Reaching the Summit

I just wrapped up week 7? 8? I lost track after all the snow days. All I know is that I have to do student teaching for 6 days longer than originally scheduled. Since my last post quite a bit has gone down. I encountered a tempermental student, had my mid-term eval, and have begun feeling like a real teacher. Starting out was a big adjustment and the days felt longer and more stressful than what they are now. I have grown as a person in a very short time. If you do not make adjustments quickly in this profession, you will not last long. The most difficult part about teaching is not the teaching part, it is controlling and engaging 30+ students. I feel sad for those who have a clouded understanding of the public education system. It is not the demon institution that many politicians make it out to be. Right here in Indiana, one more pass in the Senate and Charter schools will begin to get even more funding. Which most likely means less for true to form public schools. Is the system flawed? Absolutely. But what systems in the United States are flawless?
People need to realize that education starts in the home with parents and guardians. If students and children are instilled with attitudes that are negative towards education, it is likely they will hold them with them for a long time. Many teachers do their hardest to reach those students with little response. And yet it is their fault if they fail. How are we supposed to make sure kids do their homework at night? Or take thier book home to study? Or pass them when they never turn any work? We can't. It is almost impossible. In the classroom, yes we have some control and the responsibility over the children, but for 50 minutes! Now, I feel like in the short time I have been in the classroom I have been able to make a difference with many of the students. Yet, there are some students who want nothing to do with school, want nothing to do with me, and wanting nothing to do with authority. Did I instill that in them? Nope. But I know who did. Teachers are quickly becomming Public Enemy #1 and I think that is unfair. I'm not saying that every teacher is a good one, but a good number do it because they love kids and want to make a difference. I have been getting good feedback and really feel like most days I have a good status with the kids. It is not always easy or glamorous, but jobs that aren't, usually make the biggest differences. No matter what happens, I will always be trying to better education at some level. I ask you to believe in the system, to believe that it can be changed, and understand that every child's future is a responsility that is shared.

Stueacher

I'm in the 4th week of my student teaching and snow days are even better now than they were when I was a student. I've also realized how underappreciated teachers are with all they do. It is hard work! I thought waking up at 6AM everyday, but that really has not been an issue. Making the transition to being a real teacher has been the toughest. It was a pretty tough go of it at the beginning, but I think my students and I have found a pretty good groove. I let the little things get to me at first, but after awhile you learn it is not worth it. There will be those that will always give you problems, and those that you can always count on to be excellent. I'm tough. Probably tougher than some of the students like, but I am also fair and I feel like that balances the scales. Lesson plans suck. And I say "um" a lot when I talk. I think it is because I am not real familiar with the material yet so I am trying to slow down my speaking and think before I talk. Otherwise, it will be a lot of word vomit. I had a girl kindly tell me that I said "um" 72 times when I was giving the information. Oops. I have made some pretty good relationships with a few students already and I have also been told by one that she likes their regular teacher better than me. You can't win 'em all! But I have many others to keep me encouraged. There are days that are a constant struggle and others when everything seems to go really well. I am trying some different things this week so hopefully they all go well. I'll report back soon!

Looking Back, Moving Forward

2010, what a year! Okay, it was almost like every other year really. Ups and downs, new experiences, new friends, losing friends, ending school, beginning school. And all of it have made me better and stronger. The most exciting part of 2010 had to be wrapping up my career at IU. While a pretty good 3 and a half years, I was ready to relinquish that experience to some other soul who would enjoy it more than me. However, ending that school career has led me to begin my second school career. The one that will now on be my life.
I would not say that I did an awesome job with my blog last year, but I didn't do too horribly either. So this year, until April at least, I will be documenting my experiences with student teaching. Ideally I would update once a week like on Friday and relay what I encountered during the school week. This week's update would not be that eventful, but I am in the classroom and that excites me quite a bit. I know that this is what I was meant to be doing. I have already had some good encounters with students and this is encouraging as I take over the classroom in the coming days. Right now, I'm enjoying the stressless nights before it ends. 2011 looks to be a year in which I plan to take many steps that shape my life forever. Happy New Year!

