I can't stop making teacher stuff! It's addictive. And, it's a bad thing that I'm the kind of person that once I start, I can't stop, because now that I've started, I can't stop! The best part is, I made up my calendar for calendar math today. Next on the list: Weather board and BINGO games. Don't ya wish you were me...
Coming soon...(hopefully)
purchasing a car, renting a Uhaul, and babysitting John's snake for a while. If you or anyone you know is interested in having a pet snake, the little guy (he's really cute!) could be up for sale in a few weeks. But...we're going to try to keep him. He's the perfect pet, for sure. He makes NO noise and he only eats once a week!
Monday, May 31, 2004
Friday, May 28, 2004
Anyone want some oranges?
Just wondering, because I'm teaching next to some great orange tree fields!
My Title: First Grade Teacher
My Employer: Collier County Schools
Place of Work: Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee
My Starting Salary: $32-33,000
Place of Residence: Somewhere in Florida
That's right, I'll be living and teaching in beautiful southwest Florida, where the sky is blue and the grass is...oh wait, that's Kentucky.
School Details:
I'll have, inevitably, some non-English speaking students (hopefully just one or 0) and definitely some ESL students, whose first languages will be either Spanish or French Creole. Let's hope I stay sane, because my first year will be...more than just a challenge. I have NO IDEA how to teach kids who know zero English, but I sure wish Muskingum had gotten that TESL program a little sooner, cuz I know I would have taken it. Oh well, I HAVE to complete 300 hours of TESL training anyway. It's part of the contract, kids. It's also in an area of poverty, poverty, poverty. Immokalee is largely a migrant community and its main industry is, what else, oranges! That means the parents of my students will be people that work in fields morning to evening at 5 bucks an hour...which in Ohio terms (with the high property values here) is like 3.50 an hour. Sucky, sucky, sucky.
On a lighter note, the five people who interviewed me will be part of my "team" and they are AWESOME. I loved them all immediately--super, super, excellent people and it is good to know that the people I will be working with and my mentor teacher are the ones that hired me. So it won't be a question of whether or not..."They like me, they really like me!" Because, well, it's obvious that they do. Or they wouldn't have hired me, right? Sure.
Now, it's time to get started making games and bulletin boards. If you have any stuff first graders would like, pass it on to me, my darlings!
(And if you see any cheap Learning to Speak Creole or Spanish computer programs, um...pass those along too, k?)
Oh, one negative I should mention: IT IS EXPENSIVE to live here! Ahhhhh!!!!
PS: YOU CAN COMMENT ON HERE NOW! Sorry about that! Your comments are always important to me :)
My Title: First Grade Teacher
My Employer: Collier County Schools
Place of Work: Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee
My Starting Salary: $32-33,000
Place of Residence: Somewhere in Florida
That's right, I'll be living and teaching in beautiful southwest Florida, where the sky is blue and the grass is...oh wait, that's Kentucky.
School Details:
I'll have, inevitably, some non-English speaking students (hopefully just one or 0) and definitely some ESL students, whose first languages will be either Spanish or French Creole. Let's hope I stay sane, because my first year will be...more than just a challenge. I have NO IDEA how to teach kids who know zero English, but I sure wish Muskingum had gotten that TESL program a little sooner, cuz I know I would have taken it. Oh well, I HAVE to complete 300 hours of TESL training anyway. It's part of the contract, kids. It's also in an area of poverty, poverty, poverty. Immokalee is largely a migrant community and its main industry is, what else, oranges! That means the parents of my students will be people that work in fields morning to evening at 5 bucks an hour...which in Ohio terms (with the high property values here) is like 3.50 an hour. Sucky, sucky, sucky.
On a lighter note, the five people who interviewed me will be part of my "team" and they are AWESOME. I loved them all immediately--super, super, excellent people and it is good to know that the people I will be working with and my mentor teacher are the ones that hired me. So it won't be a question of whether or not..."They like me, they really like me!" Because, well, it's obvious that they do. Or they wouldn't have hired me, right? Sure.
Now, it's time to get started making games and bulletin boards. If you have any stuff first graders would like, pass it on to me, my darlings!
(And if you see any cheap Learning to Speak Creole or Spanish computer programs, um...pass those along too, k?)
Oh, one negative I should mention: IT IS EXPENSIVE to live here! Ahhhhh!!!!
PS: YOU CAN COMMENT ON HERE NOW! Sorry about that! Your comments are always important to me :)
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
More Beach for Me
Well, I leave for Florida on Saturday to do some interviews and oh yeah, sit on the beach. It should be pleasant. We'll see how it all goes...
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Choices
Option One
Stay in Ohio, work at Sylvan and wait for a job to come to me. If a job doesn't come, I'm stuck here for a whole more year with nothing to do. I might be able to get some Master's classes in, some part time at Sylvan and uh...that's about it.
Issue with this (negatives): money, money...friends moving on, low social life, won't want to make too many friends because I want to get out of Ohio by next year or so, etc. etc. UNLESS I get a job. But I wouldn't count on it.
Positives: Family. Lindsay. Sarah.
Option Two
Stay in Ohio as long as possible, to make money for the summer at Sylvan so that I can make a car payment and maybe put a few hundred down on an apartment in Florida. I'd get a job no problem and start making money right away...meaning I could at least start trying to pay off the credit cards, student loans, car payment, rent, etc. etc.
