| New pic and school troubles |
[Oct. 21st, 2006|06:24 am] |
Finally got a new pic. Her name is Hotarubi. She's from a manga/anime called Basilisk. I've recently gotten into this series. It's basically about these 2 ninja clans battling it out. Each ninja has a really awesome but very weird skill. Hotarubi has a snake that does her bidding and protects her. She can also summon a host of butterflies to distract her opponent or help conceal her. I think the butterfly thing is wicked cool.
So I've survived one quarter of school. Barely though. My principal doesn't really like the way I teach, since it's not how she would teach *rolls eyes*. During my formal observation, she had taken over my lesson, which got me really upset. I was very close to calling it quits that day. Luckily for me, I'm out in the portables, which is quite far from the office, so she hasn't been out there since. I am definitely going to get out of this school. Not just cuz of this principal thing. Also cuz this is a Spanish-dominate school. Since I don't speak spanish, I have to rely on a translator when I want to communicate with like half the parents in my class. Really annoying. I would like it so that I could send a note home or call them without having to rely on someone else's help. Gets annoying sometimes.
This week has been rough. We've had half days all week for parent-teacher conferences. But since my team did ours back in September (mid-quarter), we basically had planning time. I found out on Tuesday that a girl in my class thinks I'm boring and mean. I guess her mother had called the school, then the counselor has asked her to come to her office during Reading. When she came back, she was all teary eyed and sniffling. I thought it might be some family thing, so was super-nice to her the rest of the day. I had asked what was wrong, and she told me that her mom was concerned because she didn't want to get up for school any more. I asked why, and she said it was because she didn't like doing so much reading, writing and math, and that she wanted to do more "fun" things.
After the kids left, I talked with the counselor. She said that the girl was unhappy because she thought that the class next door was much more "fun" than my class was. She also had complained that she didn't like it when I made a mean face at the kids, or when I raise my voice. I do quite often, because my class is far too chatty, and it annoys me greatly when they chat while I am trying to teach a lesson. So I raise my voice or give them "the look". Luckily for me, the counselor is on my side, and tried explaining to the girl that school is not meant to be fun, and that I am raising my voice and giving looks because they are misbehaving.
Here's the thing that really ticked me off. I found out from my mentor teacher that this girl had gotten out of another class right before school started. Her mother wouldn't give a reason why, but asked for the girl to be put into a specific classroom, whom the teacher happens to be the basketball coach. This girl is very good at basketball. So the teacher figured out that the girl wanted to be in his class just cuz he's the b-ball coach, and the principal wouldn't allow it. So the girl got put into my class instead. Now, mentor teacher (and everyone else) thinks that the girl is trying to pull the same crap again, because again she's requested to be in the coach's class. However, she's already been told (and her mother too) that students will not be moved after the first 9 weeks of school (we've had like 10 or 11 by now).
So all this week I've been feeling kinda down. It's things like this that make me question whether I want to be a teacher or not. It just seems so...pointless. I mean, I try hard to make my lessons as interesting as possible, but some things you just have to teach straight up. It ticks me off that this girl would pull something like this just cuz she wants to be in the coach's class (where her best friend happens to be as well), and that the mother believes her. My mentor teacher says not to take it personally, that it's just about the basketball thing. But it's kinda hard not to, you know?
The girl hasn't been in class for the past two days, and today during lunch one of her buddies from another class asked me if she had moved yet. I said I didn't know. I'm kinda hoping that she did move to another school (as bad as that sounds). One less brat for me to deal with. Guess I'll find out on Monday- the basketball informational meeting is that day after school, and she'll have to come to class if she wants to go to the meeting (you have to go to the meeting to be able to try-out the next day).
Till next time. |
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| New school year... |
[Jul. 29th, 2006|11:34 pm] |
Whoa...it's been a while since I last posted. A long while actually.
Well, summer is over for me. I actually started working last Monday. Orientation to the school district that I am now working in. It was all last week. Wasn't too bad, I guess. Long, but at least they had given us two afternoons to work in our classrooms. So much info though. The only really annoying thing was on Friday, when the teacher was going over how to write objectives for lessons (something I've been doing all last year). I guess it's good and all to know how the district likes them done, but the really annoying part was that she taught it to us like we were 4th graders! (She teaches 4th grade.) She would ask a question and we would start calling out answers, to which she would say "Don't say it out loud! Other kids can't learn that way!" And she would say it to us like we were in 4th grade. A very long and annoying hour and a half that was. I know I wasn't the only one who was rather frustrated by how slow the lesson was going.
We're all adults in that class (mostly teachers, but a few specialists, like librarian or psychologist), so we should be taught like adults. I mean, I wouldn't teach my 5th graders like they were kindergarteners. Yeesh. So glad that orientation week is over.
