After another long and busy week, I am still super excited about where this semester will lead. Kelli and I had some "Ah ha" moments with our class this past week, which allowed for more productivity and less homework for the students. I REALLY love the staff and working with such great people. Kelli and I make a great team and I feel like part of the Matheson Park family. The kids are saying hi to me outside of the classroom now, when they see me before or after school, which always makes one feel more at home in a new place. Next week, we get to go on our first field trip. I am super excited, because we are going to the Acoma Pueblo Feast Day. The students aren't quite sure what they are going to see or do but I have been to another feast day so I am excited to experience a different one.
My UNM class also began this past week. It's an educational psychology course that is on-line. So far, it hasn't been too terrible but there are weekly quizzes, readings, and discussions, along with a few papers and a research experience. I think once I get into the groove of the course it will be pretty easy. I am hoping to get my papers done a bit early to make student teaching easier as the semester continues.
I also found out this week that I don't have to take another teaching exam at this time. Our seminar professor told us we may have to take a reading exam but on Wednesday we found out that the exam is not going to be offered in the next year. Yahoo! I was not looking forward to another teaching test, after finishing the last of the three for my license in June.
Other than student teaching and school...not much happening. I am looking forward to the coming week, hoping to relax for most of the weekend, since I did my homework last night and read more of "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke. Kelli and I are reading "Inkheart" aloud to the class and I am reading ahead on my own so I can help with grading papers when we get there. It's a great book. A book about a book, which is fun and full of great images, exciting characters and adventure!
May the last few days of August be wonderful for all!
Julie
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
How was the first week? The answer everyone wants to hear...
School has begun. Student teaching has begun. Children are dragging as they get used to a new and earlier school day, while teachers are trying to get to know them and find ways to make back to school more fun...
Well...
My first week was fantastic. My master teacher and I are a lot alike and get along very well. She even told me on Thursday that she didn't want November to come(My student teaching ends the week of Thanksgiving). I am so grateful and blessed to be placed in a classroom with a Christian teacher, who knows what she is doing and is willing to let me jump in with whatever may happen in the classroom. This semester I am with 4th grade, our class has 22 students, with an even number of boys and girls. The class is full of various interests, learning styles and personalities, which makes each and every day a new adventure. Teaching is always an adventure. I have already been told that I will be a great teacher when I have my own classroom, by students. I have been told that I will be missed, by my master teacher. I have been given the responsibility of having my own school ID and key for our classroom. I have been welcomed by all the staff in ways that make this school feel like home. I have been given a note of thanks from a student for "being a nice teacher", two drawings and many hugs. I feel like part of the Matheson Park Elementary School family. At the end of the week, I was exhausted and grateful for the weekend but I am ready to get back into the classroom and start teaching. This week, I will start taking over the math lessons. Tomorrow my master teacher and I will do math as a team, then by the end of the week, if all goes well, I will be in charge of math. How exciting! The excitement is hard to contain...plus I get to go to the Acoma Pueblo Feast day with the class and the Planetarium. Field trips are awesome!
Tomorrow my online course for finishing at UNM begins. I am hoping it is as easy as my two school friends say, since they took it last semester. I also hope to get some of my student teaching seminar assignments finished this week so I don't have to think about them. First...a lesson plan. It's almost done but I am too tired to finish it today...maybe by the middle of the week.
As for the rest of life...
Today Mike and I went to Sagebrush Eldorado to see a co-worker of his and her daughter and sister get baptized. It was very exciting because he invited them to Easter services and they have been going since then. I was glad we got to take part in their celebration. I also ran into a few old friends and parents of some friends from band in middle school and high school. You just never know when you will see someone while going to a church that is as big as Sagebrush.
This week, I hope to hear all about some of the events of the first week of school in the lives of friends and their adventures...beginning kindergarten, being the mom of a new kinder student, how the first week went for my school buddies at their student teaching placements and other news that I missed out on last week due to being a school all day and super tired each night. I look forward to the semester.
As things begin to get crazy again, I think about Pop-Pop and how just over two years ago all he wanted to hear about was my crazy schedule. I like to think that he is smiling down at me, saying "Whatever pleases you, just tickles me to death". I am grateful for my supportive family and friends, who have made this long journey of college at UNM so much better. Love to all of you!
Julie
Well...
