Hey! I have moved my blog.
Since Dillon and I do not have internet at home, I needed a blogging site that I could use from my phone. This will enable me to post more!
You can find the new and improved blog at www.yoteachdoesdc.tumblr.com
See ya there!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tomorrow is Friday! My weeks go by so very quickly anymore. I look forward to the weekends and Friday not because the work week is up, but more because Dillon and I have been staying busy with fun things to do on the weekends.
I love my job. Seriously. I have been here for a little over month and I look forward to each work day. It makes life out here that much sweeter.
A few weeks ago, Dillon and I went out to eat with Mark and Erika to a restaurant in the National Harbor in Maryland. We got there a little bit early so that we could explore this area. There are shops and a little beach area with a pier. On the "beach," there is this very interesting sculpture called, "The Awakening." It is a 70 foot giant trying to free himself from the ground. I snapped some pictures on my phone, but here is a better view.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2619047003_718d45302a.jpg
Here are some pictures that I took:
This is what we look like still.
That weekend we had a BBQ to go to in DC, but decided to go to the National Museum of the American Indian beforehand. Overall, the museum was ok, but the short film that they show was very cool! Please take a minute to ready about the Lelawi theater here:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=visitor&second=dc&third=theaters
View from the 4th floor balcony.
The special exhibition at the museum was called Vantage Point and featured contemporary art from American Indians. This piece was by an artist named James Lavadour and was titled Blanket.
A close up of an individual canvas.
I love my job. Seriously. I have been here for a little over month and I look forward to each work day. It makes life out here that much sweeter.
A few weeks ago, Dillon and I went out to eat with Mark and Erika to a restaurant in the National Harbor in Maryland. We got there a little bit early so that we could explore this area. There are shops and a little beach area with a pier. On the "beach," there is this very interesting sculpture called, "The Awakening." It is a 70 foot giant trying to free himself from the ground. I snapped some pictures on my phone, but here is a better view.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2619047003_718d45302a.jpg
Here are some pictures that I took:
This is what we look like still.
That weekend we had a BBQ to go to in DC, but decided to go to the National Museum of the American Indian beforehand. Overall, the museum was ok, but the short film that they show was very cool! Please take a minute to ready about the Lelawi theater here:http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=visitor&second=dc&third=theaters
It is a circular theater with three screens in the middle. Throughout the 13 minute video there are projections on the screens, the dome shaped ceiling and a rock beneath the screens. Scattered around the theater are display cases with Native American artifacts. When this tribe is being described in the video, you will hear a crackling noise and the display case lights up. l It was seriously so neat. I would recommend at least swinging by the museum to check out the short video.
I managed to sneak a few shots around the museum.
View from the 4th floor balcony.
The special exhibition at the museum was called Vantage Point and featured contemporary art from American Indians. This piece was by an artist named James Lavadour and was titled Blanket. 
A close up of an individual canvas.
If you want to learn more about this exhibition, you can view this website:
All of the pieces can be seem on the "mobile site."
Last weekend, Dillon and I vegged out. We chose to not get cable or internet (to get us out of the apartment and exploring more) so we watched DVD's of The Office seasons. It was perfect.
Last weekend, Dillon and I vegged out. We chose to not get cable or internet (to get us out of the apartment and exploring more) so we watched DVD's of The Office seasons. It was perfect.
Things are coming along in the apartment. We have gotten some more furniture (all for more storage). I will post pictures once it is a bit more together.
This weekend, however, we are going into DC to see at least one Smithsonian on Saturday. It is Dillon's birthday on Monday so we will have to celebrate for that too!
This weekend, however, we are going into DC to see at least one Smithsonian on Saturday. It is Dillon's birthday on Monday so we will have to celebrate for that too!
Life out here is fabulous. I hope things are great everywhere else!
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Life has been chaotic this week. Dillon and I went camping on Saturday and woke up, drove home, and moved into our new apartment on Sunday. It is Thursday and I am still trying to catch up with my rest/sleep!
Friday, Dillon had a day off so he was in charge of TCB (taking care of business). He made arrangements for a U-Haul pickup truck for Sunday and went grocery shopping for camping. Late that afternoon he left town to go to a dirt track race. After work, I ran by our new apartment complex to sign the lease and get the keys. Then, I drove into DC and picked up Dillon's cousin, Melissa and I just so happened to see this gorgeous landmark and snap a picture!
Melissa stayed the night with us on Friday night so that we could get on the road early Saturday morning for camping. Before we left the DC area, we had to swing by and pick up some guy who needed a ride to the campsite.
I had no idea what to expect for this trip. Melissa invited us to go because the roommate of one of her friends works with the guy who arranged this whole extravaganza for his birthday (a lot of degrees of separation). I think around 120 attended.
We got on the road around nine and traveled the three hours to Assateague Island. You can read a little bit about the Island here: http://www.assateagueisland.com/
We arrived to the campsite and were warned by rangers to not bother the wild ponies that lived on the island. Yes, wild ponies. We found the group campsite and began unloading our gear. Our tent was staked into the sand. Yes, the sand. We were one sand dune away from the ocean.
From the moment we set foot on the site everyone was so nice and welcoming. Everyone approached us and introduced themselves and did a great job of remembering our name all day. As we approached the main camp, a guy was spreading boiled crabs and corn on a picnic table and giving an impromptu crab anatomy lesson. There must have been 40 crabs!
We were starving so Dillon started lunch, steak and mushrooms. Yummy! Dillon was pretty pleased with himself as he handed out samples to everyone around. He was pretty popular with those meat and mushroom samples. Here is a picture of the master chef himself...
After a few hours, a lot more people began showing up. This was the "main" camp site.
Friday, Dillon had a day off so he was in charge of TCB (taking care of business). He made arrangements for a U-Haul pickup truck for Sunday and went grocery shopping for camping. Late that afternoon he left town to go to a dirt track race. After work, I ran by our new apartment complex to sign the lease and get the keys. Then, I drove into DC and picked up Dillon's cousin, Melissa and I just so happened to see this gorgeous landmark and snap a picture!
Melissa stayed the night with us on Friday night so that we could get on the road early Saturday morning for camping. Before we left the DC area, we had to swing by and pick up some guy who needed a ride to the campsite.
I had no idea what to expect for this trip. Melissa invited us to go because the roommate of one of her friends works with the guy who arranged this whole extravaganza for his birthday (a lot of degrees of separation). I think around 120 attended.
We got on the road around nine and traveled the three hours to Assateague Island. You can read a little bit about the Island here: http://www.assateagueisland.com/
We arrived to the campsite and were warned by rangers to not bother the wild ponies that lived on the island. Yes, wild ponies. We found the group campsite and began unloading our gear. Our tent was staked into the sand. Yes, the sand. We were one sand dune away from the ocean.
From the moment we set foot on the site everyone was so nice and welcoming. Everyone approached us and introduced themselves and did a great job of remembering our name all day. As we approached the main camp, a guy was spreading boiled crabs and corn on a picnic table and giving an impromptu crab anatomy lesson. There must have been 40 crabs!
We were starving so Dillon started lunch, steak and mushrooms. Yummy! Dillon was pretty pleased with himself as he handed out samples to everyone around. He was pretty popular with those meat and mushroom samples. Here is a picture of the master chef himself...
After a few hours, a lot more people began showing up. This was the "main" camp site.
Dillon and I walked over the sand dune to take a stroll on the beach. The water was freezing, freezing, freezing and there were still guys surfing! Crazies!
