I loathe late work!

So far student teaching in 3rd grade has been a blast. I am learning so much from this experience and I am very grateful to have such a wonderful mentor who is open and honest and knows what she is doing. It has been amazing to see her wonderful teaching skills at work and to gain such useful techniques for my own teaching experience.

However, I do have one major problem with student teaching so far. Late work!!! Well, actually, it's the way my mentor handles late work. I understand that you need to teach children to be responsible when it comes to turning in their assignments. I don't think anyone should get a free ride, so I agree that students need to be held accountable for getting their homework in on time. The problem that I am having with late work is that my mentor holds these fun projects over the student's heads in order to bribe them into turning in their work on time. I don't know how she normally carries out this plan, but because I'm in the classroom this is how it has taken place the last two weeks....

Mentor- (tells the students) "If you have all of your assignments turned in you get popcorn and a fun art project to work on this afternoon. If you don't...you are in for recess and you will sit and work until they are completed."

Me- (thinking to myself) "Oh, that sounds reasonable."

Students- (thinking to themselves) "OH MY GOD! I HAVE TO GET MY WORK DONE RIGHT NOW! IF I DON'T FINISH THIS MATH ASSIGNMENT AND TURN IT INTO THE CLOSEST OBJECT THAT RESEMBLES A HOMEWORK BASKET IMMEDIATELY MY LIFE WILL END!!!"

As you can imagine, this causes some major panic and drama for an 8 year old. For the next three hours all I hear is..."Do I have any missing work? What do I need to do now? I turned that in already, why don't you have it? I put that in the basket! I swear I've turned that in! What does it look like? What am I missing still? Can I have my fun project now? Why don't I get to work on the art project? "So and So" is eating their popcorn in front of me and it makes me sad! What am I missing still? Did you get that assignment yet? Can I start my art project now? What am I still missing? I'm done with that assignment where do I put it? Am I missing anything? Is this the right assignment? I can't find my assignment, can I have another one? Can I cross my name off the board and start my fun project?" ETC. ETC. ETC.

By the end of our "Fun Fridays" I want to blow my brains out! I don't understand what my mentor used to do before me to keep this process on track and running smoothly? Right now, they all come running to me with their questions because they don't want to ask her and be in trouble for not knowing what to do. My problem is that I can't handle 20 kids asking me questions all at once, and have to know what has and hasn't been turned in yet, and who is or isn't prepared, and which kids do or don't get to start the fun projects that we dedicate our "Fun Fridays" too! Right now fun Fridays are not much fun at all. In fact they are more like nervous breakdown Fridays for me. There has got to be a better way to handle this late work issue. I am open to any and all suggestions. PLEASE!!!! SHARE YOUR WISDOM WITH ME!

3rd Grade Shenanigans

Student teaching is far more complicated than I ever thought. With all the lesson planning, paper grading, faculty meetings, and photo copying to accomplish it is amazing to me that I still have time to get in my 2 hours a night at work (my real job that actually pays me). The issue I have with student teaching is that you don't REALLY get to teach things your way. Sure you get to be in front of the class and be in charge of the kids, but you are basically a guest in someone else's house and they like things done their way. I understand this completely. I wouldn't want some "kid" coming into my well established classroom and making up a bunch of new rules, regulations, and rewards based on their own beliefs that alter what I have already taught. It is just strange to see things in the classroom that you are fundamentally against, and yet you have to carry them out because you are the "guest." It sounds like I am complaining about my placement, but I'm really not. I am learning so much from my mentor teacher. I know there is a rhyme and reason for the things she does, and for some reason, even when she pulls those cards or disciplines the kids, they come back the next day loving her. They are sort of like dogs in that aspect; you punish, but they still show you unconditional love.

My class is fantastic this year. I could not have asked for better students. The majority of them are super bright and have these fantastic little personalities that I can't wait to get to know better. Like every class though, we do have some low kids, and there are definitely some behavioral children, but honestly nothing you couldn't handle on a day to day basis. I really lucked out with this classroom. They are polite, well spoken, funny, and seem to enjoy both school and learning. It's going to be an exciting ten weeks. Well... eight actually. I can't believe it, I'm two weeks down already.

Moaning Myrtle(s)...

I had two separate experiences with moaning woman on Sunday. For most men that sounds as if it would be a rather enjoyable afternoon, but for me it was just uncomfortable. Let me explain...

First, I had breakfast at Cafe Normandie on Sunday where I sat across from an older woman (mid 40's I'd say) who kept moaning every time she raised a leg, or stood, or sat, or even slightly moved her body; including raising her fork. I later learned (by the shear volume of her voice during conversation) that she had gone on an "intense" 40 mile bike ride earlier in the day. This I can only assume explains why she showed up to brunch wearing a hot pink and black sports bra. Her and her "girls" had a hell of a time working out that morning, and apparently she was feeling the results at brunch.

Later, I went to the Broadway Theater to see the film Food, Inc. and there was a woman two rows behind me who kept making moans of enjoyment at the fact that she was either sitting in a cool theater, eating a bucket of delicious popcorn, OR about to see a film she was very excited for. I couldn't really tell what the moans were about, but those are some suggestions.

