Tuesday was the last time I ever have to set foot in that high school again. With almost everything already finished the previous Friday, the only actual work I did was backing up all of my lessons/notes/worksheets/etc. onto a CD for the next poor bastard who takes my place. After that it was lunch at the Chinese buffet and a few games of Spades to pass the afternoon until 3:00.
So now what?
I pack out my trash and head back to civilization (Michigan) on July 21. Between now and then, here is the sum total of my goals:
1. Watch the entire Band of Brothers series.
- I went to the local Game Stop to see how much I could get for my X-Box. I haven't played it in months, and my X-Box live account expired. They offered my like $50 in cash or $85 in trade, so trade I did. They had a used copy of the entire series in its tin that looked like it was brand new for $50. So, I picked it up and have thus far made it through 6 of 10 episodes in the week I've had it.
2. Play video games.
- In addition to the DVD set, I also picked up a few used games to round out my trade-in credit. Got Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 and two James Bond games - the Pierce Brosnan modern Bond Everything or Nothing and the retro Sean Connery From Russia with Love. Running around in a white dinner jacket with an SMG is fun...
3. Lose 20 pounds.
- It's more than just wishful thinking... I'm trying to diet and I've been exercising. No more snacking, only drinking water, Special K for breakfast, and about 45 minutes a day in my apartment's fitness center.
4. Make money on eBay.
- In the last two weeks I've made about $550 dollars selling the contents of the boxes in my closet. Take out the shipping costs and eBay fees, and I've still got about $400 in profits so far. Also cuts down on the amount of boxes to move.
5. Packing and moving.
I've got the rental truck reservation. I've got an address in Michigan. Now I just need to get all of my worldly possessions from Point A to Point B.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Deja vu All Over Again
I feel like a high school senior all over again.
Tomorrow is my last day of exams with the students. I have my 2nd and 4th block classes for their exam, and then the rest of the week is dedicated to cleaning up and closing out the year.
And then it's off to college. Again.
I got my overrides to register for my fall classes, so here's how it looks.
EDG 647 - Theories of College Student Development
Credits: 3
This course examines the major student development theories used by college student affairs practitioners in the higher education environment.
EDG 651 - Higher Education and Student Affairs Functions
Credits: 3
Provides an overview of the historical development of American higher education and an introduction to the evolution of student affairs functions in the academy.
EDG 652 - The American College Student
Credits: 3
Examines the characteristics, values, expectations, and needs of contemporary college students in the context of student development theory.
So there's a description (if you can call it that) of what the classes are about. My schedule will look something like this:
M: EDG 647 6:00 - 8:50 PM
T: EDG 651 3:00 - 5:50 PM
Th: EDG 652 6:00 PM - 8:50 PM
Of course I'll be working in the residence hall during the day, but I guess I was expecting to be in class a bit more than that. Maybe there's more to it and I just haven't figured it out yet.
But hey - they're paying for it so no matter what I can't complain.
Living the dream...
Tomorrow is my last day of exams with the students. I have my 2nd and 4th block classes for their exam, and then the rest of the week is dedicated to cleaning up and closing out the year.
And then it's off to college. Again.
I got my overrides to register for my fall classes, so here's how it looks.
EDG 647 - Theories of College Student Development
Credits: 3
This course examines the major student development theories used by college student affairs practitioners in the higher education environment.
EDG 651 - Higher Education and Student Affairs Functions
Credits: 3
Provides an overview of the historical development of American higher education and an introduction to the evolution of student affairs functions in the academy.
EDG 652 - The American College Student
Credits: 3
Examines the characteristics, values, expectations, and needs of contemporary college students in the context of student development theory.
So there's a description (if you can call it that) of what the classes are about. My schedule will look something like this:
M: EDG 647 6:00 - 8:50 PM
T: EDG 651 3:00 - 5:50 PM
Th: EDG 652 6:00 PM - 8:50 PM
Of course I'll be working in the residence hall during the day, but I guess I was expecting to be in class a bit more than that. Maybe there's more to it and I just haven't figured it out yet.
But hey - they're paying for it so no matter what I can't complain.
Living the dream...
Friday, June 02, 2006
Teaching the Laziest Generation About the Greatest Generation
I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, but I managed to cover all of World War II in a week. Sure it wasn't as in-depth as I would have liked, but even so I feel better about what I was able to teach this semester in 1 week than the 2 1/2 week unit I did last semester.