While the sun was out, everyone just mingled and had some drinks. There was a sound system set up so we pretty much just grooved to some beats and had a grand ole time. The park has a no noise policy after ten so the stereo was turned off and everyone headed to the beach. Four "arenas" about 10 feet in diameter were dug in the sand with a sand bench/seat around the edge. In the middle was a sand platform stacked with firewood. Everyone walked out to the "arenas" and piled in around the bonfires. At each fire there was at least one person with a guitar. For the rest of the night, we laughed and sang and listened to music.
The next morning everyone woke up early because really, sleeping in a tent on the sand is just as uncomfortable as sleeping in the woods on dirt. As everyone was packing up their gear, six wild ponies traipsed into our camp. I was ten feet from them. They were walking right in the middle of everything and getting into everyone's food. They nearly crushed an unlucky couple's tent! Everyone kept a safe distance, but a few brave souls were lucky in shooing them away by banging pots and pans. Off they ran onto the beach. Here they are being mischevious...
While the sun was out, everyone just mingled and had some drinks. There was a sound system set up so we pretty much just grooved to some beats and had a grand ole time. The park has a no noise policy after ten so the stereo was turned off and everyone headed to the beach. Four "arenas" about 10 feet in diameter were dug in the sand with a sand bench/seat around the edge. In the middle was a sand platform stacked with firewood. Everyone walked out to the "arenas" and piled in around the bonfires. At each fire there was at least one person with a guitar. For the rest of the night, we laughed and sang and listened to music. 
The next morning everyone woke up early because really, sleeping in a tent on the sand is just as uncomfortable as sleeping in the woods on dirt. As everyone was packing up their gear, six wild ponies traipsed into our camp. I was ten feet from them. They were walking right in the middle of everything and getting into everyone's food. They nearly crushed an unlucky couple's tent! Everyone kept a safe distance, but a few brave souls were lucky in shooing them away by banging pots and pans. Off they ran onto the beach. Here they are being mischevious...
When we got back from camping, Dillon and I immediately started moving stuff to our new apartment. Mark and Erika helped us. I don't know what we would have done without them! We did not get everything, but all of the big furniture that we needed the truck for. Around nine, we decided to call it a day. Dillon and I ordered pizza and wings and had our first dinner in the apartment. Because we have no moved our kitchen table to the new place yet, we sat on the floor and devoured that meal.
Last night, we took Mark and Erika out to eat at the National Harbor to thank them for all their help! I will write it about it a bit later, because this post is a novel!
This weekend Dillon and I are going to a BBQ in DC and hope to see some sites beforehand.
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Update. This just in...
I just got the call. We got the apartment! We sign the lease and get the keys tomorrow. Then, we will rent a U-Haul and move in on Sunday. This is the place we wanted really bad and it has everything we want. I am beyond excited!
It is almost the weekend and I have yet to blog about last weekend. Let me start from where I left off...
Last weekend, while tame was jam packed with activities. Dillon and I went on a double date with one of his coworkers and his girlfriend to the Cheesecake Factory. You can never go wrong with that place. There is something on the menu for everyone and dessert is almost always a must. The four of us shared a strawberry shortcake and I savoured every bite of that delicious treat.
Saturday morning was chilly as we began our hunt for an apartment. We bounced from place to place getting referrals from leasing managers for good places in our price range. I'm all about the best bang for your buck. We ended up looking at places that were more than our initial budget. After looking at several places, we decided to give ourselves the rest of the day off and have some fun! Fun to us was going to Ikea and an outlet mall. I scored some things for my cube at work from Ikea and work clothes at Old Navy (40% everything at the outlet. Cha Ching!) By Saturday night, we were so wiped out we ordered a pizza and called it a night.
After reviewing our budget we determined that our initial rent budget was very conservative so we extended it a bit. In our new budget, we have found a place we really like. It has all the amenities we wanted, it's safe and in a great location! More details to come as it is available...
Sunday was Easter and the weather was beautiful! We headed to Mount Vernon with a purse full of snacks. The weather was perfect, we were in great spirits, and the site was amazing. I always find it fascinating to walk on the grounds of places that once housed amazing leaders. George Washington had himself a nice little crib with breathtaking views of the Potomac. Did you know that Martha and George never had children together? I didn't. George was a stepdad to Martha's children.
Because it was customary to house travellers at this time the house had 10 bedrooms! It had original pieces of furniture and the colors on the wall were very close to what George had at that time (or so the tour guides say). As we were waiting to get into the house, there was a main giving us a rundown of rules and what we would be seeing. On the floor next to him was a box with file folders that had these instructions in nearly 30 languages!
Here are some pictures of what we saw...
All of the foliage on the grounds was spectacular. I kept gasping and pointing and making Dillon stop so I could take pictures. Here are some of the beautiful things we saw...
And just in case you forgot what we look like, here is an Easter picture of me and the big guy...
Hugs from the East coast,
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Pursuit of Happiness...
I found this website last night while using Stumble Upon (completely and ridiculously addicting).
http://www.highexistence.com/life-secrets-and-tips/comment-page-1/
I'm all about life secrets. Lemme tell you. I had an AHA! moment last week when I figured out one of my own life secrets....GIVING YOURSELF TIME!
I understand that this seems wildly obvious and I may be a bonehead for never practicing it before, but I'm enjoying this glory for now, folks.
There is no greater joy than relaxing after you get up. Not rushing, just relaxing like you have all the time in the world. I have never experienced such a delight. I get up. I make Dillon's lunch and my own and I just veg. This seems like a weird and inappropriate time to just veg, but this is my tale. I give myself all this time to just start my day. The rest of my day is so much more of a delight this way. I don't stress that I picked my outfit hastily or that it may be wrinkly. I don't stress that what I packed for lunch is not going to hit the spot. I don't stress that I am going to forget something. I don't stress that I will get stuck in traffic and be late. I try on a few outfits. Maybe iron an article or two. I contemplate what is going to taste just right on my lunch hour. I check my purse and bag to make sure I have everything I need for the day. Then, I double check. I drive to work and don't mind (kind of enjoy) traffic. I can just sit in my car and veg some more listening to my music. Veg to veg later? I am totally on board with this concept. Time. Give yourself some. It's pretty fabulous.
Also among my life secret revelations is figuring out that what I have experienced out here thus far by myself and with Dillon has been genuine happiness. A job. A life not 12 hours away from Dillon. Independence. New experiences. For me that is an equation for bliss.
Have you ever had that overwhelming feeling of happiness that you feel like you may just burst? I love life's moments like this and here, I have been having them often. On Sunday, I went to a mall at Pentagon City to buy a pair of jeans. I hop on the highway and within minutes the Washington Monument and Capitol are in full view. I'm going to the mall? What? For real? This is my life?
I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.
This weekend the apartment hunt will continue, but Dillon and I plan on sneaking some fun in there also. On the list, Mount Vernon and Monticello.
You can read a little bit about them at these websites : )
www.monticello.org/
www.mountvernon.org/
I have not taken a single picture since I have been here so I will do my best to heavily document these outings.
How about some music that makes me happy to end out this ultra bubbly post?
Hugs from the East coast,
V
http://www.highexistence.com/life-secrets-and-tips/comment-page-1/
I'm all about life secrets. Lemme tell you. I had an AHA! moment last week when I figured out one of my own life secrets....GIVING YOURSELF TIME!
I understand that this seems wildly obvious and I may be a bonehead for never practicing it before, but I'm enjoying this glory for now, folks.
