Archive for 1
{ April 20, 2010 @ 8:28 PM }
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{ Tags: 2nd grade, appreciation, colleagues, college, daily journal, education, georgia performance standards, gratitude, inspirational quotes, reinhardt college } · { }
CRCT.. what more can I say? It was good. It was really good. Only two more days and it’s over (CRCT)! I don’t know who it was harder on, the kids or the teachers?? I always get sooo tired while it is going on. I just don’t know why. It’s no different from any other day. Do you remember that feeling when you let your first child drive off, alone, for the first time? You hope you have taught them right, and they make “good choices?” I sorta have that same feeling on the day of a test. You do everything you can to teach the students, and then they are on their own. I am positive that I have helped them achieve success. Just as I have taught my own children, I am teaching other’s children. It has been a long intensive learning process, but I believe that they are and will make the right choices. Not only on the CRCT, but in life. That is my prayer!
Tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for. I will sit down in front of a panel of very respected educators, and do my best to convince them that I am the person for the job. Suprisingly, I do not feel nervous. I have a great assurance that I am doing what I was created to do. A person whom I respect quite a bit, gave me a great piece of advice yesterday. She simply said, “be yourself, and you will be fine.” What a great thing to say. I will be myself, I will try to impress, but I will remain true to who I am. I want to be hired because of who I am, what I believe and what I can become. If I were hired for any other reason, it would not be worth it. I want to be hired because I am a great teacher.
“Insist on yourself. Never imitate.” ~~(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
{ April 19, 2010 @ 6:35 PM }
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{ Tags: appreciation, back to school, colleagues, de.li.cious, dream job, georgia performance standards, new career, student teaching } · { }
I am feeling really great about this whole experience. I am getting closer to graduation. In fact it is only 11 days away! I just can’t believe it. My “panel” interview is on Wednesday. I am preparing packets of information to hand to each panelist. I am so excited. I am not even nervous at this point. I have received really positive feedback thus far, and look forward to taking this to the next level. It is my prayer that I will be able to show my dedication and passion for teaching.
As I contemplate this upcoming year, I feel an enormous amount of excitement. This is such a huge accomplishment and honor. I hope that I will have my own classroom and be able to make a difference in the lives of students.
“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” (AU)
{ April 16, 2010 @ 5:59 PM }
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{ Tags: back to school, colleagues, inspirational quotes, internships, math, new career, primary school, school } · { }
Have you ever thought about doing something, really wanted to do it, but didn’t think it was possible. Two and a half years ago, I had a thought run through my head…. why don’t I just teach?? Well, first of all, I would have to go to school (like I’ve got time to do that!), I would be leaving my kids at night, I would be stressed with work and homework, and I am such a tired person anyway, I know I couldn’t handle it. Then the thought left me, and I thought I would just be satisfied. That’s right, I would settle for what I was. But guess what? I couldn’t! The thought kept coming back. Maybe I could teach and find some sort of loophole and use my 2 year degree from 20 or so years ago. That plan didn’t work! It just didn’t work that way. If I really wanted to teach, I would have to do the impossible. Go back to school……
Well, 2 1/2 years have passed, and I am about 2 weeks away from graduating with a BS in Early Childhood Education. I have been so blessed to be able to accomplish this feat. And believe me, the odds were stacked against me. I think back to the 100′s of miles, and many nights I have been at school. Long nights. I was gone some days from 6:45AM to 11:30PM. It was a struggle. But I found that once I started doing it, I realized that I could. It was within my grasp, if only I wanted it bad enough. Now in seven short days, I will complete my student teaching. I know the job market is saturated, but I can only think that if I have accomplished this, I can achieve one more goal. I found out today that I am a candidate for a position that is currently available. I am so excited. God has blessed me. Will I get the job? I don’t know, I think I will, I hope I will, I pray I will. However, there is one thing I know for sure, I will teach. It has become the core of who I am. I am a teacher:)
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do” (E Roosevelt)
{ April 15, 2010 @ 5:18 PM }
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{ Tags: appreciation, blessings, colleagues, elementary, georgia performance standards, school } · { }
When I think about education….I am passionate! I love teaching! I have come to a place in my life where I believe that a difference can be made. I completely understand the importance of having a good teacher and being a good student. I came across a quote the other day about there always being a time in the life of a child when the door to the future is opened. I wish I could get students to understand. In the past ten or so years I have become a very passionate reader. I have tried to transfer that passion to my own children, and have done that with my two youngest. If all of our children would read, they would hold the keys to their future.