Next week all the other teachers start as well. So lots of staff development meeting and such. And some time to work on our rooms. Mine is slowly getting there. I'm still waiting for some supplies and some furniture. But I've got the desks set up, the posters up, the bulletin board is almost done (I'm going to let the kids bring in pictures and stuff to put up there).
My "theme" is Stitch's Ohana. If you've watched the Disney movie "Lilo and Stitch", then you would probably know what I'm talking about. But if not, Stitch is a little bad alien who poses as a dog. He becomes Lilo's pet and best friend. The whole theme of the movie is Ohana, which means family, and family means no one gets left behind or is forgotten. I chose this theme because the district likes the idea of the classroom being a community or family, and because Stitch is my favorite character. So, I've got posters of him around the room, a few stuffed animals, and each pod/group will be named after one of his cousins from the movie. *shrugs* Hope this all works out.
Oh! I forgot to mention. I'm teaching a 5th grade class.
After my class is all ready, I need to start on the planning. I've got some ideas from the orientation about what to do during the first day/week. Lots of community building in the classroom, teaching procedures, and teaching some learning structures too.
I probably won't update for a while, till my next long break probably. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 9th, 2006|10:31 pm] |
So I got a "nudge" thing or whatever it's called from elektra_alpha several days ago. I guess I should update this thing every once in a while...
Let's see, what's new...
Finished student teaching a few weeks ago. YAY!! Though it was a heck of a lot of work, and lots of stress, I do still miss being with the kids. I'm thinking about paying them a visit sometime next week maybe.
Graduating on Thursday. Yay for me. My parents are giving me a dinner party thing. Some relatives are coming into town, but it'll be mostly in-town people, family and friends of the family. I did invite some people that I know. But alas- two could not make it, one cancelled about a week ago, and another two cancelled just last night (something "unavoidable" had come up). Then, I found out tonight that my aunt and uncle from CA can't make it cuz my aunt has pneumonia. In addition to all these cancellations, I'm finding that lots of in-town people can't seem to remember the dang date and time of the dinner, especially the time. I had sent out invitations at the beginning of April, with all the details and directions. And for the past week or so, we've been getting questions from people about when the dinner is. *rolls eyes* Geez, how hard can it be to remember the date and time of a dinner? Ever heard of a calendar or a planner?
I just want to get this dinner over with already. Get this graduation over with. Since I belong to this education honor society, I get to wear a golden cord thing for graduation. So, I call the campus bookstore to see if they have them, and they send me to my college department. I call the department, and they send me back to the bookstore or to the honors college. I call the honors college, and they send to the bookstore. WHAT THE HECK?! So, I go, in person, to the campus bookstore, and they once again send me to my college department. I go the department, and they once again send me back to the bookstore. By then, I've just about given up. No golden cord for me. I guess I could always borrow my brother's cord from high school. I hope it's the same shade and whatnot. GAH. Or maybe just not wear one at all. I'm tired of all this.
Been applying around town for teaching jobs for next year. To several districts, as well as to several schools. No interviews yet though. My dad says it's cuz with the school year still in progress, schools don't have time to interview right now. Also, the positions that are open right now they probably want to fill with the experienced teachers whho are looking to switch schools. I guess I just have to wait and keep applying.
At least I have a summer job though. I'll be teaching some classes at a summer program. Knitting, origami, fractions, and Harry Potter. Assuming the minimum number of students required sign up anyways. I need 6 students in order to keep the class open. Otherwise, it gets axed. I've been passing out flyers to students that I know, from school, my dad's school, and church, but that's about it. I hope all my classes stay open.
Well, I think that's enough for now. I'll update in like...a couple of months probably? ;) LOL. |
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| Another day, another year |
[Mar. 8th, 2006|10:34 pm] |
Turned 23 today. Yay for me, I guess. My parents took me out to dinner on Sunday, with my brother and his girlfriend, and my cousin and his fiance. It was pretty fun. Relaxing after a long week of student teaching.
So I checked out my horoscope in the paper today. Here's what it said:
"Your ability to reinvent yourself stars as a major trait this year. It might be important to not lose your core, or else you might find yourself not knowing who you are."
SO...I guess this means changes are ahead then? Hmmm...I'm gonna "reinvent" myself this year. Sounds like fun to me. Also sounds kinda promising- I think I'm in need of some kind of change.
Student teaching is very very exhausting. Not just the planning, grading, and instructing part. But the kids' behaviors are so bad sometimes. Constantly talking to each other, and WHINING at me. GAH. I so hate it when they whine at me (they are in 5th grade). But, I guess it is going well so far. I'm in the "full responsibility" phase, which is where I do basically everything for 4 weeks. I'll be halfway through by tomorrow. My mentor teacher is supposed to be there to support and help take care of classroom management and whatnot, but she's been gone for all of this week and all of last week, due to family stuff and having to attend some training conference. So, there's been a sub in the class for the past 2 weeks. Luckily for me though, both subs know something about classroom management (they both used to teach), so they've been really helpful.