And all thanks to the glory of movie clips.
Day 1 - The Rise of Dictators
Talk about how Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin took power amidst the Great Depression and resentment of the Treaty of Versailles. Video clip: 10 minutes from The Great Dictator starring Charlie Chaplin. Priceless.
Day 2 - Hitler Takes Advantage of Appeasement
Just a short clip of archival footage with some Hitler speeches. The real gem is in reading "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to the class and having them draw comparisons to Hitler's remilitarization of Germany and the annexation of surrounding territories.
Day 3 - World War II starts in Europe
I wasn't proud of it, but I managed to squeeze everything from the invasion of Poland in 1939 all the way through to the Battle of Stalingrad's end in 1943. Movie clips included:
- Archival German propaganda detailing the plans for the invasion Great Britain
- The opening of The Chronicles of Narnia which shows the city of London being bombed during the Battle of Britain
- A 10 minute clip from Enemy at the Gates which did a brilliant job of illustrating Soviet military tactics and mentalities during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Day 4 - United States Entry into the War
Start off with the 25 minute attack scene from Pearl Harbor. Fast forward a bit to the recreation of Roosevelt's declaration of war before congress. Then go back and retrace the steps leading to the attack - the ascension of Emperor Hirohito, the election of Tojo as Prime Minister, the invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese need for "Breathing Room" and natural resources. I tried to emphasize the point that Japan wanted to wipe out the United States' ability to make war n one fell swoop, and get the students to understand that Japan did not attack simply to get the US involved in the war. Who knows if they understood.
Day 5 - The Course of World War II in Europe
I should have found a clip from Patton to illustrate the war in North Africa, but alas I just had to talk about it for a bit. All leading in to the attack on Fortress Europa on the beaches of Normandy. And finally, after haggling and sending home permission slips, I was able to show the opening of Saving Private Ryan in class. I've wanted to do that ever since my student teaching. Once again I wish I could have squeezed in a clip from Band of Brothers detailing the German counter-attack in the Ardennes Forest, but instead I just had to plow through to VE Day through notes and discussion.
Day 6 - The Holocaust and The End of the War with Japan
When I taught US History during student teaching I showed Schindler's List in its entirety. The administration told me it was too graphic and whatever to show to my students here, so I didn't do anything with it first semester. This time around, I didn't show it all, but I did use about 30 minutes of clips from it. I started things off with a 10 minute scene from the 9th episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Why We Fight" which did an excellent job of showing Easy Company's discovery and liberation of a Concentration Camp. My class sat and watched in stunned silence, exactly as it should be when talking about the Holocaust. I then spent the rest of the time detailing how the Nazis were able to slowly move from the general complacency with anti-Semitism all the way through to the "Final Solution". I think they got this one.
Unfortunately, my focus on the Holocaust came at the cost of more focus on the Pacific Campaign. I talked about island hopping, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and then had to rush through the development of the Manhattan Project and Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb. I showed a brief clip of some archival footage of the Enola Gay and Hiroshima, but wished I could have had one more day to cover it properly.
But as it was, I had to devote all of yesterday's time to going through the final exam review guide in preparation for exams today and Monday.
2 exam days.
6 (ugh) teacher work days.
Done.
And all thanks to the glory of movie clips.
Day 1 - The Rise of Dictators
Talk about how Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin took power amidst the Great Depression and resentment of the Treaty of Versailles. Video clip: 10 minutes from The Great Dictator starring Charlie Chaplin. Priceless.
Day 2 - Hitler Takes Advantage of Appeasement
Just a short clip of archival footage with some Hitler speeches. The real gem is in reading "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to the class and having them draw comparisons to Hitler's remilitarization of Germany and the annexation of surrounding territories.
Day 3 - World War II starts in Europe
I wasn't proud of it, but I managed to squeeze everything from the invasion of Poland in 1939 all the way through to the Battle of Stalingrad's end in 1943. Movie clips included:
- Archival German propaganda detailing the plans for the invasion Great Britain
- The opening of The Chronicles of Narnia which shows the city of London being bombed during the Battle of Britain
- A 10 minute clip from Enemy at the Gates which did a brilliant job of illustrating Soviet military tactics and mentalities during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Day 4 - United States Entry into the War
Start off with the 25 minute attack scene from Pearl Harbor. Fast forward a bit to the recreation of Roosevelt's declaration of war before congress. Then go back and retrace the steps leading to the attack - the ascension of Emperor Hirohito, the election of Tojo as Prime Minister, the invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese need for "Breathing Room" and natural resources. I tried to emphasize the point that Japan wanted to wipe out the United States' ability to make war n one fell swoop, and get the students to understand that Japan did not attack simply to get the US involved in the war. Who knows if they understood.
