And so, week two begins. I am not sure if I prefer last week's schedule or the one that started today. It's nice to be in Journalism, and in other classrooms, but I already miss the kids I had seen in my original Read 180 class.
Journalism is exciting. It is, for the next few weeks, my period 1 class. The teacher is very nice. I also like his teaching style. Very quick, very fun. I am not sure if I'd be able to keep the pace he does in my own classroom, but I'd like to try.
Period 2 is now Read 180. However, instead of being with my CT, I am with another teacher. She's nice as well. It's a little different in her class because it is seventh graders but it is still fun.
It is kind of weird to be gone the last two days of the week. I felt like I was trying to catch up today. Hopefully as time goes on it won't be as hard.
Anyway, today in English 8 we went over the elements of "plot" using Cornell notes. The students took some notes as my CT explained each element (ie climax, resolution, conflict, etc). We also went over apostrophe usage as part of a grammar exercise, and a lesson about Latin roots in modern English. Tomorrow we are going to go over "proposition" and "support." I think we will also be getting into "Letters for Algernon," which is a fun, but long, story. I started to re-read it today. At first, it hadn't sounded familiar, but the more I read the more I was able to recall it. I hope we don't rush through it, just because it is so long that to rush it would be a shame, and I don't think the students will be able to comprehend it as well.
Today's 4pm-7pm class was ED 332B (Children, Families, and Community). It wasn't as bad as I thought. We are going to be learning the affects of relationships on students and how it applies to our jobs as teachers. I am pretty interested in it, so far.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
First Week
Remember when I said I was anxious to start the week? It turns out I was so anxious and excited I couldn't fall asleep until about 1:30am. Needless to say waking up was not fun, but I poured myself a tall glass of iced black tea with a touch of lemon and was good to go.
Class itself was fun. Although we did not get our official schedules until Tuesday, so on Monday I ended up helping out my CT and observing a couple other teachers. The first day was not as fun as the other two. I do not know why, but I enjoyed Tuesday and Wednesday a lot more. Perhaps it was my lack of sleep on Sunday night.
Monday night I wrote a letter to my students in English 8, and Tuesday night for homework they wrote me, and my CT, back. I have been reading them the past couple of days and making comments. It is quite humbling that some kids will trust you enough to write the things they do. I will not go into any details, and it's nothing too heavy, but still I was not expecting some of the things they were putting in there.
This week was kind of sit back and see how things go. Although I am trying to be as proactive as I can and want to do as much as I can. I am really excited to be working with the kids in my class. I already feel like I have some of them figured out, but have already been surprised.
So starting next week, my official schedule is as follows:
Per. 1 - Journalism
Per. 2 - Read 180
Per. 3 - Prep/Mentor
Per. 4 - English 8
Per. 5 - Not Assigned (mostly observing other teachers)
Per. 6 - N/A '' ''
Thursdays and Fridays are interesting. We are not on site, but rather on campus at UCSB. Yesterday we had our first master's class, and to be honest, it kind of scared me. Coming up with a topic to write on for my research feels a little scary/sketchy right now. I am definitely not too confident, but I am going to try. I would really like to get my master's at the end of all this.
Friday was our first content/methodology class. I am not sure how I feel about it at this point. I know it will be very useful, but I also feel it will be more of another source of work, which is not appealing in the least.
I got some more shirts and ties to wear to school so I can switch things up a bit. I will not have to wear the same 3 shirts every week now. That's actually the highlight of my week, sad as it may sound. :o)
I know I should be updating this every day, but I get so tired. When I get home I just want to sleep. I will give it my best effort though.
Class itself was fun. Although we did not get our official schedules until Tuesday, so on Monday I ended up helping out my CT and observing a couple other teachers. The first day was not as fun as the other two. I do not know why, but I enjoyed Tuesday and Wednesday a lot more. Perhaps it was my lack of sleep on Sunday night.
Monday night I wrote a letter to my students in English 8, and Tuesday night for homework they wrote me, and my CT, back. I have been reading them the past couple of days and making comments. It is quite humbling that some kids will trust you enough to write the things they do. I will not go into any details, and it's nothing too heavy, but still I was not expecting some of the things they were putting in there.
This week was kind of sit back and see how things go. Although I am trying to be as proactive as I can and want to do as much as I can. I am really excited to be working with the kids in my class. I already feel like I have some of them figured out, but have already been surprised.