The negatives: It costs a lot to move, it's stressful, it's hectic. It would be challenging--socially, emotionally, etc...but I think the NZ experience has prepared me for those sorts of things. Risky...
The positives: Teacher benefits, teacher salary, for sure job, warm weather, awesome schools, very culturally diverse, beach, want to get out of Ohio eventually--get started now? A considerably "smart" career move. And John.
So flip a coin? Seek advice of others? Pray? Do what I want? What I think is right? I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! (Did I mention that I don't know?!)
Stay in Ohio, work at Sylvan and wait for a job to come to me. If a job doesn't come, I'm stuck here for a whole more year with nothing to do. I might be able to get some Master's classes in, some part time at Sylvan and uh...that's about it.
Issue with this (negatives): money, money...friends moving on, low social life, won't want to make too many friends because I want to get out of Ohio by next year or so, etc. etc. UNLESS I get a job. But I wouldn't count on it.
Positives: Family. Lindsay. Sarah.
Option Two
Stay in Ohio as long as possible, to make money for the summer at Sylvan so that I can make a car payment and maybe put a few hundred down on an apartment in Florida. I'd get a job no problem and start making money right away...meaning I could at least start trying to pay off the credit cards, student loans, car payment, rent, etc. etc.
The negatives: It costs a lot to move, it's stressful, it's hectic. It would be challenging--socially, emotionally, etc...but I think the NZ experience has prepared me for those sorts of things. Risky...
The positives: Teacher benefits, teacher salary, for sure job, warm weather, awesome schools, very culturally diverse, beach, want to get out of Ohio eventually--get started now? A considerably "smart" career move. And John.
So flip a coin? Seek advice of others? Pray? Do what I want? What I think is right? I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! (Did I mention that I don't know?!)
Thursday, May 06, 2004
I Love Economics
No, I do not yet have an official teaching job, but I did get the summer job at Sylvan Learning Center in Canton. So I guess that at least can be a backup plan until I find a full-time teaching job during the school year. But...the Sylvan thing is awesome for now...it'll be a great summer job that pays a lot more than MC Sports, Hallmark, Camp Wanake, OR Das Dutch ever could (I've had a lot of summer jobs, eh?). I still need a job for the school year, though. And the outlook does not look good. I decided that by June 12th I need to make a decision of whether to stay in Ohio or not...but that date might change seeing as it's coming up a little faster than I had planned. It's a little frustrating...waiting...waiting...waiting...when I'd sorta like to know what the heck I'm doing, where I'm going to live...you know, those things are kind of important. And my roommate needs to know where I am going so that she can go in the same sorta area...but what if I don't get anything here? Sigh. Or, I could just be a substitute for a year or two...but you know what? I REALLY DON'T WANT TO. So life is full of that sort of thing, doing what you don't want to do. But I don't care. I'm not doing it. There has to be some other thing I could do with kids during the school year that is not subbing. I'd be a teacher aide or anything, anything! Oh yeah, there AREN'T any teacher aides in Ohio anymore. My mistake.
Aaah!
I graduate in TWO days.
Aaah!
But the GREAT news is: I'm getting a new car :)
PS: Brandon, I'm sorry...I meant to tell you I was going to be up your way, but there was so much going on, I just forgot! Does Barnes and Noble give teacher discounts?
Aaah!
I graduate in TWO days.
Aaah!
But the GREAT news is: I'm getting a new car :)
PS: Brandon, I'm sorry...I meant to tell you I was going to be up your way, but there was so much going on, I just forgot! Does Barnes and Noble give teacher discounts?
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
I think I fell in love with the 8th World Wonder...?
While in New Zealand, I was told that the Eighth World Wonder once existed there, The Pink Terraces, which were destroyed by a volcanic eruption (Terawera, maybe?) sometime in the 18th or 19th centuries. However, I have learned since then that usually when people refer to the Seven Wonders of the World, they are referring to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which are structures, statues, and monuments built by human hands. Therefore, I am doubting that the Pink Terraces were officially the Eighth World Wonder. The Pink Terraces are something that occurred naturally due to volcanic activity (I have a scientific explanation of it if anyone wants it, but I’ll spare you for now). The list was officially constructed in the Middle Ages, late 1400’s or early 1500’s, before New Zealand was even thought of.
Anyway, with this new song out about “The Eighth World Wonder,” I’ve started to think about what the Seven Wonders of the World are. So, I looked them up. Here is the composite list, formed in the Middle Ages by two guys with really Middle Aged names. Only ONE of the wonders is left standing.
The Seven Wonders of The Ancient World
1. The Great Pyramid of Giza, near the city of Memphis... It is a tomb of Egyptian Pharoah Khufu.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were built on the banks of the Euphrates by King Nebuchadnezzar II
3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a tomb built for King Maussollos of Persia
6. The Colossus of Rhodes, a statue of Helias the sun-god, built by Greeks near the harbor of a Mediterranean Island.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Other lists have been made of natural wonders of the world as well as modern wonders of the world. Natural Wonders include such things as the Grand Canyon, while modern wonders of the world span from The Great Wall of China to the CNN Tower. And if you want to know all about that, you can Google it for yourselves because my computer has a virus and I can’t do much of anything on it!
So my conclusion is that New Zealanders, on their tiny little island country, always like to feel important somehow. No one else seems to know about the Pink Terraces except for them, but if they were ever on a list, it would be the Natural Wonders list, which I don’t think is “official” and it includes more than 7 wonders. If anyone has any information on this, just pass it along, because it has been of interest to me. :)
Anyway, with this new song out about “The Eighth World Wonder,” I’ve started to think about what the Seven Wonders of the World are. So, I looked them up. Here is the composite list, formed in the Middle Ages by two guys with really Middle Aged names. Only ONE of the wonders is left standing.