There is no greater joy than relaxing after you get up. Not rushing, just relaxing like you have all the time in the world. I have never experienced such a delight. I get up. I make Dillon's lunch and my own and I just veg. This seems like a weird and inappropriate time to just veg, but this is my tale. I give myself all this time to just start my day. The rest of my day is so much more of a delight this way. I don't stress that I picked my outfit hastily or that it may be wrinkly. I don't stress that what I packed for lunch is not going to hit the spot. I don't stress that I am going to forget something. I don't stress that I will get stuck in traffic and be late. I try on a few outfits. Maybe iron an article or two. I contemplate what is going to taste just right on my lunch hour. I check my purse and bag to make sure I have everything I need for the day. Then, I double check. I drive to work and don't mind (kind of enjoy) traffic. I can just sit in my car and veg some more listening to my music. Veg to veg later? I am totally on board with this concept. Time. Give yourself some. It's pretty fabulous.
Also among my life secret revelations is figuring out that what I have experienced out here thus far by myself and with Dillon has been genuine happiness. A job. A life not 12 hours away from Dillon. Independence. New experiences. For me that is an equation for bliss.
Have you ever had that overwhelming feeling of happiness that you feel like you may just burst? I love life's moments like this and here, I have been having them often. On Sunday, I went to a mall at Pentagon City to buy a pair of jeans. I hop on the highway and within minutes the Washington Monument and Capitol are in full view. I'm going to the mall? What? For real? This is my life?
I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.
This weekend the apartment hunt will continue, but Dillon and I plan on sneaking some fun in there also. On the list, Mount Vernon and Monticello.
You can read a little bit about them at these websites : )
www.monticello.org/
www.mountvernon.org/
I have not taken a single picture since I have been here so I will do my best to heavily document these outings.
How about some music that makes me happy to end out this ultra bubbly post?
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Monday, April 18, 2011
I have recently discovered that I am crazy about COUPONS! Today, during a training meeting I kept offering suggestions to my co-workers about the best deals around town (even if it was unsolicited). Want a piece of gum? Sure. Did you know Orbit is buy one get one free at CVS? You like my nail polish? Thanks. It's too is on sale at CVS for $1.99.
I quickly learned that sales ads are useless unless you a card holder of some sort at the place where you are shopping. I never ever knew this to be true. I guess I never paid close enough attention when I went grocery shopping in college. However, now I am a big girl and I am ALL about saving that dough, scrilla, dolla bills, etc. Dillon and I got a Giant grocery store card and saved a bundle on groceries and I got a CVS card yesterday and saved five bucks immediately.
Tonight, I'm running by Safeway (a grocery store) to get some items just because of a coupon I found in the Sunday paper.
Dillon is beginning to think I'm cheap, but I just say "thrifty."
Hugs from the East coast, V
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The hunt is on...
First week in DC. Oh, boy.
Last night, Dillon and I met Kara in DC for dinner. It was a great way to end my first week of work. Dillon was mildly annoyed by all the squealing and clapping I did as we drove in to DC as I was spotting the monuments. We picked her up at a coffee shop in the Eastern Market and got to see her adorable house. It was so wonderful to see a familiar face and spend some time with her.
This time last week I was saying goodbye to all of my loved ones back home. Today, I went on a hunt for my East coast home. Dillon and I made it to three places today. Our first appointment was at noon (a late start). We waited for approximately 70 minutes. Dillon kept telling me to be patient, but my aggravation was slowing rising. What is the point of appointments? A designated time slot so that your time or anyone else's is wasted! Finally after we realized that everyone that was being helped had gotten there after we had, Dillon made his point known to a leasing manager and we stormed out. No lead there.
The next place was much more accommodating. We were offered tea and cookies and Dillon was already impressed. Haha. This place is a lead (cheaper and more space than place number one in a quiet, safe area).
The third place was a bust. It's a high rise with condos for sale, but one guy wants to sublet his place at an unreasonable price. No lead there either.
I made Dillon pull over at a bus stop so I could jump out and grab an apartment ad. The hunt continues...
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Last night, Dillon and I met Kara in DC for dinner. It was a great way to end my first week of work. Dillon was mildly annoyed by all the squealing and clapping I did as we drove in to DC as I was spotting the monuments. We picked her up at a coffee shop in the Eastern Market and got to see her adorable house. It was so wonderful to see a familiar face and spend some time with her.
This time last week I was saying goodbye to all of my loved ones back home. Today, I went on a hunt for my East coast home. Dillon and I made it to three places today. Our first appointment was at noon (a late start). We waited for approximately 70 minutes. Dillon kept telling me to be patient, but my aggravation was slowing rising. What is the point of appointments? A designated time slot so that your time or anyone else's is wasted! Finally after we realized that everyone that was being helped had gotten there after we had, Dillon made his point known to a leasing manager and we stormed out. No lead there.
The next place was much more accommodating. We were offered tea and cookies and Dillon was already impressed. Haha. This place is a lead (cheaper and more space than place number one in a quiet, safe area).
The third place was a bust. It's a high rise with condos for sale, but one guy wants to sublet his place at an unreasonable price. No lead there either.
I made Dillon pull over at a bus stop so I could jump out and grab an apartment ad. The hunt continues...
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Thursday, April 14, 2011
New name. New life.
The last time I had checked in with the blogging the world, I was all about enjoying my summer and completing a hefty list of fun to-dos for the season also. Oh, my how things have changed. In that short amount of time, I've worn many hats (dental assistant, substitute teacher, bridal consultant, maid of honor).
Incidentally one of the "to-do's" on my summer list was to visit DC. I had never been there. Dillon was interning there. Why not? I, in fact, did visit Dillon over the summer. However, my DC tale does not end there.
The assumption was made by both Dillon and myself that he would be living in DC for an indefinite amount of time. I hoped to one day move in the area, but had no definite plans. To make a long story short, things did not go as planned (as they most often do not) and Dillon ended up back home in the Midwest. Nearly six months later, Dillon is hauling himself and his life back to DC.
This happened 19 days ago.
Fast forward, to the Monday Dillon started his job in the DC area (17 days ago). I tell myself that I will apply to five jobs every Monday and see where things go from there.
I apply to five jobs.
I get an email a few hours later to set up a phone interview.
The next Monday I have a phone interview.
The next day I get the job.
The start date.....THE FOLLOWING MONDAY!
::insert widespread panic and hysteria with a large helping of excitement::
Whew. Did you get all of that? Yes. I moved my life from the Midwest to the East Coast in less than a week (I did work it out to begin on Tuesday instead of Monday. I may adjust well to change, but let's face it...I needed a day to figure out which end was up).
Tomorrow will be the conclusion of my first week on the job. The job is with a company that conducts educational programs for kids of all ages. I will be a program coordinator for the upper elementary program along with six other ladies. In simplest term, I will be a huge part of planning, managing and implementing all phases of the seven programs all across the country this company conducts. I can genuinely say that I am excited about the experiences I will have with this job! It may not be teaching, but it is obviously still connected with education and I am still wildly excited about it.
For the most part, I am trying to settle into my life out here at the nation's capital. I'm still trying to live my life out of boxes and navigate through traffic.
The apartment hunt starts this weekend (Dillon and I are temporarily staying in our friends' basement).
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Incidentally one of the "to-do's" on my summer list was to visit DC. I had never been there. Dillon was interning there. Why not? I, in fact, did visit Dillon over the summer. However, my DC tale does not end there.
The assumption was made by both Dillon and myself that he would be living in DC for an indefinite amount of time. I hoped to one day move in the area, but had no definite plans. To make a long story short, things did not go as planned (as they most often do not) and Dillon ended up back home in the Midwest. Nearly six months later, Dillon is hauling himself and his life back to DC.
This happened 19 days ago.
Fast forward, to the Monday Dillon started his job in the DC area (17 days ago). I tell myself that I will apply to five jobs every Monday and see where things go from there.
I apply to five jobs.
I get an email a few hours later to set up a phone interview.
The next Monday I have a phone interview.