Day 5 - The Course of World War II in Europe
I should have found a clip from Patton to illustrate the war in North Africa, but alas I just had to talk about it for a bit. All leading in to the attack on Fortress Europa on the beaches of Normandy. And finally, after haggling and sending home permission slips, I was able to show the opening of Saving Private Ryan in class. I've wanted to do that ever since my student teaching. Once again I wish I could have squeezed in a clip from Band of Brothers detailing the German counter-attack in the Ardennes Forest, but instead I just had to plow through to VE Day through notes and discussion.
Day 6 - The Holocaust and The End of the War with Japan
When I taught US History during student teaching I showed Schindler's List in its entirety. The administration told me it was too graphic and whatever to show to my students here, so I didn't do anything with it first semester. This time around, I didn't show it all, but I did use about 30 minutes of clips from it. I started things off with a 10 minute scene from the 9th episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Why We Fight" which did an excellent job of showing Easy Company's discovery and liberation of a Concentration Camp. My class sat and watched in stunned silence, exactly as it should be when talking about the Holocaust. I then spent the rest of the time detailing how the Nazis were able to slowly move from the general complacency with anti-Semitism all the way through to the "Final Solution". I think they got this one.
Unfortunately, my focus on the Holocaust came at the cost of more focus on the Pacific Campaign. I talked about island hopping, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and then had to rush through the development of the Manhattan Project and Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb. I showed a brief clip of some archival footage of the Enola Gay and Hiroshima, but wished I could have had one more day to cover it properly.
But as it was, I had to devote all of yesterday's time to going through the final exam review guide in preparation for exams today and Monday.
2 exam days.
6 (ugh) teacher work days.
Done.
Monday, May 29, 2006
In Memorium
To all those who have given the last full measure of devotion to the defense of liberty and freedom, we salute you.
Take a moment on this Memorial Day to recognize those who sacrificed themselves to protect our way of life.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
I Feel so Deliciously White Trash...
Well with less than two months to go before I am no longer a resident of the South, I did something particularly Southern today.
I went to a NASCAR race.
Now, I have always been critical of and just outright baffled by just how anyone could be a fan of NASCAR. People kept telling me that I didn't understand because I had never been to a race, and that if I went to one I would realize just how much fun they were.
Meh... not so much.
I am still thankful to Eric's buddy Chris for the free box tickets, so I won't say that I am sorry or ungrateful for having gone to the race. I mean, how can you say no to free food and drinks during the race?
I will say that I can understand why being at the race is exciting. For what it's worth, last year's American Idol Carrie Underwood did a concert before the race, and later sang the National Anthem. While I'm not a big fan of country music, I am a big fan of the fact that she's a very cute blonde... These races are obviously a big enough deal to get celebrities like that to come out, so it was kind of impressive.
As far as the race itself... man is watching 400 laps of left turns boring. I was told that if you pick out a particular car and driver to follow you enjoy it more because you're more invested in something, so I picked out Reed Sorenson who drives the #41 Target car. Why? Because I like shopping at Target.
Sorenson ended up finishing tenth out of 43 cars. Do I understand or appreciate NASCAR any more as a result of watching this? No.
I'll have no problem leaving North Carolina to the NASCAR fans.
I went to a NASCAR race.
Now, I have always been critical of and just outright baffled by just how anyone could be a fan of NASCAR. People kept telling me that I didn't understand because I had never been to a race, and that if I went to one I would realize just how much fun they were.
Meh... not so much.
I am still thankful to Eric's buddy Chris for the free box tickets, so I won't say that I am sorry or ungrateful for having gone to the race. I mean, how can you say no to free food and drinks during the race?
I will say that I can understand why being at the race is exciting. For what it's worth, last year's American Idol Carrie Underwood did a concert before the race, and later sang the National Anthem. While I'm not a big fan of country music, I am a big fan of the fact that she's a very cute blonde... These races are obviously a big enough deal to get celebrities like that to come out, so it was kind of impressive.