The Seven Wonders of The Ancient World
1. The Great Pyramid of Giza, near the city of Memphis... It is a tomb of Egyptian Pharoah Khufu.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were built on the banks of the Euphrates by King Nebuchadnezzar II
3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a tomb built for King Maussollos of Persia
6. The Colossus of Rhodes, a statue of Helias the sun-god, built by Greeks near the harbor of a Mediterranean Island.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Other lists have been made of natural wonders of the world as well as modern wonders of the world. Natural Wonders include such things as the Grand Canyon, while modern wonders of the world span from The Great Wall of China to the CNN Tower. And if you want to know all about that, you can Google it for yourselves because my computer has a virus and I can’t do much of anything on it!
So my conclusion is that New Zealanders, on their tiny little island country, always like to feel important somehow. No one else seems to know about the Pink Terraces except for them, but if they were ever on a list, it would be the Natural Wonders list, which I don’t think is “official” and it includes more than 7 wonders. If anyone has any information on this, just pass it along, because it has been of interest to me. :)
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Hello Out There!
Well I haven't posted and it seems to me that no one has noticed. Hmm.
I was in Bedford on Thursday. No, I really wasn't...but I went past it and of course wished I had a cell phone so that I could ring up Veronica. I thought about stopping at a gas station and calling her, but that might have been a little strange. Anyway, I only had a short amount of time, as I was making my way up to Kirtland for my first REAL interview (the ones at OU were fake). I drove over 300 miles that day. I was so sick of driving I've been sitting here in the house for like, the past four days or something. I was so stressed that I've had a headache ever since.
I had many big city thoughts on that trip. First of all, Bedford is less than 40 minutes from my house and I have never driven there. Cleveland is rather close to me and I never go there. I go to Canton all the time and it's nearly as far, so why don't I ever go to Cleveland? I really don't know. I guess it's because I have no idea where anything is...oh wait, I have no idea where ANYTHING is ANYWHERE.
Well, all that express lane driving made me feel really grown up and important like. So I started to think about what this sort of driving must have done for Veronica's confidence, and I am convinced that city driving is one important thing that has made Veronica who she is today.
I am happy to announce that I arrived in the adorable town of Kirtland half an hour early (because I left early), without any wrong turns or serious screw ups. It is a great little place, with one elementary school and really cute street signs...and big, old, old churches. It's practically like New Concord, yet so close to Cleveland it's like...perfect. But don't hold your breath on me getting a job there. Chances are like, one in a million. Okay, I'm exaggerating. I'm pretty sure there were only TWO HUNDRED resumes on the principal's desk. So the chances are like...one in two hundred.
I was in Bedford on Thursday. No, I really wasn't...but I went past it and of course wished I had a cell phone so that I could ring up Veronica. I thought about stopping at a gas station and calling her, but that might have been a little strange. Anyway, I only had a short amount of time, as I was making my way up to Kirtland for my first REAL interview (the ones at OU were fake). I drove over 300 miles that day. I was so sick of driving I've been sitting here in the house for like, the past four days or something. I was so stressed that I've had a headache ever since.
I had many big city thoughts on that trip. First of all, Bedford is less than 40 minutes from my house and I have never driven there. Cleveland is rather close to me and I never go there. I go to Canton all the time and it's nearly as far, so why don't I ever go to Cleveland? I really don't know. I guess it's because I have no idea where anything is...oh wait, I have no idea where ANYTHING is ANYWHERE.
Well, all that express lane driving made me feel really grown up and important like. So I started to think about what this sort of driving must have done for Veronica's confidence, and I am convinced that city driving is one important thing that has made Veronica who she is today.
I am happy to announce that I arrived in the adorable town of Kirtland half an hour early (because I left early), without any wrong turns or serious screw ups. It is a great little place, with one elementary school and really cute street signs...and big, old, old churches. It's practically like New Concord, yet so close to Cleveland it's like...perfect. But don't hold your breath on me getting a job there. Chances are like, one in a million. Okay, I'm exaggerating. I'm pretty sure there were only TWO HUNDRED resumes on the principal's desk. So the chances are like...one in two hundred.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Saturday, April 17, 2004
NEWS POST
The Day that Lasted 48 Hours: It is now possible, yes, for me to stay awake for 48 hours straight. I know because I did it on April 15th. I think I did sleep for about two hours...And I think I could have slept more if they didn't show all those movies I hadn't seen yet on the plane! I was just trying to take advantage of the 1000 dollars I spent on the flight. Now I'll save about 5-10 dollars in movie rentals. I'm smart that way. :)
The Passengers: I talked to people who had been staying in China, who had visited daughters doing study-abroads in Australia, to a lady whose daughter had done a study abroad in Australia and ended up getting married (that lady was bitter!) and a whole bunch of interesting people with interesting stories. No, I didn't talk to ANY Japanese people...I didn't have a chance. They were ALWAYS asleep before the plane even took off!
The Big News: John is cuter than ever! Aww I can't even describe how good it felt to see him again :)
And my family!
Even Charlie!
Jordan and Sara have grown SO MUCH! They're huge. I can't believe it.