For the remainder of my Sunday everything I did involved a moan of delight...

"Let's make some cookies."

"MMmmm okay!"

"Want to watch the new Design Star?"

"MMmmmmmm definitely."

"How do you feel about burritos for dinner?"

"MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sounds good!"

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It got a laugh every time!

PRAXIS Makes Perfect!

I am taking the PRAXIS on Saturday. This is the test that is required by the state of Utah for teacher licensing. If I happen to not pass the test I have the first three years of my career to retake it so that I am ensured a position and license. While studying for this test I have realized that no matter how prepared Westminster has made me for teaching in the classroom, they have done NOTHING to refresh my memory on the material we learn as children. I can't believe how much I have forgotten when it comes to mathematics. Some of the questions I am completely blown away by. Do you remember how to convert improper fractions? WHAT??? It has been quite the awakening for me to have to remember all of the different formulas for solving equations. It's not that I can't do the math, I just have to figure out how you do it.

Also, I have forgotten how ridiculous high stakes test taking really is. It has been years since I have had to take a bubble sheet test. The study book I bought gives you all of these suggestions for making the test taking experience as pleasant as possible. Suggestions such as...Read the newspaper everyday the week before, this will help your brain become used to words and sentences you may not be familiar with...Start an exercise routine and make sure you eat healthy the week of...Map out a route and conduct a dry run of the time it takes you to get to the testing center, this will ensure you know how to find your way and that you can arrive at the testing site (not the parking lot) at least 15 minutes before the testing begins. As helpful as these suggestions are, they really freak me out! Is this a test or a life style change they are asking for? I can't imagine the pressure today's students feel when taking high stake tests in school and knowing that they affect their future outcome.

Even though I am a little apprehensive about taking the PRAXIS I keep hearing that it isn't as bad as you think, and that it is quite easy to pass. I hope that is the case for me, and if it isn't, at least I have three years to work on it.

My Dog Is Cuter Than Your Dog...My Dog Is A Member Of The Honor Roll...My Dog Can Beat Up Your Dog!

I never thought I would become one of those people. You know the ones. They are obsessed with how smart, cute, funny, personable, talented, attractive their dogs are. I had dogs growing up, my very own dog in fact, and I was never one of those people.

However, with the addition of Serena, our little Cocker Spaniel, I have totally become"One of THOSE people!" She's perfect.

BTW...everywhere we take Serena we hear, "Oh my gosh, she's so-o cute. I had a Cocker growing up." We've decided (and by "we" I mean my shit head friends who tease Case and I for how much we love S) that Cocker Spaniels were the dog of the 80's. Everyone had one "growing up," but how often do you see them now? (Oprah doesn't count)

She may be the dog of the 80's, but thanks to Casey and I the 80's are back. We are starting the new trend of Cockers as current pets. Jump on the bandwagon while it's still hot people!

2nd Proposal

The ring...it's a much darker color in person.

So...Casey proposed to me this weekend. Well, sort of. I sent out a message saying that he did, and I got a lot of confused responses back. Mainly, "Didn't you already do that?"

Well, the answer is, yes I did. I guess I don't know what to call it. He gave me a ring in return for the ring that I gave to him. I've been responding to the confusion by saying that in our relationship we both have to ask, but really there was no "Will you marry me?" involved.

I'll tell you what happened...

Saturday night I was exhausted and went to bed around 11:00. At 2:00 am I was having a very strange and vivid dream. I felt something tugging at my finger and it startled me awake. When I opened my eyes I saw Casey hovering over my face and felt him holding my hand. I immediately reacted by shouting, "What the fu** are you doing?" and pulling my hand away violently! He had honestly scared the crap out of me! He said that he was just trying to say goodnight. Well, I thought that was odd and responded, "Why were you holding my hand? What are you doing?"

Casey was trying to put the ring on my finger so that I would just wake up and it would be there in the morning. He was pissed that I had woken up and caught him in the act because he had been practicing and never had I awoke before this. He was so mad at me for waking up this time, and since I wouldn't drop my questioning of what he was doing, he just gave up and said, "Here! Goodnight!" and slid the ring on my finger.

So...call it what you want, but I have a ring of my own now...AND...a proposal story that involves the "F" word! How romantic!

Mam, I'm sorry but you need a license to operate that pregnancy...

I am a firm believer that people should have to require a license before they are able to breed. They should have to take parenting courses, and fill out some type of paper work that proves they will be able to raise a child in a comfortable upbringing. I have been bombarded this week by stories of people having children out of wedlock with numerous partners. On the radio, in magazine articles, and a particularly close-to-home story of a co-worker of mine. I think it is fantastic if you want to have a child because you have all the love and means that it takes to raise them. I don't really care how you go about procreating in those particular cases. But when you get pregnant intentionally to trap a man, or the make yourself feel better about the life you are living, or because you are some skeezy guy who doesn't want to wear a condom it is a sad sad situation for that child. I can only hope that one day I will be able to be a father and there are people running around out there getting knocked up, or knocking people up for sport. It is ridiculous. I think that being a parent is the hardest job in the world...shouldn't you have to meet certain qualifications before you are allowed to enter that career? Think about it.