The next day I get the job.
The start date.....THE FOLLOWING MONDAY!
::insert widespread panic and hysteria with a large helping of excitement::
Whew. Did you get all of that? Yes. I moved my life from the Midwest to the East Coast in less than a week (I did work it out to begin on Tuesday instead of Monday. I may adjust well to change, but let's face it...I needed a day to figure out which end was up).
Tomorrow will be the conclusion of my first week on the job. The job is with a company that conducts educational programs for kids of all ages. I will be a program coordinator for the upper elementary program along with six other ladies. In simplest term, I will be a huge part of planning, managing and implementing all phases of the seven programs all across the country this company conducts. I can genuinely say that I am excited about the experiences I will have with this job! It may not be teaching, but it is obviously still connected with education and I am still wildly excited about it.
For the most part, I am trying to settle into my life out here at the nation's capital. I'm still trying to live my life out of boxes and navigate through traffic.
The apartment hunt starts this weekend (Dillon and I are temporarily staying in our friends' basement).
Hugs from the East coast,
V
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Summer Plans: Wicked
Previously, I compiled a list of things I plan to do this summer. This list remains partially completed so I plan to blog about what I have accomplished thus far starting with....Wicked.
I have literally talked about wanting to see Wicked for nearly three years. The last time it was in town, my parents had tickets, but I was stuck somewhere else in a snow storm. Ick. Soooo when Dillon surprised me with two tickets to see it this summer I was ecstatic. I had been listening to the songs from the play all those years without any knowlege of what the play was actually like after all! I would typically say beyond ecstatic, but because he was halfway across the country and couldn't enjoy it with me, it felt only a smidge less exciting.
Because he had bought two tickets, I had to to decide who I would bring along. My mother and aunt talked about buying tickets to see it together so I ruled both of them out. Dillon's mom, Dana, and I had talked about how we both wanted see the play so I decided to ask his mom. I thought what better way to enjoy such an amazing opportunity than with the mother of the amazing man who bought the tickets.
My mom and aunt bought tickets for the same day also. We all decided upon dinner beforehand and going together. The week came that would end in seeing Wicked. I felt the excitement brewing. We had tickets to see the play on Thursday and by Tuesday of that week I worked expressing my excitement about seeing the play into every conversation I had. Thursday came and I anxiously watched the clock. I met my mom at work and we picked up Dillon's mom. The three of us met my aunt at an Italian restaurant not far from the theatre where we just so happened to see Dillon's uncle (Dana's brother) while we ate!
After dinner, we piled in my mom's Jeep and drove to the theatre. My mom and aunt parked the car and dropped Dana and me off right outside. We pushed our way through the crowds and found an usher. As he walked us down to our seats, my eyes widened with each row closer. We finally stopped 8 rows back! Amazing! I was wide eyed and speechless. Dillon had done such a great job getting seats.
The play was even more than I ever could have imagined it to be. I warned Dana that I have a tendency to tear up at theatrical performances and I certainly did during, "Defying Gravity." The next day all I could talk about was how amazing the night was. I couldn't get it out of my head. I was on Cloud 9 for a week after seeing Wicked! I leave you with my favorite song from the play....
I have literally talked about wanting to see Wicked for nearly three years. The last time it was in town, my parents had tickets, but I was stuck somewhere else in a snow storm. Ick. Soooo when Dillon surprised me with two tickets to see it this summer I was ecstatic. I had been listening to the songs from the play all those years without any knowlege of what the play was actually like after all! I would typically say beyond ecstatic, but because he was halfway across the country and couldn't enjoy it with me, it felt only a smidge less exciting.
Because he had bought two tickets, I had to to decide who I would bring along. My mother and aunt talked about buying tickets to see it together so I ruled both of them out. Dillon's mom, Dana, and I had talked about how we both wanted see the play so I decided to ask his mom. I thought what better way to enjoy such an amazing opportunity than with the mother of the amazing man who bought the tickets.
My mom and aunt bought tickets for the same day also. We all decided upon dinner beforehand and going together. The week came that would end in seeing Wicked. I felt the excitement brewing. We had tickets to see the play on Thursday and by Tuesday of that week I worked expressing my excitement about seeing the play into every conversation I had. Thursday came and I anxiously watched the clock. I met my mom at work and we picked up Dillon's mom. The three of us met my aunt at an Italian restaurant not far from the theatre where we just so happened to see Dillon's uncle (Dana's brother) while we ate!
After dinner, we piled in my mom's Jeep and drove to the theatre. My mom and aunt parked the car and dropped Dana and me off right outside. We pushed our way through the crowds and found an usher. As he walked us down to our seats, my eyes widened with each row closer. We finally stopped 8 rows back! Amazing! I was wide eyed and speechless. Dillon had done such a great job getting seats.
The play was even more than I ever could have imagined it to be. I warned Dana that I have a tendency to tear up at theatrical performances and I certainly did during, "Defying Gravity." The next day all I could talk about was how amazing the night was. I couldn't get it out of my head. I was on Cloud 9 for a week after seeing Wicked! I leave you with my favorite song from the play....
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Summer Plans
This summer will mark the first time in nearly 4 years that I will not be worrying about classes. I am finished at the end of this week and I am not even looking back. Haha.
I am both completely broke and entirely eager to make the most of my summer.
Here is a list of things I intend to do during my summer:
1. Find a job. Anything. I realize expecting to get a teaching job is a long shot, but I just need anything for right now.
2. Read. Read. Read. I have read exactly 1 book this school year. It is tragic. I need to compile a list of books I will devour this summer. One that I do know is on my list is Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Raji Codell. Someone in my student teaching cohort mentioned it at a seminar and I am interested. However, that is only one book and I need suggestions for more, because I will NOT take Oprah's word for it.
3. Take full advantage of everything St. Louis has to offer. There are so many concerts, plays, festivals, etc. that go on during the summertime that for the most part FREE. Laumeier Sculpture Park Music+Movies series and Sara Bareilles at Live on the Levee are two musts for the season.
4. See Wicked!! I have been talking about seeing this show for years. However, it has not come to a theater at a time when I had money to go. LOL. My boyfriend, who is in the nation's capital for an internship, bought me amazing tickets right behind the orchestra pit. He won't be there to enjoy it, but I will have fun with no matter who I take.
5. Go to Washington, DC. I have been spoiled from the two years that Dillon and I have been in a long distance relationship that I have never had to go longer than 2 months to see him. Because, honestly, that's my limit. He moved last week and will be there for an indefinite amount of time. We were talking about when I would visit and what better time than Independence Day. I am so excited. Of all the places I have been in the world, Washington, DC is not one of them.
6. Go swimming. I am going to get a serious tan this summer. I have decided it.
7. Cook. I love to cook anytime of year, but there is something about occupying the kitchen during the summertime that I love.
8. Go for more walks. My dog needs to get out more, but then again so do I.
to be continued...
I am both completely broke and entirely eager to make the most of my summer.
Here is a list of things I intend to do during my summer:
1. Find a job. Anything. I realize expecting to get a teaching job is a long shot, but I just need anything for right now.
2. Read. Read. Read. I have read exactly 1 book this school year. It is tragic. I need to compile a list of books I will devour this summer. One that I do know is on my list is Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Raji Codell. Someone in my student teaching cohort mentioned it at a seminar and I am interested. However, that is only one book and I need suggestions for more, because I will NOT take Oprah's word for it.
3. Take full advantage of everything St. Louis has to offer. There are so many concerts, plays, festivals, etc. that go on during the summertime that for the most part FREE. Laumeier Sculpture Park Music+Movies series and Sara Bareilles at Live on the Levee are two musts for the season.
