Hello internets,
Things have been fantastic out here.
I am working again in my chosen profession for the first time in over a year!!
This is fantastic.
I was hired, at first, by a single mom in town. She is a lovely woman and I can't wait to get to work with her and her daughter. She feels that she is well equipped to teach her daughter (who is naturally bookish) reading and writing skills, but felt overwhelmed when it came to math and science. The daughter is not naturally inclined to learn either of these subjects, and the mother has been having problems trying anything and everything to spark interest. Luckily, my masters degree focus was math and science instruction. I feel well prepared to handle this challenge.
Add to it the fact that this girl is home schooled. Public school was not meeting her needs in an appopriate fashion, because she is quiet, bookish, and didn't cause any trouble for the teacher. Based on this, she was often ignored and learned less than she should have in the subjects she didn't care about. This is a problem I shall quickly work to remedy. She may be behind, based on grade level expectations, but she has an agile mind and with the right presentation, I fully believe she will catch up with lightening speed.
To help encourage learning of things she would rather ignore, I decided to use her passion for art as the basis of my instruction. To aid in this, I am creating a curriculum for use with her based on the great artists of history. We are starting with Vincent Van Gogh.
By focusing the lessons on art, I hope to capture her attention. However, these are not merely instructions on painting or drawing. Art appreciation will be developed by reading and critiquing various artworks. Physics will be taught while learning about color, pigments, prisms, and mirrors. Mathematics will be taught by learning to estimate, and then segue into multiplication and the use of problem solving strategies to attack various word problems.
Biographies and critiques will be read at appropriate levels and writing will occur daily. I hope to use a writer's workshop technique in addition to requiring daily exit tickets or notes about what the day's lessons entailed and what the student has learned.
I look forward to planning and executing this new idea. I realize that it will be a tremendous amount of work for me, but after so much time out of the game, I welcome it.
Plus, I'm getting paid in massages and healing sessions!! How can life possibly get cooler than that?!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Oops, I forgot this happened because I was busy living life!
I haven't kept up with this blog, obviously. For this post I will catch you up on the recent events of my life, but after that I plan to blog daily about my life, my teaching, my lesson plans, and my students.
2013 has been an amazing year. I got engaged in late 2012 and had a wedding planned for May. In January, my finace had an interview with a new company in Texas, and suddenly all the plans changed. Jon was hired and we scrambled to prepare for a move, a marriage, and a completely new style of life.
The wedding moved up to February 1. We got hitched at the courthouse in a cute and quick ceremony. I wore something from the bargain rack. My parents came and my oldest friend from Florida dragged her boyfriend along to attend also. We had cupcakes downtown and drank coffee. Delicious local organic coffee. I miss Maude's terribly.... Eventually, a wedding night dinner has held at Mildred's. Jon and I packed up and headed out to St. Augustine for our weekend honeymoon.
The honeymoon was glorious. So many museums! So many delicious snacks and treats and foods! It helped that my best friend had lived there for a few years and was able to tip us off towards all the best places to go/see/things to do. However, in all the shuffle, nobody thought to check the weather. When packing to move, I left out one suitcase of cute clothes and one suitcase of warm clothes. I brought the wrong stuff to the honeymoon. I looked adorable but froze the entire time! This didn't help make the weekend quite as sexy or romantic as we wanted it to be, but nothing compared with getting home and realizing that I had pneumonia. I couldn't even get out of bed. After a long, painful trip to the local clinic and lots of antibiotics, I was ready to travel!
Jon and I drove out of Gville heading to Texas on Feb. 8. One week after getting married. It was a sad moment to leave my long term home. I'd been in my condo longer than I've ever lived anywhere else, and it was very hard to actually pack up the car knowing I was leaving my kitties and my home. The kitties came out with us on the next trip, but I still missed them terribly for the couple of weeks we were separated.
We had a few adventures along the drive, but finally we arrived in Texas, settled into our hotel, and eventually found a great place to live. Our first home together.
After securing housing, I flew back to pack up the rest of our belongings. My friend picked me up from the airport, drove me to Gville and took me to dinner. We spent that night hanging out and enjoying a last night in my home before settling down to pack up and work hard the rest of the week. She was called away the next morning. My family came down to help me and visit before we were really, truly, gone. With my family comes the family pita-a small yorkie. After a particularly trying day, I saw that the dog was trying to excape thru the front door, and ran down the stairs to prevent her from being lost. I didn't quite make it. Instead, I slid and fell forward, then backward, then forward again. Landing in a crumpled heap, with two parents screaming at me was not on the agenda for my week... But that's what happened
A long visit to the ER and plenty of frustration later, they declared my foot had been sprained. (it hadn't) I could walk on it ( I couldn't) . I would be just fine (Nope). I didn't need pain pills (Completely wrong). Another visit to another doctor in Florida terrified me as they sold me on some expensive and very painful procedures, and surprise ! Another doctor who didn't believe in pain pills. The drive to Texas was much worse this time around, but we made it.