You Poor Little Rich People

Most people work during the holidays. Some even work on Christmas and New Year's. While it may not be fun, these are the lives we choose for ourselves. If we do not show up we will most likely get fired for not doing our job. Most individuals who report during the holidays have really important jobs. Doctors, firemen, policemen, politicians. Wait, what? Politicians? But they are too good to have to work up until Christmas. I mean, c'mon! It's one of the two most holiest holidays according to Sen. Kyl a Republican from Arizona. Hey, Mr. Kyl did you know that the 300 million Americans that live here are not all Christian? Crazy, I know. Nevertheless, even if we were all Christian would it matter? NO. Here's why: One, you are an elected official who serves the people. Right now there is a large legislative agenda on the table including the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and you're worried about Christmas?? I love Christmas, but even I know when some things are a little more important than that. I'm sure your families will all be there before, during, and after Christmas.
Before you complain about working up until Christmas do me a favor. I want you to think about those individuals who will not be home for the holidays, most notably those soldiers who are still off fighting for our freedom. Some of those soldiers are no doubt waiting on the Senate to change a dumb policy that should never have existed in the first place. Also think about those who don't even have a home and may be spending Christmas on the streets. Or those kids who won't get any presents, or those who will be in a soup kitchen, or those who are in prison. Do you get the picture yet? NO ONE, and I do mean no one, will feel one bit sorry for your work schedule. Last time I checked the Senate is in session roughly half a year? Hmmm. Public officials should be working for their people, not enraging them, please stop being babies. While not all Senators have been complaining, there should be none! You know, a lot of people do not like politicians, this definitely does not help your cause.

A Problem with Professing

My last real semester of college is turning out to be one of the most frustrating of my career. It is influenced, no doubt, by the increasingly growing case of senioritis that has been developing since the first time I set foot on campus. But now, the end is in sight and it cannot come soon enough. However, with just under a month left, the finish line has never seemed further away. In many ways this is the most challenged I have felt on an academic level in some time. And ironically, it is not the academics that are tripping me up. We have all encountered problems we cannot solve, equations that will not balance, and papers that do not meet the desired word count. All of those can be figured out with just a little more effort, though. What do you do when you really believe you are not the issue?

If you have ever taken a college class with a real, elbow patch, same outfit every day professor, then you know how large their egos can be. AND more importantly, you realize that their training is in academia, NOT teaching. Just because you are an expert in an area does not mean that you can teach that to a room full of students and expect them to understand it. And what's worse is that they are too egotistical to even start listening to suggestions on how to improve the class. Professors may have it the easiest of all the people on campus and yet they tend to not want to work harder on the one thing they should be doing best: instructing. Lecture, lecture, lecture, lecture, lecture, lecture, lecture, and yes, more lecture. In a class of hundreds of students maybe this is the only way to present material, but maybe not. Surely in the many many years that these higher education institutions have been in existence there have been some suggestions on how to spruce up the learning process. But undoubtedly in those situations the professors would not want to take away from hearing their voice for less than the allotted 75 minutes.

I want to make a pledge to my future students who walk into my classroom. There will never be a time when my preferences or wants are more important than yours. It does not matter if I think something is interesting, YOU have to find it interesting as well. And if many of you do poorly on a test or assignment I will not be ignorant to the fact that maybe it was because you did not study hard enough, it is probably because I did a poor job of teaching you the material. I will also make it so that grades are not life or death for you and you can focus on improving in progressive steps rather than stressing about acing every single assignment in order to do well. It is a new age. Students care less, they need more effort from all instructors to engage them in the material. If you think that's not a fair deal then do not enter the profession.

December 17th will mark the end of my student career and then I begin the transition into my professional career. I have never been more ready to begin a new journey and to start changing the way students learn. Some may say I am an idealist and what I want to do in the classroom cannot be done due to time and curriculum constraints, but that is when I say to those nay-sayers, it can be done if you try hard enough. It will be challenging for sure, but if I know in my heart that I am doing my best to give my students the most effective lessons possible, then I will have done my job.