My first week was fantastic. My master teacher and I are a lot alike and get along very well. She even told me on Thursday that she didn't want November to come(My student teaching ends the week of Thanksgiving). I am so grateful and blessed to be placed in a classroom with a Christian teacher, who knows what she is doing and is willing to let me jump in with whatever may happen in the classroom. This semester I am with 4th grade, our class has 22 students, with an even number of boys and girls. The class is full of various interests, learning styles and personalities, which makes each and every day a new adventure. Teaching is always an adventure. I have already been told that I will be a great teacher when I have my own classroom, by students. I have been told that I will be missed, by my master teacher. I have been given the responsibility of having my own school ID and key for our classroom. I have been welcomed by all the staff in ways that make this school feel like home. I have been given a note of thanks from a student for "being a nice teacher", two drawings and many hugs. I feel like part of the Matheson Park Elementary School family. At the end of the week, I was exhausted and grateful for the weekend but I am ready to get back into the classroom and start teaching. This week, I will start taking over the math lessons. Tomorrow my master teacher and I will do math as a team, then by the end of the week, if all goes well, I will be in charge of math. How exciting! The excitement is hard to contain...plus I get to go to the Acoma Pueblo Feast day with the class and the Planetarium. Field trips are awesome!
Tomorrow my online course for finishing at UNM begins. I am hoping it is as easy as my two school friends say, since they took it last semester. I also hope to get some of my student teaching seminar assignments finished this week so I don't have to think about them. First...a lesson plan. It's almost done but I am too tired to finish it today...maybe by the middle of the week.
As for the rest of life...
Today Mike and I went to Sagebrush Eldorado to see a co-worker of his and her daughter and sister get baptized. It was very exciting because he invited them to Easter services and they have been going since then. I was glad we got to take part in their celebration. I also ran into a few old friends and parents of some friends from band in middle school and high school. You just never know when you will see someone while going to a church that is as big as Sagebrush.
This week, I hope to hear all about some of the events of the first week of school in the lives of friends and their adventures...beginning kindergarten, being the mom of a new kinder student, how the first week went for my school buddies at their student teaching placements and other news that I missed out on last week due to being a school all day and super tired each night. I look forward to the semester.
As things begin to get crazy again, I think about Pop-Pop and how just over two years ago all he wanted to hear about was my crazy schedule. I like to think that he is smiling down at me, saying "Whatever pleases you, just tickles me to death". I am grateful for my supportive family and friends, who have made this long journey of college at UNM so much better. Love to all of you!
Julie
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Summer Over??? Yes...but it's ok!
Today I took my Spanish final...not too terrible. Then I went to have a meeting about helping the Keller Hall manager while she is gone for her honeymoon next week...and that led to about 45 minutes of 'summer' without class, homework or anything to do...before student teaching seminar. It was a crazy day but productive.
Tomorrow...
I begin student teaching at Matheson Park Elementary School with a fourth grade teacher. We will be setting up the room and talking about the coming semester. I cannot wait! More this weekend after the first two days working with my new master teacher.
Summer is over...fall is coming...GRADUATION in December!
:)
Tomorrow...
I begin student teaching at Matheson Park Elementary School with a fourth grade teacher. We will be setting up the room and talking about the coming semester. I cannot wait! More this weekend after the first two days working with my new master teacher.
Summer is over...fall is coming...GRADUATION in December!
:)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Grateful
God has given me many things and I am and always shall be grateful...
I have a home to live in with clothes, food and plenty of things.
I have wonderful parents who want to see me succeed in all my many silly and important endeavors.
I have supportive grandparents who are willing to drive me all over town to ensure that I graduate in December.
I have a sister who is willing to deal with my poor Spanish grammar and read my papers even though she is off in Ohio...missing you lots lately!
I have a wonderful church. I have wonderful friends and I have a fantastic boyfriend who supports me and encourages me on the best and worst of days. I am so grateful...I may not always realize how blessed I am but when I do...I just want to cry out thanksgiving to God for providing for my every need and remind myself that pain is meant to make me stronger and lead me to the Kingdom of God.
Love
Julie
I have a home to live in with clothes, food and plenty of things.
I have wonderful parents who want to see me succeed in all my many silly and important endeavors.
I have supportive grandparents who are willing to drive me all over town to ensure that I graduate in December.
I have a sister who is willing to deal with my poor Spanish grammar and read my papers even though she is off in Ohio...missing you lots lately!