4. See Wicked!! I have been talking about seeing this show for years. However, it has not come to a theater at a time when I had money to go. LOL. My boyfriend, who is in the nation's capital for an internship, bought me amazing tickets right behind the orchestra pit. He won't be there to enjoy it, but I will have fun with no matter who I take.
5. Go to Washington, DC. I have been spoiled from the two years that Dillon and I have been in a long distance relationship that I have never had to go longer than 2 months to see him. Because, honestly, that's my limit. He moved last week and will be there for an indefinite amount of time. We were talking about when I would visit and what better time than Independence Day. I am so excited. Of all the places I have been in the world, Washington, DC is not one of them.
6. Go swimming. I am going to get a serious tan this summer. I have decided it.
7. Cook. I love to cook anytime of year, but there is something about occupying the kitchen during the summertime that I love.
8. Go for more walks. My dog needs to get out more, but then again so do I.
to be continued...
Monday, June 7, 2010
I feel as though this blog will go dry until I am back in the classroom...
I am going to try to keep it going...
I did hear of an activity that would be great for the beginning of the year for primary grades.
Find a container of some sort with different compartments (i.e. egg carton) or use sandwich baggies. Paint each section of the egg carton a different color or if you are using baggies paint on slips of paper to each be placed in a baggie. Have students look around the room and/or outside to find items that match that color to be placed in the corresponding compartment/baggie. For upper elementary grades, I supposed you could be more particular or specific or ask them to describe these items. Then, invite students to read their descriptions for their classmates to guess at what the item is. I also thought for upper elementary grades, you could do this activity and use it for students to practice writing sentences using adjectives. Students could also take this home to be completed to get the parents involved.
One person gave me the idea and I guess I just ran with it. Hahaha.
I am going to try to keep it going...
I did hear of an activity that would be great for the beginning of the year for primary grades.
Find a container of some sort with different compartments (i.e. egg carton) or use sandwich baggies. Paint each section of the egg carton a different color or if you are using baggies paint on slips of paper to each be placed in a baggie. Have students look around the room and/or outside to find items that match that color to be placed in the corresponding compartment/baggie. For upper elementary grades, I supposed you could be more particular or specific or ask them to describe these items. Then, invite students to read their descriptions for their classmates to guess at what the item is. I also thought for upper elementary grades, you could do this activity and use it for students to practice writing sentences using adjectives. Students could also take this home to be completed to get the parents involved.
One person gave me the idea and I guess I just ran with it. Hahaha.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Oh, boy.
I have done it again. I have completely 100% ignored this entire blogging idea. According to my records, I have last checked in to the blogging world on February 10th. Oi!
So much has happened in the 3 short months that have elapsed that I could not possibly fill in every missing detail. However, I intend to do my very best.
Oh, golly. Not long after my last post, I began my full take over of all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade social studies and science classes. My days went by quickly and I soon realized how physically exhausting teaching all day was. I came home the first few nights sounding like I had been screaming at a rock concert. Quickly, my body adjusted and I was right in the swing of things. When I first began teaching this past semester, I was scared out of my wits to take any chances. I took the teacher edition of each textbook as my Bible. I felt like I would royally screw up anything I created on my own. I continued to everything "by the book."
However, this completely changed when my cooperating teacher and I began planning the first science fair for the school. There was no path to follow, no manual to refer to, and most importantly, NO TEXTBOOK. An entire unit on the scientific method and creating a science fair was created from my cooperating teacher and I brainstorming. Overall, the science fair was a huge success. We held it after school and I had the opportunity to meet a lot of the student's parents. A lot of people came! There was even a demonstration by a group of high school science students who did an excellent job.
After the science fair, I began traveling to each class with the fourth graders. This was another period of time that I had to adjust to the demands of this undertaking. I was hauling around all my books in my arms! I had to build some muscle mass here people! However, I LOVED teaching all of the disciplines. Since I had felt my way through the whole science fair unit and succeeded, I was not afraid to try my own material for the remainder of my experience.
I taught a unit on Sounder in reading and created a unit that combined elements of literature circles. The students completed writing assignments, illustrating assignments, quizzes, etc. I tried to teach a little bit of everything over the course of the 3 weeks that they students read the book.
I realized that I loved incorporating drawing into my lessons. In English, the students were learning about adjectives. I gave them a white piece of paper and told them to imagine it was a place mat. Then, I had them draw their most favorite meal as if they were looking down on it. The drawings turned out completely adorable! After their picture was completed, the students had to write ten sentences using the noun linking verb adjective format. I wanted to emphasize the adjective concept being taught, but I also wanted to emphasize the importance of following all directions for the assignment. The results were great.
My experiences during student teaching were great, but I must attribute must of this to the ladies that I got to know along the way. They took me under their wing and made the experience so rewarding and beneficial. I was never left hungry. I was never completely in the dark. I was never left overloaded without a helping hand. I thank all of those ladies from the bottom of my heart for their kindness and guidance!
All in all, student teaching was one of the greatest academic experiences I have every experienced. At times I may have felt overwhelmed, but I loved every single moment. I realized that I have pursued exactly what I need to be doing. Is it cheesy to call it my "calling"? Oh, well. If it is, I can't help it. I took the chance to change my major three years ago without complete confidence that is was the right decision. However, now I know I am exactly where I need to be.
So much has happened in the 3 short months that have elapsed that I could not possibly fill in every missing detail. However, I intend to do my very best.
Oh, golly. Not long after my last post, I began my full take over of all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade social studies and science classes. My days went by quickly and I soon realized how physically exhausting teaching all day was. I came home the first few nights sounding like I had been screaming at a rock concert. Quickly, my body adjusted and I was right in the swing of things. When I first began teaching this past semester, I was scared out of my wits to take any chances. I took the teacher edition of each textbook as my Bible. I felt like I would royally screw up anything I created on my own. I continued to everything "by the book."
However, this completely changed when my cooperating teacher and I began planning the first science fair for the school. There was no path to follow, no manual to refer to, and most importantly, NO TEXTBOOK. An entire unit on the scientific method and creating a science fair was created from my cooperating teacher and I brainstorming. Overall, the science fair was a huge success. We held it after school and I had the opportunity to meet a lot of the student's parents. A lot of people came! There was even a demonstration by a group of high school science students who did an excellent job.
After the science fair, I began traveling to each class with the fourth graders. This was another period of time that I had to adjust to the demands of this undertaking. I was hauling around all my books in my arms! I had to build some muscle mass here people! However, I LOVED teaching all of the disciplines. Since I had felt my way through the whole science fair unit and succeeded, I was not afraid to try my own material for the remainder of my experience.
I taught a unit on Sounder in reading and created a unit that combined elements of literature circles. The students completed writing assignments, illustrating assignments, quizzes, etc. I tried to teach a little bit of everything over the course of the 3 weeks that they students read the book.
I realized that I loved incorporating drawing into my lessons. In English, the students were learning about adjectives. I gave them a white piece of paper and told them to imagine it was a place mat. Then, I had them draw their most favorite meal as if they were looking down on it. The drawings turned out completely adorable! After their picture was completed, the students had to write ten sentences using the noun linking verb adjective format. I wanted to emphasize the adjective concept being taught, but I also wanted to emphasize the importance of following all directions for the assignment. The results were great.
My experiences during student teaching were great, but I must attribute must of this to the ladies that I got to know along the way. They took me under their wing and made the experience so rewarding and beneficial. I was never left hungry. I was never completely in the dark. I was never left overloaded without a helping hand. I thank all of those ladies from the bottom of my heart for their kindness and guidance!
