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O my goodness! I don't know what has happened! I didn't realize how long ago it was since I last posted something for Lent Challenge, well actually, posted anything at all! This calls for a MAJOR OOPS on my part. Sunday I will be able to post pictures up of what's been going on in my life. Unfortunately I haven't taken as many pictures as i would like. I go through these phases where I take alot of photos and then I don't take much at all. I could make this a super long post about what has happened in the last few weeks but I will try to focus on the main points:
1. My dad and older brother came to visit last weekend. It was great to be able to hang out with family!
2. This past week I had FOUR projects due. Got them all done and turned in on time!
3. The week before, I gave a speech in Public Speaking on BRAIN FREEZES. I will post my speech at a later time. My teacher said she never heard a speech on brain freezes and seemed to really enjoy it. Yayyy for hopefully an "A"!
4. This past week was my last full week of classes...EVER. (Until I go back for graduate school).
5. I FINALLY finished Girls Gone Wise. I will write a post about it later on (just realized I already sent the book home), but it is an AMAZING book.
6. Right now, I am reading The Case for Faith (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel and Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Both of them I have started before but never actually finished them entirely. I am hoping to get through them before my trip.
7. I have recently been a little "down in the dumps". I don't know what this negative attitude and thoughts are due to, but it needs to change ASAP. I am praying that God softens my heart to whatever it is that is causing this.
8. I go to Argentina in about THREE weeks. I don't feel completely prepared for it, but I don't think I will completely feel ready until I get there. So thankful for this opportunity!
I hope you are doing well. I hope you have had a chance to rest and enjoy God's love this week. Take time these next few days to really look at what God has done for you. For me. For everyone. What God has done through Jesus Christ.
Until next time,
K
So I was going through papers from previous semesters to help me write my candidate work sample. Basically, a candidate work sample this HUGE assignment where I given a student with a learning "challenge" and I talk about how I would accomodate them in my classroom and in the lesson/activities. Anyways, I came across one of my papers from Spring 2009 about my decision to pursue a degree in Middle School Education. Everything still rings true up until this point, where I am about to finish classes and will be student teaching in the fall. It is not too terribly long!
Here it is: (keep in mind that I wrote it a year ago!)
As I make the transition from the first semester of education to the second semester of education, I realize I have to make a significant decision. This decision is what field I will get my degree in. Throughout the course of the semester, I have been leaning towards middle school education. When I was finally able to observe a middle school classroom, I knew that this environment was where I am supposed to be once I graduate from college. According to Brighton (2007), “every life stage has its challenges, but most adults would agree that early adolescence is perhaps the most difficult one to successfully navigate” (p. xi). As I continue towards becoming a middle school education teacher, I need to keep in mind my strengths and needs as a potential teacher, understand the demands of this particular teaching level, and be able to delineate my goals.
What are my strengths and needs as a potential teacher? My strengths are desire for learning and teaching as well as believing that all students can succeed. An area that I need to work on is not being too hard on myself when a student falls behind or doesn't understand the information. “Teachers may face particular challenges because of the pressures on them to narrow achievement gaps and improve the academic performance of all children” (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009, p.258). I hope that I am able to balance the demands of meeting the students’ needs as well as creating an enjoyable, learning atmosphere.
What are the demands of my selected teaching level? Middle School is a time of socialization and independence. It is also a time where they care less about pleasing their teachers and parents and care more about finding acceptance within their peers. “In comparing my strengths with the demands of middle school, my ability to stay organized and staying on top of things will be beneficial for me in this role. Children prosper with warm and sensitive teaching… [and] a blend of child-guided and teacher-guided activities” (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009, p.257). I will also be assertive and semi-demanding, while allowing my students to explore mathematics to their own liking. My desire for all students will be helpful because I will continue to make sure each student has a successful school year. I would also like to continue furthering my education and knowledge by taking additional courses while I am teaching. I want to influence the students' desire to learn about mathematics and science in a positive way and keep up-to-date with information as much as possible.
So, why do I choose middle school education? These students need me. Throughout all the observations in each level, I felt like I fit in the best in the middle school atmosphere. This age group is one group that changes greatly throughout the course of three or four years. They change socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. “Through [all the] experiences, teenagers develop the cognitive, social-emotional, and moral strength they will need for the years ahead” (Wood, 2007, p.159). It is important for these students to have a teacher who makes the most out of the students’ time in the classroom. “Young adolescents need and deserve parents and teachers who fully understand them and can help them successfully negotiate the challenges that accompany this transition stage” (Brighton, 2007, p. xi). Adolescence is a very challenging age, but must occur for development. I look forward to challenges and I know these will be challenges that will pay off in the end in the developments that the students will make in the course of a school year and in the ways I am able to make their school experience even better.
Until next time,
K
Dear Ms. Cindy,
How are you? How are things in Heaven? Is it as beautiful as they say it is?
Can you believe that I will be student teaching in the Fall?? I love it. I am so excited for it. Okay, so I might be a little nervous and scared about it. I know it is going to be extremely challenging and probably overwhelming at times. It's during times like these, that I realize how much I miss you. I think I miss you even more when I am faced with teaching and education things. I know you would be so helpful during these times. I reminded of how nice it would be to be able to call you up when I am stressed or needing a little guidance or wanting to talk to someone about something one of my students said because it was completely ridiculous.
I got a "teacher" bag for Christmas and the first thing my dad said to me was that the bag looked like something you would have and that I reminded him of you. What a compliment. That really meant something to me. I wish you were still around. You were such an encouragement to my life. You are my second mother. You always will be. I have one of the letters you wrote to me posted on my wall. This letter came along with the blanket you gave to me for high school graduation. In the letter you said that whenever I used the blanket that I should be reminded of your love wrapped around me. I never thought I would be able to still be able to experience your love, but recently, you proved me otherwise. Words can not experience how thankful I am for your love still being there.
It's been two years since you and Mackie joined God's choir of angels. Two years. The pain and impact of you leaving this world will always be with me. I am thankful that I got to experience your kindness and love for such a large portion of my life. Even though you aren't here now, you are still impacting my life. Thank you for your gifts. Thank you for being my angel and taking care of me.
I miss you. I love you. Continue filling up Heaven with your beautiful voice. I will see you again some day.
Love forever,
K
Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend so far. The Cooper River Bridge Run was this weekend. I wish I could have participated, but it was awesome to have such a great view from my room to watch the participants coming by. There were SOO many people downtown on Saturday, but it was a great experience. Hopefully I can participate in it next year!
This week's edition of Sunday Songs will be on my de-stresser music.
With the end-of-year craziness beginning to pile up with papers, project, exams, speeches, and everything in between, I need music to help relax and get refocused.
The following are a few songs that I enjoy listening to when I am feeling a little stressed:
1. David Crowder Band: Come and Listen
2. Shane & Shane: Yearn
3. Sara Barielles - Kaleidoscope Heart
4. Lifehouse - Broken
5. Tenth Avenue North - Times
Do you have any songs that help you de-stress??
Until next time,
K