Not much else going on really. March Madness is fast approaching. I hope the Cats make it! I guess it will depend on how we do in the Pac 10 tournament this week. The first game is tomorrow at 1:30pm, so looks like I'll be missing that (have to teach during that time).
Later everyone. |
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| I've been tagged... |
[Jan. 21st, 2006|01:26 am] |
1. Thank the person that tagged you.
Thanks to Dragon and Rekall for the tag!
2.List 5 random/strange/weird things about you.
a. Stitch is my favorite character.
b. I like to watch Chinese movies- those really really long series, with lots of fighting and drama-type stuff. With my 2 and half years of studying Chinese, I can kinda understand what they are saying- I can usually get the general gist of things, though I often need my mom's help in translating.
c. 9-ball is my favorite billiards/pool game. Though you probably already know this
d. I like watching wrestling and UA basketball and football games. Though you probably already know this as well.
e. I'm trying to write a book- sorta. More like a very long story, that's vaguely planned out. No title yet, and I'm not sure what exactly it's all about...
3. Tag 5 other people.
I think everyone I know has been tagged already. Except gatzbydaze. |
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| Guess who got a NEW CAR? |
[Jan. 1st, 2006|09:35 pm] |
I got it yesterday, from Chandler, Arizona. (I live in Tucson, which is an hour and half's drive.) I had called the dealership on Friday, and worked out a price with the salesperson. Got a check cut from the bank, went Saturday morning and was out of there in about two hours. My parents paid for it actually- early graduation gift.
It's a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, LS 2 door coupe, Automatic. Has all the standard stuff in there. Very basic model. Blue-granite (blue-gray) in color. Lots of trunk space for all my teaching stuff. I got to drive it home from Chandler/Phoenix. I followed my parents back actually (they had driven me up to the dealership, to go over the final paperwork with me). I never drove to or from Phoenix (my dad always does the driving). It's quite boring actually. Not a whole lot to see. Though we did pass a carnival on the way. That's about it.
I'm quite happy with my car. Not quite the color I had wanted, but close enough. (I had wanted red, blue or black.) And my parents were happy with the price. Finally, after 2 weeks of shopping around (Tucson dealers wanted considerably more), it's over. Gah. Car shopping is such a pain in the neck.
Well, hope you all had a Happy New Year's! |
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| New layout |
[Dec. 11th, 2005|10:28 pm] |
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Eh...so I'm a bit bored, and decided to change the layout. I guess it looks good...? I just picked something from their list anyways. *shrugs* |
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| The end is almost near... |
[Dec. 9th, 2005|01:36 pm] |
One final down, and 3 to go! Today's was just a simple presentation on my professional portfolio. Monday's is a presentation a math field trip with my partners. Yes...a MATH field trip. Who the heck takes kids on field trips that are math-related?! I don't remember ever taking a math field trip in any grade. Stupid, stupid assignment. Anyways, already finished that thing. Tuesday has two finals- one for social studies, and one for science. Both are written, but shouldn't be too bad, since they already gave us the topics. I'll probably study for them this weekend.
AND THEN I'M DONE!! So happy about that. Also happy that I'm out of that kindergarten class. Gah. Cute and all, but terribly annoying to me. I could never teach that grade.
What else...?
Going to the UA men's basketball game tomorrow against St. Mary's. We're not looking so good so far. I hope the coach gets them ready for the Pac-10 competition that starts in January. Otherwise, it's gonna be a LONG season. I think that the expectation for this team was way too high, and that maybe it got to their heads. We're 3 and 3 right now, including a rather disappointing loss to an unranked team. And last night's game wasn't that great either. Don't know what's going on with them.
So I've gotten another scarf request, from a guy at church. Really annoyed as to how he "requested" it. We were talking with some people at church last Sunday, and a lady mentioned that she liked my scarf (I had made myself one last year). So James, the guy requesting one, said something about how I've never made him one. Where the heck that came from, I have no clue. So I reply that I've never even seen him wear one, to which he replies that's because no one's made him one. (I guess that was a hint hint at me.) I replied that they sell scarves in stores. *grins* He doesn't say anything, so the lady says something like what kind of color would he like his scarf. Uhh...I guess she just agreed for me that I'd make him one? Anyways, so he starts telling me what colors he wants (dark blue and orange, for the Denver Broncos), and how he wants his scarf (color blocks, with no tassles). So it looks like I'll be doing some knitting between now and Christmas. Grr...very annoyed by this. If he had wanted me to make him a scarf, he should have just asked me to, instead of somewhat whining how I've never made him one. I'm not a mind-reader, so how the heck am I supposed to know that he wants one unless someone tells me? Grrr again!