Destination Tomorrow: Muskingum College :)
The Day that Lasted 48 Hours: It is now possible, yes, for me to stay awake for 48 hours straight. I know because I did it on April 15th. I think I did sleep for about two hours...And I think I could have slept more if they didn't show all those movies I hadn't seen yet on the plane! I was just trying to take advantage of the 1000 dollars I spent on the flight. Now I'll save about 5-10 dollars in movie rentals. I'm smart that way. :)
The Passengers: I talked to people who had been staying in China, who had visited daughters doing study-abroads in Australia, to a lady whose daughter had done a study abroad in Australia and ended up getting married (that lady was bitter!) and a whole bunch of interesting people with interesting stories. No, I didn't talk to ANY Japanese people...I didn't have a chance. They were ALWAYS asleep before the plane even took off!
The Big News: John is cuter than ever! Aww I can't even describe how good it felt to see him again :)
And my family!
Even Charlie!
Jordan and Sara have grown SO MUCH! They're huge. I can't believe it.
Destination Tomorrow: Muskingum College :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Three months ago I found a free internet kiosk in the Sydney Airport...and here I am again, on my way home! It is almost 11:00 am Australia time, 1:00 pm New Zealand time, and I left at 6:50 am New Zealand time. I will arrive in San Francisco at 10:05 am California time, Chicago at 6:08 pm Illinois time, and 11:21 pm in Cleveland...Ohio time! All on April 15th, which will all last about 36 hours total. I am SO hyper right now with excitement and the 2 cans of coke and cup of tea I've drank to help me stay awake. But...I will be allowed to sleep once I get on this SFO flight (look at me using airport abbreviations).
I LOVE Sydney airport. I hate Auckland airport. Anway, I was not charged 300 dollars again for my luggage and I WILL get my money back from last time, no worries.
Dude, Japanese people can fall asleep ANYWHERE so quickly! How do they do that????
So, I'll be seeing you all soon!!!!
I LOVE Sydney airport. I hate Auckland airport. Anway, I was not charged 300 dollars again for my luggage and I WILL get my money back from last time, no worries.
Dude, Japanese people can fall asleep ANYWHERE so quickly! How do they do that????
So, I'll be seeing you all soon!!!!
Monday, April 12, 2004
COUNTDOWN! THREE, count 'em, THREE days until I leave. ONE, TWO, THREE! More like four days until I am actually in Ohio because the 15th here is the 14th there and so on...but you know. Let's see how many hours until I...until....well, until I can feel John's arms around me... :)
It's taking me a long time to figure this out.
.....shoot....blast!....oh...to add or not to add?.....
........time here will be....time there will be....aww, darn....no that can't be right....wait!....okay.....4 plus 4 plus 4 plus 1.....ah ha! I got it!
93.5 hours! Goodness that seems forever!
Let's stick with 4 days....but three days until the 15th and the 15th for me lasts a grande total of 42 hours or so but we don't have to think about all that. It's far too complicated for this kid. Anyway, just TWO more whole days here in NZ, that's three "sleeps," six face washes, three showers, three breakfasts...and my fourth breakfast will be with John, YES! And my fourth dinner with my family, YES! Ahhh!
And then I'll go see MY MUSKIES! Double YES!
And I'll see the BIG DIPPER! YES!
:::Breaking into song:::
Oh beautiful for spacious skies (Big Dipper!),
For amber waves of grain (Lucky Charms!),
For purple mountains majesty,
Above the fruited plain (Hello Spring and Summer!)...
America! America! God shed his grace on theeeee!
It's taking me a long time to figure this out.
.....shoot....blast!....oh...to add or not to add?.....
........time here will be....time there will be....aww, darn....no that can't be right....wait!....okay.....4 plus 4 plus 4 plus 1.....ah ha! I got it!
93.5 hours! Goodness that seems forever!
Let's stick with 4 days....but three days until the 15th and the 15th for me lasts a grande total of 42 hours or so but we don't have to think about all that. It's far too complicated for this kid. Anyway, just TWO more whole days here in NZ, that's three "sleeps," six face washes, three showers, three breakfasts...and my fourth breakfast will be with John, YES! And my fourth dinner with my family, YES! Ahhh!
And then I'll go see MY MUSKIES! Double YES!
And I'll see the BIG DIPPER! YES!
:::Breaking into song:::
Oh beautiful for spacious skies (Big Dipper!),
For amber waves of grain (Lucky Charms!),
For purple mountains majesty,
Above the fruited plain (Hello Spring and Summer!)...
America! America! God shed his grace on theeeee!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
My Last Day at Apanui School
The staff made me cry today in the teacher's lounge. We're sitting there, about 35 people, eating our catered lunch because it's the last day of the term, and Brigitte stands up and delivers this beautiful speech about me, giving me a card and a gift from the staff. Then, my cooperating teacher stands up, and speaks for more than 5 minutes about me, such wonderful, wonderful things...Mom, I wish you could have been there. It was so beautiful. And then of course they expected to hear something from me, so I blubbered something in between sobs. It was amazing.
Saying goodbye to the kids...
I made it through saying goodbye to the kids without crying. One of my "favorites" left at lunchtime, so I went back to the room with him and his dad so I could give him (Ryan) his letter that I had written for him and a letter for his parents. I wrote a letter for each individual student and then I copied letters for the parents, you know, just a thank you to them. But anyway, I went back with him to give him that stuff, and his dad and I chit-chatted, and Ryan bashfully said goodbye (he of course wouldn't give me a hug!). So it wasn't too bad, so I walked out of the room after they left, and the tears started coming...