I must add a bit about my two oldest children. It seems just like yesterday, they were little boys, playing with their toys. Now, my oldest Zack is going to college to be a teacher, and my Nick is going to be graduating in a few weeks. How can that be possible? Where has the time gone? I just don’t know. If I could offer one word of advice to parents of new babies, I would say take every day, and enjoy it. Don’t stress over the little things. Somethings just don’t matter. If the toddler wants to wear sweatpants and cowboy boots, let them. Let me sleep in your bed when they are scared. Take time out of your busy day to join into their worlds. Before you know it, they will be in love with someone other than their Mom, and they will be all grown up. What a priviledge it has been to be the mother of 4 wonderful children. I am eager to watch them as they begin their grown up lives. Where will they be in ten years??
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone
{ April 14, 2010 @ 9:11 PM }
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{ Tags: appreciation, blessings, colleagues, elementary, flat stanley, georgia performance standards, student teaching } · { }
I had my last RC conference tonight. I was able to apply for my state educators license. Yep! How great is that! I am so excited about that. I can’t wait to get that certificate. I will have worked harder for that than anything else I’ve ever worked for.
I must say that CRCT prep is getting to me! It amazes me that no matter how many times, you add, subtract and count back change, so students still don’t get it. I have gone at it a dozen different ways. Sometimes I just believe that the concept is too hard for young minds to grasp. 28 times, 28 times, 28 times. That is what HWONG says. This takes diligence.
“In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.”
Jacques Barzun
{ April 13, 2010 @ 9:41 PM }
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{ Tags: colleagues, educator, families, internships, workshop models } · { }
So today came and went, and the layoffs were bound to happen. Not an easy day for some fine people I know. I feel so terrible for the people who lost their jobs. They are good people, wonderful people. I know the pain some are feeling, and I doubt there is anything I can do for them other than pray. How can Georgia Senate & House not see the importance of not cutting education. I do not understand. Our system has been fortunate to be able to absorb so many of the cuts. I know our BOE must have a huge struggle with making the cuts. I can’t understand why higher taxes can’t be imposed on cigarettes. but money can be taken away from our school systems. There is something wrong with that idea.
“The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
{ April 12, 2010 @ 3:57 PM }
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{ Tags: appreciation, blessings, colleagues } · { }
My interview went GREAT! I feel really good about it. I believe I made a good impression and look forward to hearing some great news. It will still be a few weeks off, so once again, I must practice patience.
We began CRCT review today, it was a success. I think that most of the kids have a good grasp on content. Hopefully the rest of the week will go as well. Next week is the week. The most important week of the year. I’m not really sure that we should base a whole year on a 3 day test. Is that really fair??
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”~
(William Butler Yeats)
{ April 10, 2010 @ 9:31 AM }
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{ Tags: 2nd grade, daily journal, education, georgia performance standards, kids } · { }
I have had a wonderful spring break. Now, I must prepare myself for the last 12 days of my student teaching. This week we are having nothing but CRCT review and next week is CRCT. I am excited to see how they do. I hope to be able to do some intensive one on one teaching.
I also have my interview Monday. Please pray for me. I want to say the right thing, and make a lasting impression. I want the job! I think I want it more than anything I’ve ever wanted before. I’ve got to decide what to wear and look my best. I’ve got to be on top of my game!
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
Rabindranath Tagore
{ April 2, 2010 @ 7:49 PM }
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What a beautiful day! The kids got to play outside during recess and we watched a movie for the last few minutes of the day. This morning was filled with assessments and learning, but the afternoon was full of fun in the sun! I am so thankful that it is spring break. I am really ready.
This will be a calm week. Most all of my cohorts are heading out of town, but we are stuck at home. It is hard to make plans with no income. I will be so thankful to regain my income. This has been so hard on us financially. I hope that we can recover during the summer.
How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss
{ April 1, 2010 @ 6:43 PM }
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{ Tags: back to school, colleagues, daily journal, de.li.cious, elementary, families, internships, student teaching } · { }
We had a blast today. Our little April fools joke was so funny. The kids really believed that the principal was our substitute. I talked to him this morning, and he was totally into it. He played right along, and came in to “substitute”. It was great. The kids were wide eyed and shocked! When he came in, he says “ok, I’m here to cover!” Then he told Bridget & I to leave~ It was so funny. We stayed gone for about 10 minutes, and came back to tell them April fools! What a trick!
I am so glad that tomorrow is Friday, and the last day before spring break. Although I have no money to do anything, I am glad to have a week at home relaxing. It would be so fun to go to the beach or Disney. However, right now, it is not even possible:(
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time” (AU)
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