So starting next week, my official schedule is as follows:
Per. 1 - Journalism
Per. 2 - Read 180
Per. 3 - Prep/Mentor
Per. 4 - English 8
Per. 5 - Not Assigned (mostly observing other teachers)
Per. 6 - N/A '' ''
Thursdays and Fridays are interesting. We are not on site, but rather on campus at UCSB. Yesterday we had our first master's class, and to be honest, it kind of scared me. Coming up with a topic to write on for my research feels a little scary/sketchy right now. I am definitely not too confident, but I am going to try. I would really like to get my master's at the end of all this.
Friday was our first content/methodology class. I am not sure how I feel about it at this point. I know it will be very useful, but I also feel it will be more of another source of work, which is not appealing in the least.
I got some more shirts and ties to wear to school so I can switch things up a bit. I will not have to wear the same 3 shirts every week now. That's actually the highlight of my week, sad as it may sound. :o)
I know I should be updating this every day, but I get so tired. When I get home I just want to sleep. I will give it my best effort though.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
This Past Week
With my placement known, I went to the school Tuesday and met my cooperating teacher (CT). She is very nice and I am looking forward to working with her. Thursday we went to a staff meeting where I met most of the teachers and the administration. I talked to my CT some more.
Friday was interesting. I woke up and went to the school to help my CT set up her classroom. When I was done hanging up posters and other things, we went to the library to get my Teacher's Edition textbooks. After that, my CT said I could leave but as I was packing my backpack up and walking across campus, I decided to ask her if I could do more. I mean, I had nothing else to do that day and I figured anything I could do would be helpful; not to mention another learning experience for me. So, I met up with her in the copy room and she had me make a lot of copies of things. And I do mean a lot. It was really frustrating dealing with a copy machine that jams every 5 seconds. I'm not even exaggerating. So I battled the copier for about an hour and finally finished it up. After that I went home.
Tomorrow is the first day of school!! I'm really anxious. I hope it all goes well.
Wish me luck!
Friday was interesting. I woke up and went to the school to help my CT set up her classroom. When I was done hanging up posters and other things, we went to the library to get my Teacher's Edition textbooks. After that, my CT said I could leave but as I was packing my backpack up and walking across campus, I decided to ask her if I could do more. I mean, I had nothing else to do that day and I figured anything I could do would be helpful; not to mention another learning experience for me. So, I met up with her in the copy room and she had me make a lot of copies of things. And I do mean a lot. It was really frustrating dealing with a copy machine that jams every 5 seconds. I'm not even exaggerating. So I battled the copier for about an hour and finally finished it up. After that I went home.
Tomorrow is the first day of school!! I'm really anxious. I hope it all goes well.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
My Placement
So I found out on Monday that I will have my first placement at a Junior High School. I did my pre-professional experience there. It's a nice campus. I like it. My fellow junior high TEPers and I took a tour of the campus yesterday and met so many nice people, including our Cooperating Teachers (CTs). I have two other people with me a the school, one other English, the other Foreign language.
I think we are having a meeting tomorrow, I just don't know what time yet. Hopefully someone lets me know.
I think we are having a meeting tomorrow, I just don't know what time yet. Hopefully someone lets me know.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Crazy Weather
So, as the week comes to an end, I would like to apologize for not putting up any pictures yet. Unfortunately, the weather has taken a turn for the worse and I have not seen the sun in about 3 days. That, plus there is a fire near Santa Ynez that is causing ash to rain down through the fog/mist/clouds. It's pretty depressing. I think it is having an effect on everyone in the program.
Anyway, tomorrow is our last day for this set of classes. I CANNOT WAIT to be done. Not because I do not like them, but because it means we are closer to our assignments and being in actual classrooms in the field. Which, to me, means more fun, excitement, challenges, and learning.
BTW, I thought this was interesting for "turn for the worse": (http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.usage.english/2009-02/msg02023.html)
Anyway, tomorrow is our last day for this set of classes. I CANNOT WAIT to be done. Not because I do not like them, but because it means we are closer to our assignments and being in actual classrooms in the field. Which, to me, means more fun, excitement, challenges, and learning.