So I ducked into the little Reading Recovery room, sat down, and had a good cry. Then I went back outside to where we were playing all these Easter games.
Then, at the end of the day, certain kids stood up in class to deliver speeches about you know, thank you, you're so cool, we love you...and then all the kids lined up to give me the cards they had written and made for me. I read each one out loud, and gave each kid a hug. It was heartbreaking. But first, this little girl TeAu stood up, gave a little speech, and then handed me a card and a bag with a present in it. She had tears streaming down her face! I knew what the present was before she handed it to me. I opened it, and sure enough, it was a bone necklace her mother carved for me. Bone necklaces like the one she gave me cost over a hundred dollars, so it's very, very special. Anyway, I'm surprised I didn't lose it right there.
Yes, I read all those cards and hugged all my little kids goodbye, never to see them again. I can't stop by their classroom sometime next month, I won't see them at the grocery store...I'll never, ever see them again. Aah! I'm glad I didn't think this totally through before I went to school today.
Today I realized how much I love the smell of our classroom, of the way it feels to walk out of our room, straight into the outdoors, and wow, wow, wow...how much I love the staff and the kids there.
Aw, goodness, it's just killer!
The staff made me cry today in the teacher's lounge. We're sitting there, about 35 people, eating our catered lunch because it's the last day of the term, and Brigitte stands up and delivers this beautiful speech about me, giving me a card and a gift from the staff. Then, my cooperating teacher stands up, and speaks for more than 5 minutes about me, such wonderful, wonderful things...Mom, I wish you could have been there. It was so beautiful. And then of course they expected to hear something from me, so I blubbered something in between sobs. It was amazing.
Saying goodbye to the kids...
I made it through saying goodbye to the kids without crying. One of my "favorites" left at lunchtime, so I went back to the room with him and his dad so I could give him (Ryan) his letter that I had written for him and a letter for his parents. I wrote a letter for each individual student and then I copied letters for the parents, you know, just a thank you to them. But anyway, I went back with him to give him that stuff, and his dad and I chit-chatted, and Ryan bashfully said goodbye (he of course wouldn't give me a hug!). So it wasn't too bad, so I walked out of the room after they left, and the tears started coming...
So I ducked into the little Reading Recovery room, sat down, and had a good cry. Then I went back outside to where we were playing all these Easter games.
Then, at the end of the day, certain kids stood up in class to deliver speeches about you know, thank you, you're so cool, we love you...and then all the kids lined up to give me the cards they had written and made for me. I read each one out loud, and gave each kid a hug. It was heartbreaking. But first, this little girl TeAu stood up, gave a little speech, and then handed me a card and a bag with a present in it. She had tears streaming down her face! I knew what the present was before she handed it to me. I opened it, and sure enough, it was a bone necklace her mother carved for me. Bone necklaces like the one she gave me cost over a hundred dollars, so it's very, very special. Anyway, I'm surprised I didn't lose it right there.
Yes, I read all those cards and hugged all my little kids goodbye, never to see them again. I can't stop by their classroom sometime next month, I won't see them at the grocery store...I'll never, ever see them again. Aah! I'm glad I didn't think this totally through before I went to school today.
Today I realized how much I love the smell of our classroom, of the way it feels to walk out of our room, straight into the outdoors, and wow, wow, wow...how much I love the staff and the kids there.
Aw, goodness, it's just killer!
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
ATTACK OF THE KILLER HAIRCUT
When your hair is cut way, way too short, it's like getting your heart broken--there's not a thing you can do about it but wait and wait and wait until it grows back again.
EIGHT MORE DAYS UNTIL I AM HOME AGAIN!
Reasons Why I LOVE the USA
1. Our toilets flush with those cute little handles.
2. Not everyone uses scented, coloured toilet paper.
3. We don't put a U in color, favorite, and favor and flavor.
4. We use paragraphs in our books and letters.
5. Our food is soooo much better.
6. Lindsay is in the USA.
7. And everyone else I love.
8. We have good laws, like laws against child abuse.
9. We have a better government.
10. We have better schools.
11. People don't go quite as psycho about changing their beliefs, teaching styles, and whatever, to fit the latest fad. We don't usually believe everything we hear.
12. We can sue people like crazy. Which, strangely enough, I'm seeing how many ways this is a good thing, believe it or not.
13. Parents are responsible for their children, and if a parent supplies minors with alcohol (like a party with 100 16 year olds), they are put in jail.
14. And yeah, America is just better. Not to be cocky or anything :)
When your hair is cut way, way too short, it's like getting your heart broken--there's not a thing you can do about it but wait and wait and wait until it grows back again.
EIGHT MORE DAYS UNTIL I AM HOME AGAIN!
Reasons Why I LOVE the USA
1. Our toilets flush with those cute little handles.
2. Not everyone uses scented, coloured toilet paper.
3. We don't put a U in color, favorite, and favor and flavor.
4. We use paragraphs in our books and letters.
5. Our food is soooo much better.
6. Lindsay is in the USA.
7. And everyone else I love.
8. We have good laws, like laws against child abuse.
9. We have a better government.
10. We have better schools.
11. People don't go quite as psycho about changing their beliefs, teaching styles, and whatever, to fit the latest fad. We don't usually believe everything we hear.
12. We can sue people like crazy. Which, strangely enough, I'm seeing how many ways this is a good thing, believe it or not.
