works - honors classes, band, sports, etc. Since I've been at CSU, there haven't been as many things going on at one time as there were when I was in high school and I think that I've lost some of my ability to balance some. I want to get this back...I'll be coaching and teaching (something that I plan to do together forever) and it will take me a bit to get in the swing of things. I need to remember to make sure that I make time for my personal things too - as they are important to me AND they'll help to keep me sane.
7. Get back in shape.
This may not seem school related, but it really is. I always feel better about myself when I'm in good physical shape. The better I feel the better teacher I can become. This does not mean that I have to be ready to compete in the olympics, but a little bit 'o running would do me good. Yoga is good to clear my mind as well (something I think I'm going to need to work on so I can, you know, sleep).
8. Ask for help when I need it.
This can be really hard for me sometimes...not all the time, but sometimes I'm really stubborn about stuff and I need to stop that. I'm going to need a lot of help - from my friends and family as well as peers and collegues. I need to break down my wall and ask for help when I need it...I am not supposed to be able to do everything right now....and the sooner I get that through my head, the better off I will be.
9. Eat Breakfast.
Breakfast is important. I have not eaten breakfast on a regular basis since I was in middle school and I think that I need to figure out how to start consuming food (ENERGY!) before I teach every day. It will be a difficult routine for me to get into, although I think important.
10. Keep my spaces clean.
So, I tend to have issues keeping stuff clean - my room, my car, my desk, my email box, you know...everything. I don't LIKE to be that way, I just sort of am. I've decided that I don't want to be that way anymore, and with so many other changes going on, it seems to make sense to get on top of that now...probably easier than later.
I suppose that is it for now. There are more than that, but these are the big ones...and since soemone is reading this, I expect you to help me remember that I've set these. I think that I will in fact write these out and post them on my mirror along with my mirror postings
(Imagine and Be a Hero Today)
My new life starts in less than 24 hours. Time to stop being a college kid and start being a teacher. (Insert deep breath here).
Thursday, January 1, 2009
um...really?
As the days approach and the moments left before I student teach begin to wane I find myself stressing over the classroom more than I have ever in my life. I love teaching and I love being in the classroom...I know for a fact that I am more comfortable in schools and with students than many of my peers who will also be student teaching this semester. I swear the butterflies in my stomach have turned into bats whose wings are going to tear out of my stomach. I have confidence in myself, which has the potential to go a long way, and I have to constantly remind myself that I will be okay.
How many teachers are there in the United States? About a zillion...and they all had to go through the experience that I'm heading into now - and although it makes me nervous, I know that I'll come out of it at the end having learned an immense amount from my match up teachers and from myself.
I don't feel like I'm ready.
But - those are the nerves talking.
Three days until the big day.
wow.
How many teachers are there in the United States? About a zillion...and they all had to go through the experience that I'm heading into now - and although it makes me nervous, I know that I'll come out of it at the end having learned an immense amount from my match up teachers and from myself.
I don't feel like I'm ready.
But - those are the nerves talking.
Three days until the big day.
wow.
Monday, December 22, 2008
stepping forward
I've spent the last 3.5 years preparing to be a teacher, and I'm about to be. The thought consumes me, both of excitement and of fear. I have to remind myself to relax and breathe more than I would like to. I feel like once I get in there, however, that it's going to be the perfect match. I filled out my planning book today with dates and the block dates/workdays and days off. Somehow this validated me in my feelings that I can be a teacher. Not sure why... not sure exactly how to use it but...you know.
The days from now until then creep by or race by. I wish there was an in-between.
The days from now until then creep by or race by. I wish there was an in-between.
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