Played my brother in pool a few weeks ago. (It was on Thanksgiving Day.) He still beats me in 8-ball, but I can win most games in 9-ball. I miss being able to practice. My parents bought him a pool table for his new house, so that means he'll be playing a lot more. Which means I better get back to practicing too. eh, I do enjoy the challenge though. I saw a trick-shot competition on ESPN a few days ago. Those would be cool to do, cept I'm so not good enough to even try yet. Once I get my game down, then I'll try some trick shots.
That's all I can think of for now.
Later. |
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| What's new... |
[Nov. 3rd, 2005|10:35 pm] |
So guess I should write in this thing every once in a while...
What's new? Not much really. Just the same old stuff, getting through boring classing, going to APPS. I'm in the second rotation now- kindergarten. GAH. I knew from experiences in teaching Sunday School that I don't really like teaching this age. So in class, I'm quite bored sometimes, and really don't like going there. Can't wait for this rotation to end already. I think I have another month to go? Something like that.
Got my student teaching placement for next semester. A 5th grade class. *whew* I'll be meeting my "potential" mentor teacher on Tuesday. I say potential cuz it's not offical till I sign a paper, the mentor teacher signs it, the principal of the school signs it, and I turn it in to the UA. But I talked with her on the phone (to set up the meeting time), and she seems nice. Everything should work out.
Homecoming is this Saturday. The Cats take on UCLA. So we finally won our second game last Saturday. It was at Oregon, and what do you know, the one away game that we actually win, is NOT televised. I had to listen to it on the radio. Though, the radio guys are so funny- they get very excited when the Cats score or make a big play. I don't listen to the radio show too much, cuz I'm either at the game or watching it on TV.
I don't really know what else to talk about...
Oh, something pool related. My mom's co-worker gave her this flyer to a bar here in town. He shoots pool too, and I guess my mom must've told him that I like to shoot pool. Anyways, this bar has a pool league and weekly tournaments. I want to enter in one of the tournaments, but according to the flyer, they are only on Sunday and Tuesday nights, starting at 8pm. I have to wake up at 5:30am Mondays through Thursdays, going really isn't a good idea. Pool league is on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays at 7 (not sure how those things work). But if I do ever go, I need to find someone to go with me. That way I'll have someone to talk to at least...
Okay, enough chatting for me. |
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| Darn UA website |
[Sep. 18th, 2005|08:35 pm] |
Grrr... So I want to turn in my Student Teaching application tomorrow. But to do so, I need a SAPR (student academic progress report - I think that's the correct name). You can only get a SAPR from your Student Link. I tried doing that just now, and OF COURSE it's down due to system maintainance. Grr. How typical is that. I guess I'll have to try again later tonight (probably won't work anyways), or tomorrow before I turn it in.
Football season has started. YAY! The Cats are 1-2. Not so great I know. But we have improved a lot from last season. Not getting blown away every game. So close to beating No. 12 Purdue last night (we lost by a mere touchdown). Too many stupid penalties and mistakes. Definitely need to work on those. No game next week. We play at Cal in two weeks.
Some people ask for too much. Last Christmas, I knitted a scarf for my friend at church. I made one in her favorite color, silver (well, it was actually a gray-ish with white sparkly color combined. Close enough to silver). Anyways, she asked me if I could make another scarf for her in her favorite college's colors. Michigan State, which is a dark blue and golden yellow. So I did, and gave it to her today at church for her birthday, which is this Wednesday. And so you know what she asks me right after she puts the scarf on? She asks me to make her a matching cap! What the heck?! Grr. No way am I gonna make her a cap too. She can go buy one or learn how to knit herself. I'd like to spend time making things for my other friends as well.
Methods is tiring, but good. The 2 and half hour block classes are boring (I've got 5 of them per week- 2 on Monday and Wednesday, one on Thursday). But there isn't too much work so far- some chapter readings, some written assignments, a few projects to do later on. I really like my mentor teacher. She's so nice, and explains everything to me. The class (it's 5th grade) isn't so bad either. I have to teach a reading/social studies lesson this Tuesday (a requirement). Kinda nervous. I'll be reading a picture book then having them answer some True/False statements. Shouldn't be too bad, I hope. I sorta made a deal with them- that if they are good during this lesson and during a math lesson that I have to teach next week, then I make them cookies. Heh heh. I knew there was a reason why I decided to learn how to bake. ;)
Eh. Enough chatter for now. Later.
=(^;^)= |
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