13. Parents are responsible for their children, and if a parent supplies minors with alcohol (like a party with 100 16 year olds), they are put in jail.
14. And yeah, America is just better. Not to be cocky or anything :)
Saturday, April 03, 2004
The Avaganda
The Avaganda is the fancy restaurant I went to with the teachers...it was amazing food and great entertainment!!! My cooperating teacher and two other teachers on our teaching team came in all decked out in their American country/western gear (sheriff's badges, guns, flags, etc) singing "Yankee Doodle" nice and loud! Then they sang and sang more and more American songs (John Denver, Beach Boys, Sinatra...) at the end of the night. Anyway, it was just fantastic. Definitely one of the very best nights I've had here, if not the best!
The Wine Tour
Holly, Debbye, Robin, Jan and I went to five different vineyards yesterday. Each vineyard had at least five different wines for us to try. The first two vineyards I tried them all, but then I realized that I don't like ANY red wines, so I stopped trying those and went with the whites. I discovered that I am definitely a chardonnay girl. Don't worry, I didn't get drunk :) The vineyards were BEAUTIFUL! I took pictures so I'll show them to you all....sooooon! 11 days till I come home!
We ate at this super Italian restaurant lastnight. I had gnocchi in pesto. It was fabulous. It was divine. It was lovely. Yum....
The Avaganda is the fancy restaurant I went to with the teachers...it was amazing food and great entertainment!!! My cooperating teacher and two other teachers on our teaching team came in all decked out in their American country/western gear (sheriff's badges, guns, flags, etc) singing "Yankee Doodle" nice and loud! Then they sang and sang more and more American songs (John Denver, Beach Boys, Sinatra...) at the end of the night. Anyway, it was just fantastic. Definitely one of the very best nights I've had here, if not the best!
The Wine Tour
Holly, Debbye, Robin, Jan and I went to five different vineyards yesterday. Each vineyard had at least five different wines for us to try. The first two vineyards I tried them all, but then I realized that I don't like ANY red wines, so I stopped trying those and went with the whites. I discovered that I am definitely a chardonnay girl. Don't worry, I didn't get drunk :) The vineyards were BEAUTIFUL! I took pictures so I'll show them to you all....sooooon! 11 days till I come home!
We ate at this super Italian restaurant lastnight. I had gnocchi in pesto. It was fabulous. It was divine. It was lovely. Yum....
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Today I decided to start drinking tea. This is due to my lack of energy and motivation. It worked, but I added some good ol' prayer time and that probably helped a lot, too :)
This morning I ate tea and crumpets. Yeah, crumpets. Hehehe. And they're nothing like trumpets.
Lastnight I ate goat. Wild goat. It was yummy. Today for a snack I had peanut M&M's and for lunch I had peanut butter and jelly and some feijoas, which is a popular fruit over here in NZ, similar to the kiwi, but not like anything I've really ever tasted. They are yummy too. So as you can see, I am getting a wide variety of American and Kiwi foods over here.
Tomorrow night is my going away party at a fancy restaurant all the staff here at Apanui are taking me to. I am hoping they pay for it. And maybe buy me a gift. Hehehe. I am excited that one of my student's nanas is making me a kete, or a purse made out of flax. This is very, very special. In stores they cost over a hundred dollars, and most NZers aren't even lucky enough to have one. Double, double, double score. Isn't that amazing though? I love this lady. Her name is Rose and she is the SWEETEST lady ever. Besides you, Mom. :)
This weekend Holly and I are going on a wine tour. Don't worry, no driving involved. It's in Napier, which is in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's best wine district. We'll travel to at least four vineyards and taste lots of wines. This is where I hope to get John and I a little celebratory gift for our one year anniversary. I wonder what it will be? I don't know....
I sent out some postcards today, about 20 to be exact. Sorry if you got left out. But most of them are really, really late. But at least they'll be postmarked from NZ. I thought I might have to hand deliver them!
I've given up eating healthy or even trying to. I realized that I eat so much here because it's one thing that I really find pleasure in since none of you are here. So, I hope you're all feeling special that I've "replaced" you with food!!! I am just enjoying the food now and making myself stop feeling guilty...and I've stopped holding my stomach in ALL the time, which was starting to hurt!!! So...yeah, the M&Ms and the other chocolate I had today...that's why...but who the heck cares anyway? I'll start eating healthy....tomorrow :) Hahaha just kidding!
Did I mention my crumpets today had cinnamon and sugar on them? Way to go Americanizing, eh? Mmmmh yum! And I bought popcorn! And mac and cheese with tuna and mushroom soup. Wonder what I'll do with that??? :)
I still love it, after all these years.
Food is my Friend!
This morning I ate tea and crumpets. Yeah, crumpets. Hehehe. And they're nothing like trumpets.
Lastnight I ate goat. Wild goat. It was yummy. Today for a snack I had peanut M&M's and for lunch I had peanut butter and jelly and some feijoas, which is a popular fruit over here in NZ, similar to the kiwi, but not like anything I've really ever tasted. They are yummy too. So as you can see, I am getting a wide variety of American and Kiwi foods over here.
Tomorrow night is my going away party at a fancy restaurant all the staff here at Apanui are taking me to. I am hoping they pay for it. And maybe buy me a gift. Hehehe. I am excited that one of my student's nanas is making me a kete, or a purse made out of flax. This is very, very special. In stores they cost over a hundred dollars, and most NZers aren't even lucky enough to have one. Double, double, double score. Isn't that amazing though? I love this lady. Her name is Rose and she is the SWEETEST lady ever. Besides you, Mom. :)
This weekend Holly and I are going on a wine tour. Don't worry, no driving involved. It's in Napier, which is in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's best wine district. We'll travel to at least four vineyards and taste lots of wines. This is where I hope to get John and I a little celebratory gift for our one year anniversary. I wonder what it will be? I don't know....
