If anyone has been following this, I'm sure they have long given up on me! It's been over 2 months since I've posted anything. I'm a little disappointed in myself! One of my 'resolutions' is to keep this updated more frequently. I was telling some of my friends that I wanted to try to stay on top of this better, lets hope I can fulfill this goal!
The end of the year was busy with its usual festivities. November held Thanksgiving, food, family, and an all night Christmas Shopping trip! December came in with its weird weather and even a nice little car accident! I am all recovered, I did sadly have to say peace out to my car of 5 years, Roonie. She was a good 'ole car and I am going to miss her, however I love my new Camry! School wrapped up with the children anxiously running out of my classroom (with me quickly dashing out of the school behind them). I was officially on break and love every single minute of it! I got to see family and friends and got lots of rest and relaxation, probably too much because it was definitely hard getting back to Eden! Tomorrow is the first day back, hopefully it won't be too bad!
It's hard to believe that it was just one year ago that I began my student teaching. In some ways it seems like years ago and then sometimes only yesterday. I am still getting the swing of everything. I know that this is a learning profession. I am still learning everyday.
My hope is to keep this updated more this year...we'll see how it goes!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Friday, October 31, 2008
Workdays ROCK
I've had my first official workday since school started. It was a much needed workday. The work is in a huge stack and my room is ready to be re-organized. That was the first thing I did today, finally got to spend a little time with just my room. I adore my classroom, but it had gotten messy with the everyday in's and outs of student chaos. I swept, cleaned, moved around, and re-arranged. It was lovely. Then we went out to lunch which is really nice to actually get to eat and not worry about the next class, haha. I love spending time with the English teachers I work with, they're so funny and wonderful to be around. I plan on doing a lot of grading on Monday. It's what I have left to do. I also need to plan, just the usual life of a high school teacher.
This weekend or tonight rather, I'm going to Raleigh to visit Kelly and Matt. (Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Matt Gay!!) We're looking at bridesmaids dresses and all that good stuff tomorrow, so it'll be fun to do some wedding things. Now if we could only get my wedding in the works...haha, jk.
Last Monday I had the opportunity to speak with a UNCG English Methods class. It is crazy that I was in that class just a year ago and now fast forward a year...I'm really the teacher. It was wonderful to get to spread the little bit of knowledge and advice I had from student teaching and these past 10 weeks. I'm a 10 week veteran! I really enjoyed it.
I'm continuing to learn from life everyday, even when I cried in front of my students this week, I learned from it. Mainly to not freak out and cry, but also to take things one step at a time. Oh well, at least they saw that I was only human! Life goes on... :)
This weekend or tonight rather, I'm going to Raleigh to visit Kelly and Matt. (Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Matt Gay!!) We're looking at bridesmaids dresses and all that good stuff tomorrow, so it'll be fun to do some wedding things. Now if we could only get my wedding in the works...haha, jk.
Last Monday I had the opportunity to speak with a UNCG English Methods class. It is crazy that I was in that class just a year ago and now fast forward a year...I'm really the teacher. It was wonderful to get to spread the little bit of knowledge and advice I had from student teaching and these past 10 weeks. I'm a 10 week veteran! I really enjoyed it.
I'm continuing to learn from life everyday, even when I cried in front of my students this week, I learned from it. Mainly to not freak out and cry, but also to take things one step at a time. Oh well, at least they saw that I was only human! Life goes on... :)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Embarking on Month 3!!
I haven't written in almost a month! It's crazy how busy my life has become with everyday teaching things. The last time I wrote I had only been teaching for 3 weeks, I'm almost approaching my 2 month mark!! Trust me, I have felt every second of it...
Teaching holds it's challenges every single day. My biggest challenges are finding time to do everything, not stressing about things, my students, and perfecting my lesson plans. Oh...and I guess I should throw grammar in there as well.
I never feel like there is enough time to do everything I need to do. Grading papers, helping students, keeping up with my lessons, and making sure I'm on top of my game. To be honest, all I feel like right now is very, very, very tired. However, I have to mention the good things as well. For instance, I have the best family, friends and department ever.
My family has been, as always, very supportive and wonderful. It's still hard being away from home, sometimes you just want a hug from your Mom or Dad, and sometimes you just want Granny to make you a grilled cheese sandwich and tell you it's all going to be alright. My friends have also been AMAZING. We e-mail each other almost everyday and it has gotten me through a lot of days. We've visited, called, traveled, talked, and been there for each other as best as we can. The newest people in my life, my English department, have been fabulous as well. They've been warm, welcoming, and supportive. I couldn't ask for anything more.
Everyday is new and everyday is one that I learn from. As I've said before, this is a LEARNING profession. If you aren't learning, you're missing one of the biggest things about the job. It's hard, everyday is a challenge. I've never been so frustrated before! However, I've also realized that one day I'm going to be able to make a difference, hopefully sooner rather than later. We'll see :)
I will try to be better about these posts...more frequent!!