All in all, student teaching was one of the greatest academic experiences I have every experienced. At times I may have felt overwhelmed, but I loved every single moment. I realized that I have pursued exactly what I need to be doing. Is it cheesy to call it my "calling"? Oh, well. If it is, I can't help it. I took the chance to change my major three years ago without complete confidence that is was the right decision. However, now I know I am exactly where I need to be.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I have been entirely negligent of this student teaching blog and I felt that this snow day was the perfect time to catch up.
I am currently in my fifth week of student teaching (eek!). Up to this point, I have taught fourth and fifth grade science, and third and fourth grade social studies. I feel as if this experience is going by so fast!
It took a little bit to adjust, but I am so much enjoying my experience thus far. It presents many challenges, but I feel that's why I love it the most.
Fifth grade Science:
This was the first class that I began teaching the first week. The students were starting a new chapter about cells and it made sense to pick it up from the beginning of the chapter. As I taught the first lesson of the chapter, I realized how dry the material was to these fifth graders. I definitely had some blank stares! I knew that I needed to revamp the lessons to ensure that I wasn't entirely losing these students throughout my lessons. I tried to incorporate as many projects to make the material something the students could relate to. To learn the functions of the parts of the cell, I had the students draw either a plant cell or an animal cell. They had only learned about 5 parts of the cell so I told the students they must research and find one other part to include in their drawing. Once the students were finished drawing the cell, I had them mount it on a piece of construction paper and look in magazines to find items that are analogous to the functions of this cell part. The students had a good time searching for the perfect magazine clippings to paste onto their diagram. As a conclusion to the chapter, I had students write a song about what they learned in the chapter including 5 facts. I divided the class into groups and allowed them one class period to write the song. The next day they performed the songs. They LOVED this. It was so much fun watching these performances! We have just begun a chapter on the human body which I am entirely excited about!
Fourth grade Science:
When I took over teaching fourth grade science, the students were in the middle of a chapter about matter (states of, properties of, measuring). I figured the best way to teach this would be through doing so I planned a day for the students to work in centers. This day turned into 3 days! In these centers students practiced measuring the volume of a box, finding the volume of an object in a graduated cylinder, and measuring items using the metric system. I also did a demonstration in which students had to hypothesize the layers in a density column using vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, water, corn syrup, and dish soap. It was really neat and the students really enjoyed it!
Third grade Social Studies:
The third graders had been studying about Native Americans for quite some time when I took over teaching. I found a play about Sitting Bull that we worked on for a few days when I first took over. I love incorporating plays into the lessons. The students are always enthusiastic to participate. I feel as if it allows for more conversation about the topic at hand. To better illustrate how the Native Americans may have felt being forced onto reservations, I began talking about if someone were to come to the class and scoop up all the students and take them to a plot of land that had NOTHING to do. On top of having to move, the students couldn't speak language and could only speak Italian...even though they didn't know the language! Once on this reservation, the students had to live be someone else's rules. Instead of waking up in the morning and brushing their teeth and eating breakfast, they must wake up, not brush their teeth, and eat dinner. I asked the class how they felt about this to which a girl in the front row replied, "I'd kick them where it hurt with a pair of high heels!"
This week the students are making buffalo skin drawings on paper bags that the local grocery story donated to me : )
Fourth grade Social Studies:
The students are learning about Lewis and Clark and I was able to find a play for this topic also. As a precursor to the lesson, I had found a "choose your adventure"-like website that we went through as a class on the Smartboard.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/
It has "Did you know?" facts about the expedition, narratives, and real journal entries. The kids really enjoyed it.
I've only been teaching social studies to the fourth graders for a week so I don't have too much to talk about : /
I've been using what I learned in my health studies class and giving the students energy breaks. They love to hokey pokey and tooty ta! As an incentive, I allow each grade to pick a dance that they wish to do at the end of the week. I will write a 5 letter word on the board having to do with the dance they picked (e.g. The fifth graders picked the Cupid Shuffle and I wrote CUPID on the board). If students aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing or getting chatty, I will take a letter away. However, the class can earn the letter back for good behavior. If the entire word is on the board at the end of the week, we move the desks aside and do the dance of choice. This has been working fairly well. Doing the dance at the end of the week is something these students really want to work hard for!
Overall, I have been enjoying myself so much on this experience. I wake up every morning 100% enthused and excited to be driving to school and teaching.
I am currently in my fifth week of student teaching (eek!). Up to this point, I have taught fourth and fifth grade science, and third and fourth grade social studies. I feel as if this experience is going by so fast!
It took a little bit to adjust, but I am so much enjoying my experience thus far. It presents many challenges, but I feel that's why I love it the most.
Fifth grade Science:
This was the first class that I began teaching the first week. The students were starting a new chapter about cells and it made sense to pick it up from the beginning of the chapter. As I taught the first lesson of the chapter, I realized how dry the material was to these fifth graders. I definitely had some blank stares! I knew that I needed to revamp the lessons to ensure that I wasn't entirely losing these students throughout my lessons. I tried to incorporate as many projects to make the material something the students could relate to. To learn the functions of the parts of the cell, I had the students draw either a plant cell or an animal cell. They had only learned about 5 parts of the cell so I told the students they must research and find one other part to include in their drawing. Once the students were finished drawing the cell, I had them mount it on a piece of construction paper and look in magazines to find items that are analogous to the functions of this cell part. The students had a good time searching for the perfect magazine clippings to paste onto their diagram. As a conclusion to the chapter, I had students write a song about what they learned in the chapter including 5 facts. I divided the class into groups and allowed them one class period to write the song. The next day they performed the songs. They LOVED this. It was so much fun watching these performances! We have just begun a chapter on the human body which I am entirely excited about!
Fourth grade Science:
When I took over teaching fourth grade science, the students were in the middle of a chapter about matter (states of, properties of, measuring). I figured the best way to teach this would be through doing so I planned a day for the students to work in centers. This day turned into 3 days! In these centers students practiced measuring the volume of a box, finding the volume of an object in a graduated cylinder, and measuring items using the metric system. I also did a demonstration in which students had to hypothesize the layers in a density column using vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, water, corn syrup, and dish soap. It was really neat and the students really enjoyed it!
Third grade Social Studies:
The third graders had been studying about Native Americans for quite some time when I took over teaching. I found a play about Sitting Bull that we worked on for a few days when I first took over. I love incorporating plays into the lessons. The students are always enthusiastic to participate. I feel as if it allows for more conversation about the topic at hand. To better illustrate how the Native Americans may have felt being forced onto reservations, I began talking about if someone were to come to the class and scoop up all the students and take them to a plot of land that had NOTHING to do. On top of having to move, the students couldn't speak language and could only speak Italian...even though they didn't know the language! Once on this reservation, the students had to live be someone else's rules. Instead of waking up in the morning and brushing their teeth and eating breakfast, they must wake up, not brush their teeth, and eat dinner. I asked the class how they felt about this to which a girl in the front row replied, "I'd kick them where it hurt with a pair of high heels!"
This week the students are making buffalo skin drawings on paper bags that the local grocery story donated to me : )
Fourth grade Social Studies:
The students are learning about Lewis and Clark and I was able to find a play for this topic also. As a precursor to the lesson, I had found a "choose your adventure"-like website that we went through as a class on the Smartboard.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/
It has "Did you know?" facts about the expedition, narratives, and real journal entries. The kids really enjoyed it.
I've only been teaching social studies to the fourth graders for a week so I don't have too much to talk about : /
I've been using what I learned in my health studies class and giving the students energy breaks. They love to hokey pokey and tooty ta! As an incentive, I allow each grade to pick a dance that they wish to do at the end of the week. I will write a 5 letter word on the board having to do with the dance they picked (e.g. The fifth graders picked the Cupid Shuffle and I wrote CUPID on the board). If students aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing or getting chatty, I will take a letter away. However, the class can earn the letter back for good behavior. If the entire word is on the board at the end of the week, we move the desks aside and do the dance of choice. This has been working fairly well. Doing the dance at the end of the week is something these students really want to work hard for!