I saw a specialist in TX who realized my foot was broken in 3 (nope, 5) places. It's been a very long hard recovery, but now I am able to walk and stand on one or two feet.
I'm finally getting active in my community and trying to learn about life in Waco. Part of this search has led me to a church that I treasure and, more importantly, to the friends who have made this area a new home. I am so thankful to every one of them for encouraging me to get out, meet new people, and visit new parts of this city. Every day gets a little better. I've got a job now working with a homeschooler. I'm designing a curriculum, probably creating most of the handouts to be used, and will be maintaining detailed notes on her activity and progress daily. This blog will hopefully help me to chronicle her progress as well as my own as I learn, develop, and grow through working with her.
2013 has been an amazing year. I got engaged in late 2012 and had a wedding planned for May. In January, my finace had an interview with a new company in Texas, and suddenly all the plans changed. Jon was hired and we scrambled to prepare for a move, a marriage, and a completely new style of life.
The wedding moved up to February 1. We got hitched at the courthouse in a cute and quick ceremony. I wore something from the bargain rack. My parents came and my oldest friend from Florida dragged her boyfriend along to attend also. We had cupcakes downtown and drank coffee. Delicious local organic coffee. I miss Maude's terribly.... Eventually, a wedding night dinner has held at Mildred's. Jon and I packed up and headed out to St. Augustine for our weekend honeymoon.
The honeymoon was glorious. So many museums! So many delicious snacks and treats and foods! It helped that my best friend had lived there for a few years and was able to tip us off towards all the best places to go/see/things to do. However, in all the shuffle, nobody thought to check the weather. When packing to move, I left out one suitcase of cute clothes and one suitcase of warm clothes. I brought the wrong stuff to the honeymoon. I looked adorable but froze the entire time! This didn't help make the weekend quite as sexy or romantic as we wanted it to be, but nothing compared with getting home and realizing that I had pneumonia. I couldn't even get out of bed. After a long, painful trip to the local clinic and lots of antibiotics, I was ready to travel!
Jon and I drove out of Gville heading to Texas on Feb. 8. One week after getting married. It was a sad moment to leave my long term home. I'd been in my condo longer than I've ever lived anywhere else, and it was very hard to actually pack up the car knowing I was leaving my kitties and my home. The kitties came out with us on the next trip, but I still missed them terribly for the couple of weeks we were separated.
We had a few adventures along the drive, but finally we arrived in Texas, settled into our hotel, and eventually found a great place to live. Our first home together.
After securing housing, I flew back to pack up the rest of our belongings. My friend picked me up from the airport, drove me to Gville and took me to dinner. We spent that night hanging out and enjoying a last night in my home before settling down to pack up and work hard the rest of the week. She was called away the next morning. My family came down to help me and visit before we were really, truly, gone. With my family comes the family pita-a small yorkie. After a particularly trying day, I saw that the dog was trying to excape thru the front door, and ran down the stairs to prevent her from being lost. I didn't quite make it. Instead, I slid and fell forward, then backward, then forward again. Landing in a crumpled heap, with two parents screaming at me was not on the agenda for my week... But that's what happened
A long visit to the ER and plenty of frustration later, they declared my foot had been sprained. (it hadn't) I could walk on it ( I couldn't) . I would be just fine (Nope). I didn't need pain pills (Completely wrong). Another visit to another doctor in Florida terrified me as they sold me on some expensive and very painful procedures, and surprise ! Another doctor who didn't believe in pain pills. The drive to Texas was much worse this time around, but we made it.
I saw a specialist in TX who realized my foot was broken in 3 (nope, 5) places. It's been a very long hard recovery, but now I am able to walk and stand on one or two feet.
I'm finally getting active in my community and trying to learn about life in Waco. Part of this search has led me to a church that I treasure and, more importantly, to the friends who have made this area a new home. I am so thankful to every one of them for encouraging me to get out, meet new people, and visit new parts of this city. Every day gets a little better. I've got a job now working with a homeschooler. I'm designing a curriculum, probably creating most of the handouts to be used, and will be maintaining detailed notes on her activity and progress daily. This blog will hopefully help me to chronicle her progress as well as my own as I learn, develop, and grow through working with her.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 18
Today was fairly uneventful.
I've been fully in charge of the classroom for a while now, and I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with my position.
The kids don't respect me as an authority figure.
Reading is always the worst part of the day. It's a harder subject for many of our students and the Language Arts components aren't always the most interesting. I have plans to improve things by adding a literature circle component, but as of now, I haven't made it that far.