I have a wonderful church. I have wonderful friends and I have a fantastic boyfriend who supports me and encourages me on the best and worst of days. I am so grateful...I may not always realize how blessed I am but when I do...I just want to cry out thanksgiving to God for providing for my every need and remind myself that pain is meant to make me stronger and lead me to the Kingdom of God.
Love
Julie
Friday, August 5, 2011
Craft Fun
So in my time off between the ESL summer institute and starting my last semester at UNM, I have been spending many hours being crafty. I have a table set up for beading, painting on canvas bags in the kitchen and knitting ready to grab and take anywhere I may go. It's a fun way to spend some time at the end of a crazy summer, that will help me stay ahead for preparation for the fall craft shows and for birthday, graduation and Christmas gifts. It's kinda exciting.
The canvas bags are the biggest project at the moment. I decided that after making my friend a diaper bag for her twin boys, that I would make teacher bags for six of my school friends for graduation gifts. The bags are coming along well and are super cute. I am using fabric paint, foam stamps and hand prints to make cute teacher bags that will last for many years. It will also be a fun way to end the undergraduate college years with my school buddies whom I have had every class with for three semesters and some for even longer. When I get the bags done I will have to put up some pictures.
Other than being crafty, not much is going on. Last weekend I went with Mike and Mike G. to Flagstaff for a KOA VW campout. It was quite fun to finally meet some of the people Mike has been camping with for years and to get away and out of town for the weekend. Hezekiah, my car, also enjoyed the long road trip after being stuck in the garage 6 of 7 days for almost two months now. Mike also had the whole week prior to camping off from work so we celebrated his birthday by going to the Natural History Museum, getting lunch and attempting to go to an Isotopes game. Unfortunately the game didn't work out because Mike got the wrong time, but it was fun anyways. Then we spent another day working in the recording studio for an afternoon, Mike took me to Spanish and we packed and go ready for camping. It was a relatively laid back and relaxing week off for Mike, even with plenty to keep us busy.
Next week is the end of my summer Spanish class at CNM, the beginning of my last semester at UNM and the beginning of my last semester of student teaching. I cannot wait to see what student teaching at Matheson Park will have in store for me. I will be student teaching in forth grade, with a teacher who has been at this school for eight years and is a fellow UNM student, working on her graduate degree. I look forward to new adventures in forth grade and seeing what I will learn while teaching at Matheson Park Elementary School.
I believe that is all for now...more to come when the craziness of next week begins. I hope to keep up with the blog this semester, setting aside time to tell about student teaching and my last semester as an undergraduate at UNM.
Wayland for graduate school in February!
Blessings to all!
Love Julie
The canvas bags are the biggest project at the moment. I decided that after making my friend a diaper bag for her twin boys, that I would make teacher bags for six of my school friends for graduation gifts. The bags are coming along well and are super cute. I am using fabric paint, foam stamps and hand prints to make cute teacher bags that will last for many years. It will also be a fun way to end the undergraduate college years with my school buddies whom I have had every class with for three semesters and some for even longer. When I get the bags done I will have to put up some pictures.
Other than being crafty, not much is going on. Last weekend I went with Mike and Mike G. to Flagstaff for a KOA VW campout. It was quite fun to finally meet some of the people Mike has been camping with for years and to get away and out of town for the weekend. Hezekiah, my car, also enjoyed the long road trip after being stuck in the garage 6 of 7 days for almost two months now. Mike also had the whole week prior to camping off from work so we celebrated his birthday by going to the Natural History Museum, getting lunch and attempting to go to an Isotopes game. Unfortunately the game didn't work out because Mike got the wrong time, but it was fun anyways. Then we spent another day working in the recording studio for an afternoon, Mike took me to Spanish and we packed and go ready for camping. It was a relatively laid back and relaxing week off for Mike, even with plenty to keep us busy.
Next week is the end of my summer Spanish class at CNM, the beginning of my last semester at UNM and the beginning of my last semester of student teaching. I cannot wait to see what student teaching at Matheson Park will have in store for me. I will be student teaching in forth grade, with a teacher who has been at this school for eight years and is a fellow UNM student, working on her graduate degree. I look forward to new adventures in forth grade and seeing what I will learn while teaching at Matheson Park Elementary School.
I believe that is all for now...more to come when the craziness of next week begins. I hope to keep up with the blog this semester, setting aside time to tell about student teaching and my last semester as an undergraduate at UNM.
Wayland for graduate school in February!
Blessings to all!
Love Julie
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