Overall, I have been enjoying myself so much on this experience. I wake up every morning 100% enthused and excited to be driving to school and teaching.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Student teaching: The beginning
It has been over a month since I've even signed on to blogger. I have no idea how time flies the way it does. The last semester ended in such a whirlwind that it took me a few days to calm down from the anxiety of knowing that there was ALWAYS something that I needed to be doing.
The weeks following practicum until the end of the semester were absolutely, positively C-R-A-Z-Y. In true V. Ross fashion, I procrastinated beyond what I definitely should have. I spent those weeks working through the night and trying to fit in naps between classes, working at the library, and more more more more school work. I have never been so happy to have a break from school. I probably say that every semester, but I was honestly the most exhausted than I've ever been. However, that hectic semester is past me and it's on to bigger and better things!
Today was my very first day of student teaching. I crawled into my cozy bed in my lonely apartment at 9 o'clock last night with hopes to get plenty of beauty rest and be 100% rested in the morning. However, I was so nervous and excited last night that I woke up nearly a million times. I did wake up ready for the day though....still nervous and excited! I was sure that I would sleep through my alarm clock or something. Haha. Thank goodness I didn't.
As a student teacher, I knew ultimately that I would be taking over the class at some point in the semester. However, the logistics of this feat isn't outlined in any meeting or conversation I have ever had about student teaching. (Duh.) Today, my cooperating teacher and I created a tentative schedule of the semester. I begin teaching on Wednesday. I take over 5th grade science and will continue to teach it everyday until the end of the semester adding another class each week until I'm teaching all her classes. Come March, I will travel with my 4th grade homeroom class to all of their classes. I even get a chance to teach P.E.! Haha. As I was writing down seminar dates and my schedule, I felt a bit overwhelmed, but I am so so ready. This is what I've been waiting for. No more lecture classes. Just doing what I love teaching those little ones everything they need to know!
Before I started today, I worried a lot about student teaching in such a small school. I was able to observe the dynamics of the environment and I really think I am going to like it. It's different than the school experiences that I've had, but I really like what I've experienced thus far. Who knows? By the end of the semester, I may feel so compelled to move to a town with a population of 900.
I got a compliment on how white my teeth were today and I replied that I brushed my teeth just for my 5th graders this morning.
The weeks following practicum until the end of the semester were absolutely, positively C-R-A-Z-Y. In true V. Ross fashion, I procrastinated beyond what I definitely should have. I spent those weeks working through the night and trying to fit in naps between classes, working at the library, and more more more more school work. I have never been so happy to have a break from school. I probably say that every semester, but I was honestly the most exhausted than I've ever been. However, that hectic semester is past me and it's on to bigger and better things!
Today was my very first day of student teaching. I crawled into my cozy bed in my lonely apartment at 9 o'clock last night with hopes to get plenty of beauty rest and be 100% rested in the morning. However, I was so nervous and excited last night that I woke up nearly a million times. I did wake up ready for the day though....still nervous and excited! I was sure that I would sleep through my alarm clock or something. Haha. Thank goodness I didn't.
As a student teacher, I knew ultimately that I would be taking over the class at some point in the semester. However, the logistics of this feat isn't outlined in any meeting or conversation I have ever had about student teaching. (Duh.) Today, my cooperating teacher and I created a tentative schedule of the semester. I begin teaching on Wednesday. I take over 5th grade science and will continue to teach it everyday until the end of the semester adding another class each week until I'm teaching all her classes. Come March, I will travel with my 4th grade homeroom class to all of their classes. I even get a chance to teach P.E.! Haha. As I was writing down seminar dates and my schedule, I felt a bit overwhelmed, but I am so so ready. This is what I've been waiting for. No more lecture classes. Just doing what I love teaching those little ones everything they need to know!
Before I started today, I worried a lot about student teaching in such a small school. I was able to observe the dynamics of the environment and I really think I am going to like it. It's different than the school experiences that I've had, but I really like what I've experienced thus far. Who knows? By the end of the semester, I may feel so compelled to move to a town with a population of 900.
I got a compliment on how white my teeth were today and I replied that I brushed my teeth just for my 5th graders this morning.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
I have been up all night trying to get things done for this morning. Around 11 I felt like I couldn't be productive so I caught an hour and a half worth of zzzzzz's.
I.am.so.sick.of.writing.about.practicum.
Pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of it.
Can I talk about my last day another day? Spoiler: I got presents!
When will I have the chance to sleep? Today is my 8am-9pm day.
If I make it through day and tomorrow I deserve a big hug from anyone who is reading this (that probably only means you Denny and Yoko, but you better be waiting for me with arms wide open).
I've spent the last 5 minutes not so wisely so back to work work work.
I.am.so.sick.of.writing.about.practicum.
Pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of it.
Can I talk about my last day another day? Spoiler: I got presents!
When will I have the chance to sleep? Today is my 8am-9pm day.
If I make it through day and tomorrow I deserve a big hug from anyone who is reading this (that probably only means you Denny and Yoko, but you better be waiting for me with arms wide open).
I've spent the last 5 minutes not so wisely so back to work work work.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Today is a pretty big day for Miss Ross. She has been cordially invited to join the kiddos of her class in the cafeteria for a turkey dinner!
Last week, one of the students asked, "Miss Ross, do you like roast turkey?"
To which I replied, "Well, of course!"
Everyday since, she has reminded me to bring money on Thursday to eat lunch.
I have oodles of things to do tonight! I need to tie up all the loose ends from practicum like getting things signed and evaluations filled out. I plan on writing cards to each of the kids individually so that may be quite a job. They are all such special students and they deserve to know!
I want to get something little for my cooperating teacher, but I am stumped. I don't want to get her something teacher related because I want this to be just for her. Any ideas?
Last week, one of the students asked, "Miss Ross, do you like roast turkey?"
To which I replied, "Well, of course!"
Everyday since, she has reminded me to bring money on Thursday to eat lunch.
I have oodles of things to do tonight! I need to tie up all the loose ends from practicum like getting things signed and evaluations filled out. I plan on writing cards to each of the kids individually so that may be quite a job. They are all such special students and they deserve to know!
I want to get something little for my cooperating teacher, but I am stumped. I don't want to get her something teacher related because I want this to be just for her. Any ideas?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Well....
I had a meeting with my student teaching coordinator in which I found out my placement. To be completely honest, I needed a day to process before I really wanted to think about it.
I've just been having a funky week. I am absolutely exhausted from the semester and all the craziness is catching up with my like a tidal wave. I went to my student teaching meeting with not much enthusiasm just nervousness.
I will be teaching in a small rural school that is K-8 and has 200 students total. My cooperating teacher teaches social studies and science grades 4-6. I was completely confused when I looked at my placement and saw 4-6 and asked my coordinator about. It turns out I will have to arrange to work with some of the other teachers so that I can teach all of the disciplines.
The coordinator threw so much at us at this meeting that I was already overwhelmed and the actual placement news struck me in a funny way. I guess I was just having a bad day, but I went home and cried. I think I'm just scared about the unfamiliar. At that moment, I couldn't possibly look at the positive. I needed to process before I could think logically.
This morning I woke up with a completely different disposition. I'm excited for what's to come. I'm willing to graciously accept any challenge that teacher education has to offer me. A challenge early on is more to my benefit than a cake walk. Everything happens for a reason. This situation could be my time to shine. I am starting to get more and more excited, but still a dash terrified!