As far as the race itself... man is watching 400 laps of left turns boring. I was told that if you pick out a particular car and driver to follow you enjoy it more because you're more invested in something, so I picked out Reed Sorenson who drives the #41 Target car. Why? Because I like shopping at Target.
Sorenson ended up finishing tenth out of 43 cars. Do I understand or appreciate NASCAR any more as a result of watching this? No.
I'll have no problem leaving North Carolina to the NASCAR fans.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
X-Men: The Last Straw
Hey Brian Singer... Superman Returns better be the best comic book movie ever made, because things went to hell when you left the X-Men movie franchise. Brett Ratner needs to stick to crappy action movies that nobody cares about.
Was X3 really that bad? Yes and no... I mean, in comparison to The Hulk, The Punisher, Daredevil, and Batman and Robin it was still miles ahead in terms of making a comic book movie. But after how well executed X2 was, it was going to take a tremendous effort not to disappoint.
I think the biggest problem that started the downward slide is that fact that the movie was too short. Whereas X2 clocked in at over 2 hours, X3 doesn't even make the 2 hour mark. And I think that extra 25 or 30 minutes could have helped things out a lot. The benefit of a sequel is that you don't have to spend as much time in exposition and introduction, but you still need enough explanation of things so that the plot moves forward instead of just taking giant leaps.
The high points were in Kelsey Grammer's portrayal of Beast, getting Colossus a little more screen time, and Hugh Jackman's always solid performance as Wolverine. But the travesties in the way Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Professor X were treated basically negate these high points. I won't give anything away, but these characters just got screwed in this movie.
And again, I think it all comes down to the fact that Ratner was so eager to get to the action sequences that he forgot about narrative. What made the first two X-Men movies so good was the hard work that went in to making the audience believe the characters were real people that just happened to have extraordinary gifts. This time around the characters were just part of the scenery necessary to get the special effects of their powers on screen.
You should still go see it, but just don't expect it to be as good as X2.
Was X3 really that bad? Yes and no... I mean, in comparison to The Hulk, The Punisher, Daredevil, and Batman and Robin it was still miles ahead in terms of making a comic book movie. But after how well executed X2 was, it was going to take a tremendous effort not to disappoint.
I think the biggest problem that started the downward slide is that fact that the movie was too short. Whereas X2 clocked in at over 2 hours, X3 doesn't even make the 2 hour mark. And I think that extra 25 or 30 minutes could have helped things out a lot. The benefit of a sequel is that you don't have to spend as much time in exposition and introduction, but you still need enough explanation of things so that the plot moves forward instead of just taking giant leaps.
The high points were in Kelsey Grammer's portrayal of Beast, getting Colossus a little more screen time, and Hugh Jackman's always solid performance as Wolverine. But the travesties in the way Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Professor X were treated basically negate these high points. I won't give anything away, but these characters just got screwed in this movie.
And again, I think it all comes down to the fact that Ratner was so eager to get to the action sequences that he forgot about narrative. What made the first two X-Men movies so good was the hard work that went in to making the audience believe the characters were real people that just happened to have extraordinary gifts. This time around the characters were just part of the scenery necessary to get the special effects of their powers on screen.
You should still go see it, but just don't expect it to be as good as X2.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Don't Feed the Bears
Sometimes while reading something else on a news pages, a gem like this catches your eye in the little sidebar of other stories.
Nature!
I'm sure it was an awful, sickening thing to watch... but at the same time it also sounds funny as hell.
Just the idea of a bear chasing a monkey...
Nature!
I'm sure it was an awful, sickening thing to watch... but at the same time it also sounds funny as hell.
Just the idea of a bear chasing a monkey...
Friday, May 12, 2006
What a load of horse shit...
And this, my friends, is why the United States is continually lagging behind the rest of the world in education.
Bad Idea Hyperlink!
It's not because of a lack of qualified teachers. It's not because American children are getting dumber. It's not because the rest of the world is getting that much smarter. It's all because of fucking Ivory Tower educational research ideas like this.
I'm sorry, but children need to learn rules and respect before they are allowed to explore their feelings and self-directed interests. If little Johnny is fidgety than he needs to learn some fucking self-control, not be allowed to jump up and down on a bouncy ball whenever he feels like it.
Bad Idea Hyperlink!