Teaching holds it's challenges every single day. My biggest challenges are finding time to do everything, not stressing about things, my students, and perfecting my lesson plans. Oh...and I guess I should throw grammar in there as well.
I never feel like there is enough time to do everything I need to do. Grading papers, helping students, keeping up with my lessons, and making sure I'm on top of my game. To be honest, all I feel like right now is very, very, very tired. However, I have to mention the good things as well. For instance, I have the best family, friends and department ever.
My family has been, as always, very supportive and wonderful. It's still hard being away from home, sometimes you just want a hug from your Mom or Dad, and sometimes you just want Granny to make you a grilled cheese sandwich and tell you it's all going to be alright. My friends have also been AMAZING. We e-mail each other almost everyday and it has gotten me through a lot of days. We've visited, called, traveled, talked, and been there for each other as best as we can. The newest people in my life, my English department, have been fabulous as well. They've been warm, welcoming, and supportive. I couldn't ask for anything more.
Everyday is new and everyday is one that I learn from. As I've said before, this is a LEARNING profession. If you aren't learning, you're missing one of the biggest things about the job. It's hard, everyday is a challenge. I've never been so frustrated before! However, I've also realized that one day I'm going to be able to make a difference, hopefully sooner rather than later. We'll see :)
I will try to be better about these posts...more frequent!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Learning Lessons Everyday
It is hard to believe that I’ve taught for 3 weeks, a little more if we’re being technical. Some days have been really good, but some days haven’t been so good. I know it’s all just getting used to this new life.
I thought I’d put together a list of the things I’ve learned so far in this journey of teaching/new life. It’s crazy what I’ve learned, and I also know it’s just the beginning. There is so much more to learn. There’s so much more to teach, to understand, to hear, and to learn. You have to understand that there is a part of teaching that is teaching, but teaching is also learning.
So…here are some things I’ve learned.
1) Grammar is the hardest thing to teach…especially when you didn’t pay attention when they went over it in elementary school. (I think that’s the last time I learned anything about nouns and pronouns)
2) Doves can be brown. Seriously…I never knew that, some of my students that hunt taught me that. And…I can tell you when dove season begins as well.
3) Students love a good joke or little story. It’s like their little eyes light up when I say, 'that reminds me...'. Haha, it’s probably just because I’m taking a break from class, but they also seem to enjoy the ‘life-connection’.
4) E-mails from friends are so wonderful to read when you’ve had a long day of teaching.
5) Though friends can be far apart, true friends are never far in heart. (So I totally stole that…but it’s a really good quote)
6) No matter how old you are, you will always miss your momma.
7) One student can make your day when a light bulb goes off in their head and they ‘get it’.
8) Students do NOT like when you make a mistake.
9) Teaching is hard, but something tells me it’s worth it.
10) The in betweens in life are hard. Learning to live by yourself and be in a classroom by yourself is hard. But, life is a lesson, we just have to remember to learn from it.
I thought I’d put together a list of the things I’ve learned so far in this journey of teaching/new life. It’s crazy what I’ve learned, and I also know it’s just the beginning. There is so much more to learn. There’s so much more to teach, to understand, to hear, and to learn. You have to understand that there is a part of teaching that is teaching, but teaching is also learning.
So…here are some things I’ve learned.
1) Grammar is the hardest thing to teach…especially when you didn’t pay attention when they went over it in elementary school. (I think that’s the last time I learned anything about nouns and pronouns)
2) Doves can be brown. Seriously…I never knew that, some of my students that hunt taught me that. And…I can tell you when dove season begins as well.
3) Students love a good joke or little story. It’s like their little eyes light up when I say, 'that reminds me...'. Haha, it’s probably just because I’m taking a break from class, but they also seem to enjoy the ‘life-connection’.
4) E-mails from friends are so wonderful to read when you’ve had a long day of teaching.
5) Though friends can be far apart, true friends are never far in heart. (So I totally stole that…but it’s a really good quote)
6) No matter how old you are, you will always miss your momma.
7) One student can make your day when a light bulb goes off in their head and they ‘get it’.
8) Students do NOT like when you make a mistake.
9) Teaching is hard, but something tells me it’s worth it.
10) The in betweens in life are hard. Learning to live by yourself and be in a classroom by yourself is hard. But, life is a lesson, we just have to remember to learn from it.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Becoming an Adult
I was reminded by my friend Emily today that it wasn’t so long ago that I was absolutely DYING to become an adult. The anticipation was unbearable this summer and it made me think back to an earlier time in my life. My whole childhood consisted of playing teacher and studying my own teachers so that I would one day be a ‘real’ teacher. Now that I am, sometimes I wish that I had just taken more time to enjoy being a child.
