SNOW IN OREGON!

It is snowing in Oregon and it's COLD.  Which means no school!!!!!!  One of the amazing perks of being a teacher is . . . random days off.  Of course this summer when I have to stay in school for an extra week I may not feel the same.  But today and this week I am going to enjoy the SNOW DAYS!!!   It great to be a teacher.  Not to mention the snow is absolutely gorgeous when you don't have to go out in it and you can stay warm at home.    Hope you are all enjoy your holiday and holiday weather.  

I went to my 10 year reunion in October. I am SO glad that high school is long over. I made the discovery that all the people I cared about were still in my life I didn't need a special night to see them. That was a good moment, realizing I kept in touch with those that matter most. The best part of the night was that it gave me a good excuse to buy a new dress. Yeah, overall not that impressed with the night but at least we looked hot!

Martha Stewart, I am not!!!

I decided to help with the pies this year.

Mom and I got exctied and tried to make fancy pie crust.  You can see the adorable leafs decorating the pie crust.   You can also just about make out that they are falling off the pie crust and burning at the bottom of the oven.  

Martha Stewart has nothing to worry about.

My family has nothing to worry about the pies will still taste the same with or without the decorated crust.

 

Coming to an END!!

This is my last week in my practicum class.  I am going to miss those third graders!!!!

I hate saying good-bye!

This is turning into another sad post.  I need to stop it!!!

Happy news. . . .

1. I went to Portland and saw Guys and Dolls this weekend, thanks Jessica.
2. I get to teach a reader theater tomorrow.
3. It is time for BED!!!

GOOD NIGHT!

I am going to VENT. You have been warned.

Why my life makes my head ache. . . . 

1. I am going to lose a tooth and get a fake one.  28 years-old and I am getting a fake tooth!
2. My car leaks.  Every morning there is a small pond in the back seat of my car.  Not to mention the smell of damp car.
3. A Fake tooth cost $4000.  Who knew?!?
4. I sleep in my little sister's room.  She has a whole shelf filled with stuffed dogs.  I love you, Lu.  But the dogs staring at me is creepy! :)
5. I sleep on the top bunk in my little sister's room.
6. I don't get enough sleep because there is always one more thing to do. . . (the curse of the student teacher)
7. the fact that I am sure that I have forgotten some assignment.
8. Willamette's MAT program.

ENOUGH of the complaining.  I am going to bed.  I've vented, feel better and I'm determined to go find happier days! :)

Doing homework. . .

I quote my textbook ". . . carving a face on a hallow pumpkin is not a rational idea."

So true!

It is about time.

The first time I voted in a presidential election it took a month to figure out who was president.  

Four years later, I revolted and decided if we can't figure out how to count the votes.  What is the point of voting?  

Fast forward four more years, I've reconsidered, voted and harassed the family until they voted.

It took 8 years but finally the president I voted for won.   

No recounts this time.

  

The life of a want-a-be teacher that's ME!

Lulu suggested that all bloggers should blog everyday this month, as it is national blog month.  I've already missed one day but I am going to try.   I just wish my life was more then  the 7 continents, maps, third graders and the evil work sample that is due in two days and one month.  Not to mention all my homework for my ELL (english language learners) is due a week from Saturday.   It is all very important to me but extremely dull for all of you.  

I did enjoy the following two moments from my teaching day.  

One:

Ms. Laws look at my shoes.

Those are nice shoes.

Yeah, they are Globe shoes.

Oh, are they skater shoes?  

Yeah but they are GLOBE shoes

Oh . . . (I have no idea what is so cool about his shoes that he is staying in during his recess to show them to me) are they really cool shoes?

You know globe like the earth globe.

(I have only spent the last 6 days cramming the globe into the class.  I love when they tell me all the random things they know about globes and continents.)

Two:

Ms. Laws this is for you. (Hands me a picture of a blue oval blob with brown spots.  No idea what it is?!?)

Thanks.  What is it a picture of?

A globe!

(Of course, What was I thinking?)

I've decided that they kids are learning something.  It may not be what I want them to learn but the concept about a globe is seeping into their brains.  Most times when I'm teaching I really wonder . . . 