A certain child with previous behavior issues challenged me today during reading; he was defiant and refused to obey any direct instructions that were issued to him. He was great during the entire rest of the day, and only began to misbehave while in math. If I am the primary instructor, he feels as though he shouldn't be expected to respond to my requests. Instead, he pushes the limits or outright defies me. Today isn't the first time it's happened; I doubt that it will be the last.
I wish I knew more about how to handle a situation like this. I could send him out to the hallway or another teacher's classroom, but if I do that, my mentor feels that he has won. Next year when I am alone in a classroom, I don't know how I will garner support or require my students to behave appropriately. I've read about classrooms where the community component is so strong that the children appreciate the instructor and simply behave because they are expected to. That's the classroom I want to strive for; I don't know if I'm prepared to get there as of yet.
I've been fully in charge of the classroom for a while now, and I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with my position.
The kids don't respect me as an authority figure.
Reading is always the worst part of the day. It's a harder subject for many of our students and the Language Arts components aren't always the most interesting. I have plans to improve things by adding a literature circle component, but as of now, I haven't made it that far.
A certain child with previous behavior issues challenged me today during reading; he was defiant and refused to obey any direct instructions that were issued to him. He was great during the entire rest of the day, and only began to misbehave while in math. If I am the primary instructor, he feels as though he shouldn't be expected to respond to my requests. Instead, he pushes the limits or outright defies me. Today isn't the first time it's happened; I doubt that it will be the last.
I wish I knew more about how to handle a situation like this. I could send him out to the hallway or another teacher's classroom, but if I do that, my mentor feels that he has won. Next year when I am alone in a classroom, I don't know how I will garner support or require my students to behave appropriately. I've read about classrooms where the community component is so strong that the children appreciate the instructor and simply behave because they are expected to. That's the classroom I want to strive for; I don't know if I'm prepared to get there as of yet.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Blog Beginnings
I'm starting this to chronicle the remainder of my time in my 4th grade internship.
My hopes for this blog are that it will provide me a healthy way to reflect upon lessons I teach, as well as consider changes that should be made before the lessons are used again in the future.
I want to use this forum as another way to post and make visible my somewhat less than standard methods of teaching.
In my philosophy, if I'm bored, my kids have been bored for a while. If they're bored, they aren't learning. It is my goal to teach in increasingly interesting ways that allow for my children to make their own discoveries. I see my job as one of a facilitator. I take them to the knowledge, and allow them to drink from its stream what they will.
I don't believe in standardized tests. I don't believe in altering my teaching to meet their purposes. If I have done my job properly, without specific 'test preparation' I feel that my pupils will pass with flying colors.
I take a great deal of my inspiration from the research and experiences of Rafe Esquith, Jaime Escalante, and E. R. Braithwaite.
I am a passionate reader of educational psychology research; I detest school psychology.
I focus my instruction on mathematics and science at this time. I'm working to branch out and make reading and writing into more enjoyable subjects for my pupils as well.
I look forward to having my own classroom, but I am ever thankful for the opportunities this internship has afforded me.
I called my blog NeverBoringTeacher, because that is my ultimate goal. If I maintain a high energy level and create lessons that are both fun and advantageous, I feel that my students will appreciate and enjoy my classroom a great deal more.
I don't encourage blind obedience. I enjoy well thought out and phrased challenges.
"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it. " ~Jacob Bronowski
My hopes for this blog are that it will provide me a healthy way to reflect upon lessons I teach, as well as consider changes that should be made before the lessons are used again in the future.
I want to use this forum as another way to post and make visible my somewhat less than standard methods of teaching.
In my philosophy, if I'm bored, my kids have been bored for a while. If they're bored, they aren't learning. It is my goal to teach in increasingly interesting ways that allow for my children to make their own discoveries. I see my job as one of a facilitator. I take them to the knowledge, and allow them to drink from its stream what they will.
I don't believe in standardized tests. I don't believe in altering my teaching to meet their purposes. If I have done my job properly, without specific 'test preparation' I feel that my pupils will pass with flying colors.
I take a great deal of my inspiration from the research and experiences of Rafe Esquith, Jaime Escalante, and E. R. Braithwaite.
I am a passionate reader of educational psychology research; I detest school psychology.
I focus my instruction on mathematics and science at this time. I'm working to branch out and make reading and writing into more enjoyable subjects for my pupils as well.
I look forward to having my own classroom, but I am ever thankful for the opportunities this internship has afforded me.
I called my blog NeverBoringTeacher, because that is my ultimate goal. If I maintain a high energy level and create lessons that are both fun and advantageous, I feel that my students will appreciate and enjoy my classroom a great deal more.
I don't encourage blind obedience. I enjoy well thought out and phrased challenges.
"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it. " ~Jacob Bronowski
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