I don’t envy them. Children I mean. It’s so hard growing up and figuring things out. Understanding the hard parts of life. Understanding what it means to lose friends, family, and loved ones. It's such a hard process to really come into the reality of a young adult. I don't envy my young students either. They're figuring out things too. It's a time in my life that was really hard. I don't think anyone goes through childhood or young adulthood without some issues or troubles.
I am the youngest person in my department and we had the conversation the other day about ‘if we could go back’. Most of the time, it always end with, “Maybe…but only with what I know now”. That’s the thing; we take for granted that throughout all the ‘growing up’ we’re learning along the way.
As my sister is beginning the process of submitting applications to college and thinking about her future, it has made me think back to when I was a senior. It wasn’t that long ago, but sometimes, it seems like decades. Would I go back? Maybe, but again, I’ve learned so much, done so much, met so many people; it is crazy to think that I really and truly am a different person from 5 years ago.
There are many times when I would like nothing more than to go lie in my mom’s lap, or spend the night with Granny, knowing I would fall asleep to her singing my favorite songs and wake up to a gravy biscuit from Hardees. I would love to go back to being that elementary student, playing recess, learning about the simple things that would turn into the building blocks of my education. However, I know I’m also going to be saying in 20 years that I would like to go back to ‘that first year of teacher, that first year of being on my own’; I know it’s all perpetual. I know that I am doing what I’m doing for a reason and I think the biggest reason is that I’m learning. Learning through the good, the bad, the wonderful, and even learning through the sad.
After all, isn’t a part of growing up?
I don’t envy them. Children I mean. It’s so hard growing up and figuring things out. Understanding the hard parts of life. Understanding what it means to lose friends, family, and loved ones. It's such a hard process to really come into the reality of a young adult. I don't envy my young students either. They're figuring out things too. It's a time in my life that was really hard. I don't think anyone goes through childhood or young adulthood without some issues or troubles.
I am the youngest person in my department and we had the conversation the other day about ‘if we could go back’. Most of the time, it always end with, “Maybe…but only with what I know now”. That’s the thing; we take for granted that throughout all the ‘growing up’ we’re learning along the way.
As my sister is beginning the process of submitting applications to college and thinking about her future, it has made me think back to when I was a senior. It wasn’t that long ago, but sometimes, it seems like decades. Would I go back? Maybe, but again, I’ve learned so much, done so much, met so many people; it is crazy to think that I really and truly am a different person from 5 years ago.
There are many times when I would like nothing more than to go lie in my mom’s lap, or spend the night with Granny, knowing I would fall asleep to her singing my favorite songs and wake up to a gravy biscuit from Hardees. I would love to go back to being that elementary student, playing recess, learning about the simple things that would turn into the building blocks of my education. However, I know I’m also going to be saying in 20 years that I would like to go back to ‘that first year of teacher, that first year of being on my own’; I know it’s all perpetual. I know that I am doing what I’m doing for a reason and I think the biggest reason is that I’m learning. Learning through the good, the bad, the wonderful, and even learning through the sad.
After all, isn’t a part of growing up?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
In the beginning...
There are few things in life that I am certain of. However, one of them is that the first week for a beginning teacher is ROUGH! Tomorrow begins week 3 and it’s really hard to believe!
In some ways these past couple of weeks has flown by, in other ways they’ve crept by so slowly I wonder if I’m going to make it out alive. There have been many challenges, lots of stress, upset stomachs, and lots of pondering as to if I’ve made the right decision. The change from student teaching to full time teaching has been difficult. First of all, I went from traditional schedule (6 pds, 52 min.) to block schedule (4 periods, 90 min.). 90 minutes is a very long time! Also, I’m teaching a different grade than want I student taught, so learning a new level has been interesting. It’s all very different.
But, with bad, there is always good too. The English dept is absolutely amazing. I couldn’t ask for a more supportive, kind, and caring group of people to work with. The faculty and administration in general are awesome. Very nice, very positive and they provide a great atmosphere to work in. I have enjoyed getting to know everybody and trying meeting new people.
Teaching is a profession that is multi-layered. If any teacher is reading this, I’m sure they are nodding their head in agreement. It’s not just ‘being a teacher’. It’s being responsible, being professional, being supportive, being a cheerleader for your students, and being flexible, it’s being able to give up parts of your life, basically - it’s a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, well learning to like it, but it’s been a tough adjustment. My life has changed; I’m getting out of the college student life and starting to fill the shoes of a REAL adult! I grade papers, call the ones I love, make lesson plans, and go to bed! It’s been an adjustment for sure!
I know that it’s going to get easier, and I also know that it’s going to be worth it. I have amazing people standing by me and I couldn’t do it without them. As with anything, the beginning is hard. I remember my freshman year of college and how amazingly difficult the first months were, but I learned to cope, and I will do the same with this new transition.