It's not because of a lack of qualified teachers. It's not because American children are getting dumber. It's not because the rest of the world is getting that much smarter. It's all because of fucking Ivory Tower educational research ideas like this.
I'm sorry, but children need to learn rules and respect before they are allowed to explore their feelings and self-directed interests. If little Johnny is fidgety than he needs to learn some fucking self-control, not be allowed to jump up and down on a bouncy ball whenever he feels like it.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
What made NC suck so much?
So, after talking to everyone this week I have recieved a number of questions and comments regarding my ghost-like status. I can't argue against it - this is the first time I have e-mailed, blogged, or been on instant messanger in months.
Aside from the Captain and my parents, I haven't really talked to anyone since I was home for Christmas. I called my brother and talked to him after GVSU called, and I think that's the first time I had talked with my own brother since the holidays.
The only thing that's kept me going through this school year has been the other 1st year teachers I work with. Just yesterday we were talking about the way things are at school, and what it really came down to is that we are all just so constantly angry because of our students that it's poisoning our souls. We have zero support from the administration, mentors that are only working on paper to get the extra pay, and a school full students that are doing everything they can to make our jobs that much harder.
What made NC suck so much? The students. All of my school of education classes, student teaching, and other ideas of what teaching would be were totally shattered by these kids. Their only aspirations are to turn 16 so they can drop out. Students are regularly absent 2 or 3 days a week, and when they are there they either sleep through class or cause disruptions like its a zoo. They never stop talking, which includes talking back to the teachers. All they want to do is talk with their friends or get up in the middle of class and start singing and dancing to the latest hip hop song full of graphic sexual implications.
These students don't deserve to be in high school. Out of the 230 odd students in the freshmen class we teach, at least 80 should not have left the 8th grade because they did not pass their classes. But the middle school was so desperate to get rid of them that they shipped them up to us anyway. And because they've been promoted to every higher grade up to this point, they still believe they will be sophomores next year even though they've failed all their classes. And of course failing those classes has nothing to do with never turning in homework, not studying, or talking through every lesson. It's all because our classes are boring and we're bad teachers.
Add on top of all that the fact that all of my friends and family are 800 miles away, the weather is always warm, and the lack of anything resembling culture down here, and I think that about tells the tale. Like I said, there's a group of us young teachers that have bonded together to help each other through. But if you look at that group, it's further proof that none of us belong here. I'm from Michigan, one guy's from Ohio, another from Massachusetts, 2 from Pennsylvania, another guy from Michigan... we're all displaced northerners who only ended up in North Carolina because nobody else wants to deal with these kids.
I just want to feel like myself again. This job has just drained me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and the only thing that it has given me to refill what it's taken is frustration, anger, and disappointment.
Whew... that was a hell of a rant.
I can barely articulate how much I am looking forward to going back to college, and moving back to Michigan. I never wanted to leave in the first place, but I had no other options. I think this graduate program is exactly what I am looking for, and it couldn't have come together more perfectly. I don't yet know when I'll be moving back to Michigan - that will depend on which residence hall I'm placed in at GVSU. I know it will be sometime before July 31, since that's the first day of our training.
Aside from the Captain and my parents, I haven't really talked to anyone since I was home for Christmas. I called my brother and talked to him after GVSU called, and I think that's the first time I had talked with my own brother since the holidays.
The only thing that's kept me going through this school year has been the other 1st year teachers I work with. Just yesterday we were talking about the way things are at school, and what it really came down to is that we are all just so constantly angry because of our students that it's poisoning our souls. We have zero support from the administration, mentors that are only working on paper to get the extra pay, and a school full students that are doing everything they can to make our jobs that much harder.
What made NC suck so much? The students. All of my school of education classes, student teaching, and other ideas of what teaching would be were totally shattered by these kids. Their only aspirations are to turn 16 so they can drop out. Students are regularly absent 2 or 3 days a week, and when they are there they either sleep through class or cause disruptions like its a zoo. They never stop talking, which includes talking back to the teachers. All they want to do is talk with their friends or get up in the middle of class and start singing and dancing to the latest hip hop song full of graphic sexual implications.
These students don't deserve to be in high school. Out of the 230 odd students in the freshmen class we teach, at least 80 should not have left the 8th grade because they did not pass their classes. But the middle school was so desperate to get rid of them that they shipped them up to us anyway. And because they've been promoted to every higher grade up to this point, they still believe they will be sophomores next year even though they've failed all their classes. And of course failing those classes has nothing to do with never turning in homework, not studying, or talking through every lesson. It's all because our classes are boring and we're bad teachers.