I sent out some postcards today, about 20 to be exact. Sorry if you got left out. But most of them are really, really late. But at least they'll be postmarked from NZ. I thought I might have to hand deliver them!
I've given up eating healthy or even trying to. I realized that I eat so much here because it's one thing that I really find pleasure in since none of you are here. So, I hope you're all feeling special that I've "replaced" you with food!!! I am just enjoying the food now and making myself stop feeling guilty...and I've stopped holding my stomach in ALL the time, which was starting to hurt!!! So...yeah, the M&Ms and the other chocolate I had today...that's why...but who the heck cares anyway? I'll start eating healthy....tomorrow :) Hahaha just kidding!
Did I mention my crumpets today had cinnamon and sugar on them? Way to go Americanizing, eh? Mmmmh yum! And I bought popcorn! And mac and cheese with tuna and mushroom soup. Wonder what I'll do with that??? :)
I still love it, after all these years.
Food is my Friend!
Monday, March 29, 2004
My Final Evaluation, written by Mr. Bob :)
PLANNING: Once again you had planned all activities with meticulous detail. It was obvious in your planning that you already have the ability to anticipate what the children require and what difficulties they are going to experience in attempting to achieve the objectives. You have a wonderful understanding of the pupil capabilities.
I am aware of the long hours of preparation time you are putting in to your teaching and, of course when you get a class of your own and become more experienced the detailed writing of the lesson plans will not be required. You will, however, always be aware of the intellectual processes required in planning and that training is priceless.
METHOD: I was very impressed with your actions when a pupil hurt herself as she was coming in to the class. You immediately, and quite spontaneously, went to the child’s aid and then you automatically took over the control of the class while the teacher took the injured child to get further attention. The maturity and professionalism of your reaction was excellent.
Your placement of the children around you as you called the roll (in Maori) and then the discussion of the reasons why some of the children were sick, was well done. This was then followed by the reading of the story of “Mr McDoodle and the Scooter” and various questions about the author, illustrator, plot and theme.
OBSERVATIONS: I very much admire your teaching ability. In the first lesson that I observed some time ago, I made some suggestions regarding your questioning technique. You have taken the criticism well and have worked on improving it. I cannot fault it now. I loved the way that in the teaching of reading you showed you are deeply conscious of the importance of shaping the development of the whole child - of the sensitivity towards others, of the need for conservation, of the need for cleanliness of thought - of moral development - and yet not overtly covering this ground.
Your voice control and eye contact, the gentleness of your approach to classroom control and the development of rapport are exceptional.
Congratulations on the previous work that you have done. Your thematic approach to learning is wonderful: Mammals of the sea, Dive into Poetry, Catch a Great Book, Writing About the Sea projects have been very successful.
CONCLUSION: I cannot find fault with your progress. You are developing into an exceptionally capable teacher and, particularly because you show you like all children and have the ability to develop a warm rapport with all cultures, you will find teaching a wonderful career. My only suggestion is that when you have a class of your own, remember to protect yourself by not spending all your time at the school! It has been a pleasure to work with you. Best wishes for the future.
J. R. de Lautour
PLANNING: Once again you had planned all activities with meticulous detail. It was obvious in your planning that you already have the ability to anticipate what the children require and what difficulties they are going to experience in attempting to achieve the objectives. You have a wonderful understanding of the pupil capabilities.
I am aware of the long hours of preparation time you are putting in to your teaching and, of course when you get a class of your own and become more experienced the detailed writing of the lesson plans will not be required. You will, however, always be aware of the intellectual processes required in planning and that training is priceless.
METHOD: I was very impressed with your actions when a pupil hurt herself as she was coming in to the class. You immediately, and quite spontaneously, went to the child’s aid and then you automatically took over the control of the class while the teacher took the injured child to get further attention. The maturity and professionalism of your reaction was excellent.
Your placement of the children around you as you called the roll (in Maori) and then the discussion of the reasons why some of the children were sick, was well done. This was then followed by the reading of the story of “Mr McDoodle and the Scooter” and various questions about the author, illustrator, plot and theme.
OBSERVATIONS: I very much admire your teaching ability. In the first lesson that I observed some time ago, I made some suggestions regarding your questioning technique. You have taken the criticism well and have worked on improving it. I cannot fault it now. I loved the way that in the teaching of reading you showed you are deeply conscious of the importance of shaping the development of the whole child - of the sensitivity towards others, of the need for conservation, of the need for cleanliness of thought - of moral development - and yet not overtly covering this ground.
Your voice control and eye contact, the gentleness of your approach to classroom control and the development of rapport are exceptional.
Congratulations on the previous work that you have done. Your thematic approach to learning is wonderful: Mammals of the sea, Dive into Poetry, Catch a Great Book, Writing About the Sea projects have been very successful.
CONCLUSION: I cannot find fault with your progress. You are developing into an exceptionally capable teacher and, particularly because you show you like all children and have the ability to develop a warm rapport with all cultures, you will find teaching a wonderful career. My only suggestion is that when you have a class of your own, remember to protect yourself by not spending all your time at the school! It has been a pleasure to work with you. Best wishes for the future.