The last part of the day was spent in my methods class were I realized and relieved my stress by spending to much time cutting out a butterfly.  We were studying how to use the butterflies to teach science.  Art is theraputic and cheaper then a therapist! 

Where did my life go?

It has been just over 2 months since I've started the MAT program at Willamette.  It has completely taken over my life. . . it is my life.  It has been hard, stressful and I don't remember what free time feels like or even what free time is.  Then only reason it is worth it, is that next year I will be a teacher.  Next year I will not spend ten hours in class as a student. I won't have to write a work sample scrutinizing every decision and idea I have about teaching to the point that I don't know anything.  I hate not knowing!!!

I miss my life before Willamette.  I can't wait to say good-bye.  It will be a grateful good-bye (I am learning and becoming a teacher) but it will also be a happy and long awaited good-bye. 

I CAN"T WAIT!   

Today this made me feel better.

"Chief among the obstacles. . . is a mistaken belief that anyone who takes a committed public stand, or at least an effective one, has to be larger than life figure, someone with more time, energy, courage, vision or knowledge than a normal person could ever posses . . . . In U.S. culture, role models are often expected to be superhuman or to possess character beyond reproach.  But heros are not perfect;they are people.  We must find a way to embrace human weakness and human accomplishment at the same time.  If we do not, what do we say about our own capacity to serve the common good?"    Paul Rogat Loeh

First Grader are Small

Today I stood in my 1st grade class ~ it's so small!

I stop to think, 

my class, so small,

may drive me 

right up the wall!

I wonder if they'll 

think I'm nice.

Or will they stare, 

quiet as little mice?

Today they play,

out in the sun.

Next week, school start,

Will it end their fun?

School will start

A new teacher, that me!

18 tiny little people, 

Who will they be?

I may not know,

I may feel small.

All I ask, is that 

I do not fall.

I've been assigned a school!

That would be the adorable school I will be teaching at this next year.  

Yes it does have a school bell!  I love it.  I will be student teaching in 1st grade and my practicum will be in 3rd grade.  Today we, two other MAT students are at the school, went and meet the principle.  I lucked out and my supervising teachers were around so I got to meet both of them.  It was good to go to the school but reality hit.  1st graders are small, 3rd graders are bigger and both classes are going to expect me to teach them something.   Sometimes when I stop to think about it I go into panic mode and wonder what was I thinking ~ me a teacher!  But I want this, I really want to do this so I'm going to take it one assignment, one day, one breath at a time.  One last panic, the worest part is that next year I'll be a first year teacher and just as nervous.  

random p.s.  I was a musical muse last night and didn't even know, I love the little surprises in life.  It makes me smile.

  

My thoughts of what a teacher should be. . .

A fantastic teacher. . .

Realizes what can and can't change.

Finds potential behind the faces, behaviors.

Bends to listen, to ask, to talk, to learn.

Laughs at surprises, craziness, disappointments.

Observes, plans, observes, changes.

Looks for unknown, potential, fun.

All this talk about kids makes me miss these ones

What Effective Teachers Know. . .

Only the second day of school and they already have taught me everything I need to know to be a teacher.   They are as follows:

1. content knowledge

2. curriculum knowledge

3. pedagogical content knowledge

4. knowledge of learners and their characteristics

5. knowledge of education purpose and values

6. general pedagogical knowledge

7. knowledge of education context

(If you are wondering, because I was, pedagogical is just a fancy way of saying teaching)

So why am I returning to my third day of school because I have no idea what those seven things are. . . I am not a teacher, not yet!

FIrst Day of School

Well, I survived the first day of grad school!  I can't believe I have finally enrolled in a teaching program.  I am going to be a teacher.   Real classes (today was just intros and explaining) start tomorrow and I can honestly say I am excited.  Who'd of guessed it!

It's funny becoming a teacher because it's a trip down memory lane.  It's even easier to take that trip when your living at home and your mommy drops you off at school.   Luckily, we joked about it and she told me to have a good day and make friends.  And asked me how my day was when she picked me up.

So I can report that I had a good day and I made friends.   Which is good because I am going to be spending a lot of time with these people for the next 10 months as we all work toward our Master's and teaching certificates.  I just can't wait for next year when I'll have my own class and get to be the teacher standing in front of the class.