Add on top of all that the fact that all of my friends and family are 800 miles away, the weather is always warm, and the lack of anything resembling culture down here, and I think that about tells the tale. Like I said, there's a group of us young teachers that have bonded together to help each other through. But if you look at that group, it's further proof that none of us belong here. I'm from Michigan, one guy's from Ohio, another from Massachusetts, 2 from Pennsylvania, another guy from Michigan... we're all displaced northerners who only ended up in North Carolina because nobody else wants to deal with these kids.
I just want to feel like myself again. This job has just drained me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and the only thing that it has given me to refill what it's taken is frustration, anger, and disappointment.
Whew... that was a hell of a rant.
I can barely articulate how much I am looking forward to going back to college, and moving back to Michigan. I never wanted to leave in the first place, but I had no other options. I think this graduate program is exactly what I am looking for, and it couldn't have come together more perfectly. I don't yet know when I'll be moving back to Michigan - that will depend on which residence hall I'm placed in at GVSU. I know it will be sometime before July 31, since that's the first day of our training.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
I'll be coming home next year
No, your eyes don't deceive you... it actually is me blogging.
I don't think it's any surprise that I have hated my time here in North Carolina. My job and my general state of being during the past year have left me in a state of depression and apathy, and as a result I just never had the motivation to keep up with things like human contact.
But, all that will soon change...
This summer I too will take my place among that free-loading lot known as graduate students.
I have just been awarded a graduate assistantship for a master's program at Grand Valley in College Student Affairs and Leadership. "What the hell is that?" you ask. Basically, it's a program designed to prepare one for such positions as academic advisors, residence hall directors, and so on at a college or university.
Basically, it is the sweetest package ever. GVSU is going to pay my tuition, even given my current North Carolina residency. Since I'll be working in a residence hall, GVSU is also paying for my housing (a 1 bedroom apartment in the residence hall), a meal plan, and a stipend.
So, at some point this July, I will once again be a Michigan resident in either Allendale or Grand Rapids.
I don't think it's any surprise that I have hated my time here in North Carolina. My job and my general state of being during the past year have left me in a state of depression and apathy, and as a result I just never had the motivation to keep up with things like human contact.
But, all that will soon change...
This summer I too will take my place among that free-loading lot known as graduate students.
I have just been awarded a graduate assistantship for a master's program at Grand Valley in College Student Affairs and Leadership. "What the hell is that?" you ask. Basically, it's a program designed to prepare one for such positions as academic advisors, residence hall directors, and so on at a college or university.
Basically, it is the sweetest package ever. GVSU is going to pay my tuition, even given my current North Carolina residency. Since I'll be working in a residence hall, GVSU is also paying for my housing (a 1 bedroom apartment in the residence hall), a meal plan, and a stipend.
So, at some point this July, I will once again be a Michigan resident in either Allendale or Grand Rapids.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Shout Out to the Captain
I was just trying to get my sea legs back in the last post, that's why I didn't go into specifics about the events and misadventures of Christmas break.
More to come later...
More to come later...
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The Blog Shall Not Perish From the Earth
Alright, time to get back on the wagon.
I waste so much of my precious free time just sitting around or checking and rechecking the same webpages for updates and news, and I've got no excuse for not keeping the blog up to date. This neglected space is sometimes the only way people know that I'm still alive and kicking, and I've let it flatline again and again.
CLEAR!
Christmas break wasn't long enough. The time spent back in Holland was a bittersweet reunion, with just enough time spent with people to have a good time but not enough to get rid of the feeling of missing everyone. The fact that I had to get in the car and drive 15 hours back to North Carolina put a bit of a damper on New Year's because I didn't have the luxury of a day to recover and thus had to restrain my celebration.
The other casualty of the break's brevity was that as soon as I got back to work all of the baggage and stress came right back at me. Our schedule was such that we left for Christmas and then came back for one week of classes before final exams. Last year the school finished exams before Christmas, but that's because they started the semester in the middle of August instead of the end. Which is best? Dunno.
But, any complaints notwithstanding, it was good to be home and good to see everyone that I got a chance to.
Come back again soon.