J. R. de Lautour
Sunday, March 28, 2004
The Perfect Evening
After the host family left, I sat down for dinner at 5:30 right on the couch and ate three bowls of Special K and some lovely grapes...and some peanuts and raisins. Awesome. No butter involved. Thank God!
And while I ate I watched the Gilmore Girls, which I just realized was on here. Sundays at 5:30...odd. But it didn't start at 5:30 because they start shows here pretty much whenever they want.
Then I sat here online and read people's online journals, looked up information about that Kerry guy running for president (ugh), looked up stuff about that teacher consortium, talked to Jeff for once, we complained about missing our "significant others" and I argued how my situation is worse than his (because I'm selfish that way) and I watched this show about the secrets of psychics. Big fat liars I tell ya. Goodness. I'll have to cancel my appointments with my psychic. Kidding, just kidding...no psychic for me.
I'm being supervised for the last time tomorrow and I don't think I am really all that well prepared. But I stopped caring about three days ago. Lesson plans are just about pointless. I want to go home.
I'm sorry, I'm just PMSing. I'll be nice and positive in about...five minutes :)
This day went so freakin' slow. Is it April 15th yet? Sigh...
After the host family left, I sat down for dinner at 5:30 right on the couch and ate three bowls of Special K and some lovely grapes...and some peanuts and raisins. Awesome. No butter involved. Thank God!
And while I ate I watched the Gilmore Girls, which I just realized was on here. Sundays at 5:30...odd. But it didn't start at 5:30 because they start shows here pretty much whenever they want.
Then I sat here online and read people's online journals, looked up information about that Kerry guy running for president (ugh), looked up stuff about that teacher consortium, talked to Jeff for once, we complained about missing our "significant others" and I argued how my situation is worse than his (because I'm selfish that way) and I watched this show about the secrets of psychics. Big fat liars I tell ya. Goodness. I'll have to cancel my appointments with my psychic. Kidding, just kidding...no psychic for me.
I'm being supervised for the last time tomorrow and I don't think I am really all that well prepared. But I stopped caring about three days ago. Lesson plans are just about pointless. I want to go home.
I'm sorry, I'm just PMSing. I'll be nice and positive in about...five minutes :)
This day went so freakin' slow. Is it April 15th yet? Sigh...
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Lastnight Holly and I went to this dance fundraiser thing where this band played "Rock and Roll" and old couples danced with each other. It was really fun, believe it or not. They played Elvis songs and some other country songs that are before my time. Then the band stopped and they played Outkast. THEN these people dressed up like the Jackson 5 and it was...scary, to say the least.
Anyway, 18 more days till I come home.
Anyway, 18 more days till I come home.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Hi!
Here are some interesting things I'd like you to know.
1. We played that sea turtle game we learned at Project Learning Tree, Veronica! It was awesome and the kids LOVED it! I didn't think 6 and 7 year olds would really get it, but they truly enjoyed it.
2. My cooperating teacher offered to take me to Wellington over Easter! I'm really excited, not about going necessarily because I might not go, but just because she asked me because that means she must like me! Yay!
3. My first full control week is over....it was chaotic at times, a little stressful, but it was basically all around good. But I do REALLLLY HATE that we don't have math textbooks! Arrrrrrggghhh!!!
4. My supervisor is coming for the last time on Monday, and all my evaluations are done otherwise. Saweet. I got off so easy by coming here. Sorry about that one, Muskie student teachers...
5. Winey is getting married in about 2 months. Holy moly. I am so, so excited. It's the first person in our high school clan to get married off, so I am just ecstatic and still in a state of shock. I just can't get over those high school memories and perceptions we had of things...and if we've grown up and changed a lot, or hardly at all? Or if we're REALLY old enough to be ADULTS?! Of course we are... But I guess it's just that realization that wow, adults never really knew what they were doing, either did they? So, I guess I'm all right. I think we're all all right, our little Grace Brethren clique. We turned out pretty well. I just can't wait to see Laura, Chelsea and Emily pregnant! Hahahahaha. They will be just adorable.
Here are some interesting things I'd like you to know.
1. We played that sea turtle game we learned at Project Learning Tree, Veronica! It was awesome and the kids LOVED it! I didn't think 6 and 7 year olds would really get it, but they truly enjoyed it.
2. My cooperating teacher offered to take me to Wellington over Easter! I'm really excited, not about going necessarily because I might not go, but just because she asked me because that means she must like me! Yay!
3. My first full control week is over....it was chaotic at times, a little stressful, but it was basically all around good. But I do REALLLLY HATE that we don't have math textbooks! Arrrrrrggghhh!!!
4. My supervisor is coming for the last time on Monday, and all my evaluations are done otherwise. Saweet. I got off so easy by coming here. Sorry about that one, Muskie student teachers...
5. Winey is getting married in about 2 months. Holy moly. I am so, so excited. It's the first person in our high school clan to get married off, so I am just ecstatic and still in a state of shock. I just can't get over those high school memories and perceptions we had of things...and if we've grown up and changed a lot, or hardly at all? Or if we're REALLY old enough to be ADULTS?! Of course we are... But I guess it's just that realization that wow, adults never really knew what they were doing, either did they? So, I guess I'm all right. I think we're all all right, our little Grace Brethren clique. We turned out pretty well. I just can't wait to see Laura, Chelsea and Emily pregnant! Hahahahaha. They will be just adorable.
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