Heroes

The other day while listening to my professor speak of one of his heroes, Kurt Vonnegut, it got me thinking about my heroes and what the word hero actually means. We all know about Superman and Spider-Man, but those are super heroes. Not the everyday heroes that can go overlooked. For many of us heroes come in the form of parents, grandparents, teachers, and it goes on. Normally, they are people who have been close to your life in some way, shape, or form. I believe that heroes must alter or affect our life in some way to be rightfully deemed a hero.

I think now, after 9/11, most people would undoubtedly say that firemen and service men like them, are heroes. A fair statement. I also believe that a hero is one who does not acknowledge or accept the fact that they are a hero. You would be hard pressed to find a fire fighter after 9/11 who agreed with the fact that they were a hero. They would most likely tell you that they were "just doing their job." There is also that sense that these individuals are not trying to be a hero. Listening to interviews, I have decided that people just want to help other people. They don't say, "I went into that burning building just so I could be called a hero and get a medal." I hope that I would be a person who would go in that burning building to help someone else just because they needed help.

So I ask you all to think about who your heroes are, why they are your heroes, and if you feel like you are living your life in a way that is heroic. I think if we all strive to be everyday heroes, people would be better off. The main thing is don't try too hard, listen to your instincts, understand what your conscience is telling you, and try to stay off the wrong side of the road. Finally, if you are ever in that unique situation in which you are the hero, take it like a hero, humbly, graciously, and respectfully.

This is the year!

It's September and that means only one thing, FOOTBALL!!! Tonight the Saints and Vikings open the NFL regular season. Old Man Brett is on his goodbye tour this year and Cajun Man Drew is on his repeat tour. Next year, a lockout is appearing more and more possible so we should all really try and enjoy this season lots and lots. As is the same with every fan of any sport and any team, the common mantra when starting a new season, this season is always the year when it's your team's turn to win it all. So while I'm saying there's always next year for the Cubs at this time, this is definitely the year for da Bears! But not really. For maybe the first time I am trying to realistic about this team's chances. While I think they'll do better than the 7-9 projection of Sports Illustrated, I think a playoff berth would be just fine, nothing more. I say this now, but we all know if they do indeed make the playoffs it's Super Bowl or Bust!

The defense added Dr. Peppers in the off-season and as long as the linebacking core can stay healthy, I like the defense to be improved from last season. The offense is the biggest question mark in possibly the entire NFL. Cutler has talent, lots of talent, but he just has no sense when it comes to making some throws. Pass it to the man in blue, man! The addition of Mike Martz will for sure make the team more pass happy, but if the QB can't get the ball to the receivers then that won't matter. SOOO we shall see. They open with the Lions and I am hoping that they win, a loss to Lions at the beginning of the year will just ruin all hope for a successful season.

I have this theory that making predictions will A: make me look dumb when the season ends, and B: only cause bad things to the teams I would have picked to be successful. So I will just throw a few things in without saying anything concrete. As always the Colts are going to be one of the premiere teams, they will be until Manning retires, I think the Jets are going to return a strong team as well. I like the Ravens to be a force on both sides of the ball with the addition of some big names at Wide Receiver and Joe Flacco's cannon. As for the NFC North, it is tough this year. The Vikes, Pack, and the Bears can all be quality teams and the Lions are even improved. Some have the Packers in the Super Bowl and crowning Rodgers as MVP, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Until Rodgers can do something in the playoffs, people in Green Bay will always know who the real MVP is. (Good call on that one by the way.)

I would just like to add a little bit on the College football season beginning as well. I love me some college football. After many years of undefeated season after undefeated season, Boise State is finally appearing to have gotten some respect in the polls. Pre-season they were ranked 3rd and after beating 10th ranked VA Tech, they are close to overtaking OSU at the number 2 spot. Go Broncos! If they do not get a title bid with an undefeated season this year I will lose all faith in college football. Also, TCU beat a ranked opponent and are now ranked 4th. How about a rematch of the Fiesta Bowl last year except this time it's for the National Championship? I can dream. I urge you all to find a big comfy couch, some snacks, a t.v. with little glare, some friends, and enjoy the season!