I waste so much of my precious free time just sitting around or checking and rechecking the same webpages for updates and news, and I've got no excuse for not keeping the blog up to date. This neglected space is sometimes the only way people know that I'm still alive and kicking, and I've let it flatline again and again.
CLEAR!
Christmas break wasn't long enough. The time spent back in Holland was a bittersweet reunion, with just enough time spent with people to have a good time but not enough to get rid of the feeling of missing everyone. The fact that I had to get in the car and drive 15 hours back to North Carolina put a bit of a damper on New Year's because I didn't have the luxury of a day to recover and thus had to restrain my celebration.
The other casualty of the break's brevity was that as soon as I got back to work all of the baggage and stress came right back at me. Our schedule was such that we left for Christmas and then came back for one week of classes before final exams. Last year the school finished exams before Christmas, but that's because they started the semester in the middle of August instead of the end. Which is best? Dunno.
But, any complaints notwithstanding, it was good to be home and good to see everyone that I got a chance to.
Come back again soon.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
I'll be Home for Christmas
So once again, it's been a month and a half since my last post.
Suffice to say it's been a long month and a half.
There are scores of articles and essays and studies that people have cited for me that describe the life of a first year teacher as nothing but survival mode. So how an I doing? I'm surviving, and I can't claim much more than that. I'm ready for Christmas break.
Friday begins the crazy roadtrip adventure with The Captain. Somewhere there is a bank ledger that has a tally of everything I owe him, and I just hope the mafia's not involved when it comes time to repay him. It's going to be 15 hours of Red Bull, nicotine, caffeine, fast food, and enough mix CDs to keep us going.
Suffice to say it's been a long month and a half.
There are scores of articles and essays and studies that people have cited for me that describe the life of a first year teacher as nothing but survival mode. So how an I doing? I'm surviving, and I can't claim much more than that. I'm ready for Christmas break.
Friday begins the crazy roadtrip adventure with The Captain. Somewhere there is a bank ledger that has a tally of everything I owe him, and I just hope the mafia's not involved when it comes time to repay him. It's going to be 15 hours of Red Bull, nicotine, caffeine, fast food, and enough mix CDs to keep us going.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
It's All Your Fault Mom and Dad... :-)
I'm sitting here on Sunday morning with an undeniable need to make coffee and then go buy a newspaper and donuts. It just seems like the natural order of things, and I must obey.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Monday, October 31, 2005
Happy Halloween
Not a long post, but hopefully just enough to get things going again.
I haven't taken the time lately to remind myself of all those out there who still care, so this is my shout out to you. I've spent the last few months out of place, over my head, and in need of some grounding in the familiar. Blogging has just been one casualty of the feeling that I have no time for anything right now.
So how have you been?
In a nutshell I am in a constant state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. I have been pushing myself harder and further than I can ever remember, and I feel like I'm just breaking even. Is it better than subbing and working at the Gap? You're damn right. I just wish I would have prepared myself a little more for just how much I was getting myself into.
Everyone told me your first year would be like this, and I didn't believe them. I filled myself with a false sense of comfort and security based on my experiences and expectations in student teaching and long term subbing. But no practice in the world can really equal game time.
I miss you guys. The ones who still read this in spite of my negligence, and the many who stopped reading long ago. I can't blame you. I got lazy, but it doesn't mean I haven't thought about it.
I haven't taken the time lately to remind myself of all those out there who still care, so this is my shout out to you. I've spent the last few months out of place, over my head, and in need of some grounding in the familiar. Blogging has just been one casualty of the feeling that I have no time for anything right now.
So how have you been?
In a nutshell I am in a constant state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. I have been pushing myself harder and further than I can ever remember, and I feel like I'm just breaking even. Is it better than subbing and working at the Gap? You're damn right. I just wish I would have prepared myself a little more for just how much I was getting myself into.
Everyone told me your first year would be like this, and I didn't believe them. I filled myself with a false sense of comfort and security based on my experiences and expectations in student teaching and long term subbing. But no practice in the world can really equal game time.
I miss you guys. The ones who still read this in spite of my negligence, and the many who stopped reading long ago. I can't blame you. I got lazy, but it doesn't mean I haven't thought about it.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Finally an Update
I've had a few people who still actually read my blog tell me they've been looking for updates. Well, I've been planning to get back on the old blog, but this is the first time I've set aside the time to do it.