BTW, I thought this was interesting for "turn for the worse": (http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.usage.english/2009-02/msg02023.html)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
A Week Later
A week later and wow! 8-5 is so tiring. I'm sure my fellow TEP-ers would agree. Fortunately the workload for the weekend is light and I got most of it done yesterday. I was quite upset with myself yesterday for getting so worked up and frustrated yesterday in ED 211S. I'm blaming it on a long, tiring week. I am fine now. This weekend is going to be a good time to let off some steam and get read for another long week.
Anyway, these are the classes I have been taking, and will be taking until the 14th:
ED 396 SCWriP
ED 211S (Psych Foundations)
ED 283A (Classroom Management) ended yesterday
ED 234 (Linguistics for Tch) starts Mon.
So far, this summer, I have taken:
ED 103 (Technology Tools)
ED 109M (Health Education)
ED 203A (Foundations of Ed.)
ED 270H (Language, Culture, & Learn.)
We start our assignments in a couple weeks, and the highly anticipated "Teachers at the Beach(ers)" is coming up. So there are many things to look forward to.
Anyway, these are the classes I have been taking, and will be taking until the 14th:
ED 396 SCWriP
ED 211S (Psych Foundations)
ED 283A (Classroom Management) ended yesterday
ED 234 (Linguistics for Tch) starts Mon.
So far, this summer, I have taken:
ED 103 (Technology Tools)
ED 109M (Health Education)
ED 203A (Foundations of Ed.)
ED 270H (Language, Culture, & Learn.)
We start our assignments in a couple weeks, and the highly anticipated "Teachers at the Beach(ers)" is coming up. So there are many things to look forward to.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
First One
So, here I am in back at UCSB. Things are going great, albeit a little tiring. I finished up my first two official education classes on Thursday and start 3 new ones on Monday. This is the first time in a few weeks I have had a free weekend to do whatever and just relax and recharge the batteries. On Monday we start a Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm schedule. Needless to say, I am NOT looking forward to that.
Classes are really different than undergrad. There is a bit of reading every night, and some responses, but usually nothing is graded. At least, not yet. Most of the time we just discuss theory about education, which is really tiring, but I find it to be awesome to get other people's perspectives on certain things.
I've met some really cool people. I have found it much easier to get along with classmates since we all have the same goal-- to teach. The female to male ratio is quite ridiculous. Out of the 102 people in the program (that's Special Ed, Elementary, and Secondary) about 89 or so are female. Maybe a little less. But over 80 for sure. There was supposed to be a Happy Hour get together on Thursday. All the girls went to Chili's for Margaritas. About 4 of us guys went to this Pizza place in Isla Vista for some Happy Hour priced pitchers of beer. I think it's going to be important for us to just have a guys night or something every once in a while so as not to get overrun by the sheer abundance of estrogen.
I was supposed to go to NP yesterday for a haircut and pick up supplies, but my hair stylist wasn't working, so I am going in a couple hours. My mom and I are going to see a movie before I come back up. I think I'll be back in the evening.
I need to post up some pics of my surroundings. I have a decent view and if I crane my neck just enough I can see the sun set behind the foothills every day from my window. It's gorgeous.
Classes are really different than undergrad. There is a bit of reading every night, and some responses, but usually nothing is graded. At least, not yet. Most of the time we just discuss theory about education, which is really tiring, but I find it to be awesome to get other people's perspectives on certain things.
I've met some really cool people. I have found it much easier to get along with classmates since we all have the same goal-- to teach. The female to male ratio is quite ridiculous. Out of the 102 people in the program (that's Special Ed, Elementary, and Secondary) about 89 or so are female. Maybe a little less. But over 80 for sure. There was supposed to be a Happy Hour get together on Thursday. All the girls went to Chili's for Margaritas. About 4 of us guys went to this Pizza place in Isla Vista for some Happy Hour priced pitchers of beer. I think it's going to be important for us to just have a guys night or something every once in a while so as not to get overrun by the sheer abundance of estrogen.
I was supposed to go to NP yesterday for a haircut and pick up supplies, but my hair stylist wasn't working, so I am going in a couple hours. My mom and I are going to see a movie before I come back up. I think I'll be back in the evening.
I need to post up some pics of my surroundings. I have a decent view and if I crane my neck just enough I can see the sun set behind the foothills every day from my window. It's gorgeous.
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