I had a meeting with my student teaching coordinator in which I found out my placement. To be completely honest, I needed a day to process before I really wanted to think about it.
I've just been having a funky week. I am absolutely exhausted from the semester and all the craziness is catching up with my like a tidal wave. I went to my student teaching meeting with not much enthusiasm just nervousness.
I will be teaching in a small rural school that is K-8 and has 200 students total. My cooperating teacher teaches social studies and science grades 4-6. I was completely confused when I looked at my placement and saw 4-6 and asked my coordinator about. It turns out I will have to arrange to work with some of the other teachers so that I can teach all of the disciplines.
The coordinator threw so much at us at this meeting that I was already overwhelmed and the actual placement news struck me in a funny way. I guess I was just having a bad day, but I went home and cried. I think I'm just scared about the unfamiliar. At that moment, I couldn't possibly look at the positive. I needed to process before I could think logically.
This morning I woke up with a completely different disposition. I'm excited for what's to come. I'm willing to graciously accept any challenge that teacher education has to offer me. A challenge early on is more to my benefit than a cake walk. Everything happens for a reason. This situation could be my time to shine. I am starting to get more and more excited, but still a dash terrified!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Home again. Home again. Jiggity jig.
I ventured on home to take the Content Area Test this weekend. Ho.ly. Cow. It was for real, man. I tried to briefly study, but to be honest it covered such a wide range of topics that my studying efforts weren't much help. I feel pretty ok about it? I'm not going to stress. La di da.
I had a great great great great day at school yesterday. I was able to spend the entire school day with the fourth graders. I had a complete "aha" moment that made me feel like my "stars are aligned" so to speak. It wasn't anything earth shattering. I was just taking the time out at the end of the day to talk to the students about how they were. At that moment, I could feel excitement swelling inside of me that I am actually going to be a teacher! My job will be teaching kiddos 180 days a year! I canNOT wait to student teach. Being able to be in the classroom at a fairly regular rate better illustrates what my life will be like as a teacher.....COMPLETELY AMAZING!
Here's a cute video to make you smile on this Saturday.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
It has been over a month since my last post and it seemed time to sit down and write a few words.
This semester has continued to increase in intensity. I feel as if my sanity is being tested making it through this 21 hour load. I am making it though and with flying colors no less. I am genuinely 100% proud of myself. I have worked my tail off this semester and it's almost over! Thank goodness.
I started practicum in a fourth grade class a couple weeks ago. I am at an elementary school with grades 3-5 about forty five minutes south of school. I manage to fit it into my schedule to go every single day anywhere from 2 to 6 hours.
My last practicum experience was interesting...I'll leave it at that. This practicum experience has been absolutely fabulous though! My teacher is absolutely amazing. She has taught me so much in the short time that I've been in her classroom and we collaborate really well together. The students are equally as amazing. They are all great kids who each have something special to offer the classroom. I haven't had any major problems with classroom management and no major disciplinary issues.
I've been putting myself out there trying to learn and teach whatever my cooperating teacher tosses my way. My first lesson was in math (eek!). I was pretty nervous just because I felt like the math concept I was teaching could potentially be a difficult idea for the students to grasp. The lesson was on frequency and cumulative frequency. I passed out a bag of M & M's and a worksheet with a table consisting of a column with the colors of the M & M's, a column to put tallies for frequency, and a column to calculate cumulative frequency to each student. I also had the worksheet pulled up on the SmartBoard. As a class, we counted the different colors of our M & M's and put them in the appropriate row calculating cumulative frequency all along the way. I graded the papers and the kids really got it. It was the first swell of pride for my student's work.
I had an observed lesson on Monday. I created a really cute Smartboard lesson about linking verbs with a koala theme to it. I made the students remember the linking verbs by clapping and saying them to a beat. Every couple sentence examples we did I would make them repeat it twice. Hopefully it is something they won't forget! Haha.
I gave another lesson today about irregular verbs in the past tense. I used a SmartBoard lesson that my cooperating teacher made with a Chicago theme that was completely adorable. The kids normally get M & M's or animal crackers when they answer questions, but when they asked me what I was going to give them, I told them.... High fives of course! They all thought it was completely dorky, but they got a good laugh out of it. I would call them up to the SmartBoard by pulling their name out of a bowl. Before I would let them go back to their seat, I would give them a high five and tell them awesome job. To be honest, I think it completely embarrassed some of the kids. I told them that I needed smiles from everyone when they came to the front of the room. This made them giggle even more. I can still hear them groaning, "Miss Rooooooooooss."
Next week is my last week with this group of kiddos. I'm enjoying myself so much that I don't want it to end.
The upside? Thanksgiving break the week after!
Has anyone ever head of Ron Clark's Essential 55?
This man Ron Clark started a school in Atlanta that gives scholarships for less advantaged kids. It is unreal how cool this school is. Take a look at this videos and search Ron Clark Academy on youtube if you want more.
This semester has continued to increase in intensity. I feel as if my sanity is being tested making it through this 21 hour load. I am making it though and with flying colors no less. I am genuinely 100% proud of myself. I have worked my tail off this semester and it's almost over! Thank goodness.
I started practicum in a fourth grade class a couple weeks ago. I am at an elementary school with grades 3-5 about forty five minutes south of school. I manage to fit it into my schedule to go every single day anywhere from 2 to 6 hours.
My last practicum experience was interesting...I'll leave it at that. This practicum experience has been absolutely fabulous though! My teacher is absolutely amazing. She has taught me so much in the short time that I've been in her classroom and we collaborate really well together. The students are equally as amazing. They are all great kids who each have something special to offer the classroom. I haven't had any major problems with classroom management and no major disciplinary issues.
I've been putting myself out there trying to learn and teach whatever my cooperating teacher tosses my way. My first lesson was in math (eek!). I was pretty nervous just because I felt like the math concept I was teaching could potentially be a difficult idea for the students to grasp. The lesson was on frequency and cumulative frequency. I passed out a bag of M & M's and a worksheet with a table consisting of a column with the colors of the M & M's, a column to put tallies for frequency, and a column to calculate cumulative frequency to each student. I also had the worksheet pulled up on the SmartBoard. As a class, we counted the different colors of our M & M's and put them in the appropriate row calculating cumulative frequency all along the way. I graded the papers and the kids really got it. It was the first swell of pride for my student's work.
I had an observed lesson on Monday. I created a really cute Smartboard lesson about linking verbs with a koala theme to it. I made the students remember the linking verbs by clapping and saying them to a beat. Every couple sentence examples we did I would make them repeat it twice. Hopefully it is something they won't forget! Haha.
I gave another lesson today about irregular verbs in the past tense. I used a SmartBoard lesson that my cooperating teacher made with a Chicago theme that was completely adorable. The kids normally get M & M's or animal crackers when they answer questions, but when they asked me what I was going to give them, I told them.... High fives of course! They all thought it was completely dorky, but they got a good laugh out of it. I would call them up to the SmartBoard by pulling their name out of a bowl. Before I would let them go back to their seat, I would give them a high five and tell them awesome job. To be honest, I think it completely embarrassed some of the kids. I told them that I needed smiles from everyone when they came to the front of the room. This made them giggle even more. I can still hear them groaning, "Miss Rooooooooooss."
Next week is my last week with this group of kiddos. I'm enjoying myself so much that I don't want it to end.
The upside? Thanksgiving break the week after!
Has anyone ever head of Ron Clark's Essential 55?
This man Ron Clark started a school in Atlanta that gives scholarships for less advantaged kids. It is unreal how cool this school is. Take a look at this videos and search Ron Clark Academy on youtube if you want more.
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