I'm sitting here in my living room, typing in between breaks while watching the Michigan - Notre Dame game. Last week's game wasn't televised here, but I guess this game is big enough to be the nationally covered one on ABC. A little piece of home...
I've been down here over a month now haven't I?
Really, I haven't had time to be lonely. I'll call home or call friends when I have some time, and I forget that they're 800 miles away. Aside from how hot it still is and the few really strong southern accents I run into every now and then, I forget sometimes that I live in North Carolina. I look around and realize it's different from Holland or Ann Arbor, but I have to take a minute to remind myself that it's halfway across the country.
A month down in North Carolina, two and a half weeks of school finished, and I haven't yet had that feeling like I've made some sort of horrible mistake. Then again, I didn't really have any other options, did I?
For the most part, I like it down here. The new Target and Best Buy are open, so lack of Meijer notwithstanding I've got all the comforts of home within reach. The people I work with at school are great - the administration and other teachers are the same sort of friendly and helpful people that made my student teaching at Saline so great. The students in my classes.... Well, it's getting better.
No matter where I would have ended up, everyone told me that this first year would be the hardest work I've ever done. Having never taught World History, I'm coming up with everything from scratch. Sure I've got a book and some resources, but that just gives me and idea of what I should teach. I have the basic calendar for the semester figured out - the entire history of Human civilization from Mesopotamia to the War on Terror in 18 weeks. But as far as how to teach it - that's the part that takes so many hours to figure out. Getting 14 year olds to pay attention to the history of something that happened 3000 years ago for 90 minutes at a time is almost impossible and I need to make it look easy.
My 4th hour has been the only one to really test me so far (knock on wood). It's all freshmen, right after lunch, and right before they go home. They're just squirrelly as all hell, and I have to constantly ride them about being on task in order to get through the hour. It's slowly and very incrementally getting better, so I just have to keep at it. I suppose it's reassuring that I hear across the school how everyone's 4th hour is like this, but it's still frustrating.
I've also uploaded here a few pictures of my apartment. After I got some money I was finally able to pick up a few things to make it more of a home - lamps, sheets, kitchen table, plants, etc. I still need a few things like DVD and CD storage, but those will have to wait until the next paycheck.
I'm sitting here in my living room, typing in between breaks while watching the Michigan - Notre Dame game. Last week's game wasn't televised here, but I guess this game is big enough to be the nationally covered one on ABC. A little piece of home...
I've been down here over a month now haven't I?
Really, I haven't had time to be lonely. I'll call home or call friends when I have some time, and I forget that they're 800 miles away. Aside from how hot it still is and the few really strong southern accents I run into every now and then, I forget sometimes that I live in North Carolina. I look around and realize it's different from Holland or Ann Arbor, but I have to take a minute to remind myself that it's halfway across the country.
A month down in North Carolina, two and a half weeks of school finished, and I haven't yet had that feeling like I've made some sort of horrible mistake. Then again, I didn't really have any other options, did I?
For the most part, I like it down here. The new Target and Best Buy are open, so lack of Meijer notwithstanding I've got all the comforts of home within reach. The people I work with at school are great - the administration and other teachers are the same sort of friendly and helpful people that made my student teaching at Saline so great. The students in my classes.... Well, it's getting better.
No matter where I would have ended up, everyone told me that this first year would be the hardest work I've ever done. Having never taught World History, I'm coming up with everything from scratch. Sure I've got a book and some resources, but that just gives me and idea of what I should teach. I have the basic calendar for the semester figured out - the entire history of Human civilization from Mesopotamia to the War on Terror in 18 weeks. But as far as how to teach it - that's the part that takes so many hours to figure out. Getting 14 year olds to pay attention to the history of something that happened 3000 years ago for 90 minutes at a time is almost impossible and I need to make it look easy.
My 4th hour has been the only one to really test me so far (knock on wood). It's all freshmen, right after lunch, and right before they go home. They're just squirrelly as all hell, and I have to constantly ride them about being on task in order to get through the hour. It's slowly and very incrementally getting better, so I just have to keep at it. I suppose it's reassuring that I hear across the school how everyone's 4th hour is like this, but it's still frustrating.
I've also uploaded here a few pictures of my apartment. After I got some money I was finally able to pick up a few things to make it more of a home - lamps, sheets, kitchen table, plants, etc. I still need a few things like DVD and CD storage, but those will have to wait until the next paycheck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)