In some ways these past couple of weeks has flown by, in other ways they’ve crept by so slowly I wonder if I’m going to make it out alive. There have been many challenges, lots of stress, upset stomachs, and lots of pondering as to if I’ve made the right decision. The change from student teaching to full time teaching has been difficult. First of all, I went from traditional schedule (6 pds, 52 min.) to block schedule (4 periods, 90 min.). 90 minutes is a very long time! Also, I’m teaching a different grade than want I student taught, so learning a new level has been interesting. It’s all very different.
But, with bad, there is always good too. The English dept is absolutely amazing. I couldn’t ask for a more supportive, kind, and caring group of people to work with. The faculty and administration in general are awesome. Very nice, very positive and they provide a great atmosphere to work in. I have enjoyed getting to know everybody and trying meeting new people.
Teaching is a profession that is multi-layered. If any teacher is reading this, I’m sure they are nodding their head in agreement. It’s not just ‘being a teacher’. It’s being responsible, being professional, being supportive, being a cheerleader for your students, and being flexible, it’s being able to give up parts of your life, basically - it’s a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, well learning to like it, but it’s been a tough adjustment. My life has changed; I’m getting out of the college student life and starting to fill the shoes of a REAL adult! I grade papers, call the ones I love, make lesson plans, and go to bed! It’s been an adjustment for sure!
I know that it’s going to get easier, and I also know that it’s going to be worth it. I have amazing people standing by me and I couldn’t do it without them. As with anything, the beginning is hard. I remember my freshman year of college and how amazingly difficult the first months were, but I learned to cope, and I will do the same with this new transition.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
What Are You Waiting For?
“I can hear God now
From a silver cloud
I got plans for you child
What are you worried about?
You know life's too short
What are you waiting for?”
~Heidi Newfield
Workdays are over! It has been an exhausting week of getting to know everyone, meetings, convocation, setting up my room, and lesson plans. I still don’t feel completely ready, but tomorrow is the big day! D-day approaches…
The English dept. is absolutely amazing; they have taken care of me and made me feel right at home. The whole school is really great. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone. There is a sense of having to prove myself, being the ‘new girl’ and all. I think that is why I have been so worried about my lessons and getting them ‘just right’. There are a lot of components to teaching English, it’s not just the literature, but remembering to teach the concepts, analyzing the literature, looking at the grammar, understanding the author, and figuring out vocab. There is so much I want to teach them, but I mainly just want to teach my students to love literature. To love it the same way Mrs. Vaughn and Mrs. McKinney did when I was in high school.
Everyone is quickly finding their ways in the new lives we’ve been presented. Meeting people and still finding time to call and e-mail one another to catch up. One of my favorite quotes from Grey’s Anatomy is when Meredith says, “We’re adults, when did that happen? And how do we make it stop?” - That about sums up my life, but with all its headaches, I’m kind of enjoying it too. I was telling another English teacher the other day that all my life I’ve loved hanging out with adults. Since my Mom was a teacher at my elementary school I always got to be with the teachers and hang out with them. Now I’m the adult, I’m the teacher. Kind of crazy!
Like I said before, life is an adventure, this is the beginning of this ride…so the best I can figure is to throw my hands up in the air and enjoy it!
From a silver cloud
I got plans for you child
What are you worried about?
You know life's too short
What are you waiting for?”
~Heidi Newfield
Workdays are over! It has been an exhausting week of getting to know everyone, meetings, convocation, setting up my room, and lesson plans. I still don’t feel completely ready, but tomorrow is the big day! D-day approaches…
The English dept. is absolutely amazing; they have taken care of me and made me feel right at home. The whole school is really great. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone. There is a sense of having to prove myself, being the ‘new girl’ and all. I think that is why I have been so worried about my lessons and getting them ‘just right’. There are a lot of components to teaching English, it’s not just the literature, but remembering to teach the concepts, analyzing the literature, looking at the grammar, understanding the author, and figuring out vocab. There is so much I want to teach them, but I mainly just want to teach my students to love literature. To love it the same way Mrs. Vaughn and Mrs. McKinney did when I was in high school.
Everyone is quickly finding their ways in the new lives we’ve been presented. Meeting people and still finding time to call and e-mail one another to catch up. One of my favorite quotes from Grey’s Anatomy is when Meredith says, “We’re adults, when did that happen? And how do we make it stop?” - That about sums up my life, but with all its headaches, I’m kind of enjoying it too. I was telling another English teacher the other day that all my life I’ve loved hanging out with adults. Since my Mom was a teacher at my elementary school I always got to be with the teachers and hang out with them. Now I’m the adult, I’m the teacher. Kind of crazy!
Like I said before, life is an adventure, this is the beginning of this ride…so the best I can figure is to throw my hands up in the air and enjoy it!
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