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Saturday, January 3rd 2009 7:23 pm |
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| » Three Blogs |
| Mood: accomplished |
Posted at the request of holophonor 
From October 5: Don't count your chickens
After completing my final college math class in the fall of 2007, I gleefully told everyone I knew that I was done with math class forever.
I guess I should have knocked on wood.
I have been placed in an eighth grade math class at Alton Middle School for 70 hours of observation this semester. And not just any math class, mind you, but a gifted math class.
Math was by far my worst subject in school and I really struggled with it. Most other things come at least a little easy to me, but math was always impossible. Generally I get Cs in math. I somehow pulled off an A in my final one in college, but that was because I studied for the final for around 10 hours.
My first day in this class was last Wednesday. I couldn't even tell you now what they were studying, I was that lost. I was able to help some of the kids with their homework, but there was one kid I had to tell that I had no idea how to answer his question. I told the teacher during lunch time that I'm not sure how much help I'll be, but I'll do my best. She was very nice about it all, telling me that her college routinely put her in English classrooms when she was in the teacher program, so she understood how I felt. For some reason God has put me in this classroom, so I'll make the most of it and soldier on. I'll keep everyone informed on how it goes. I will be there every Monday and Wednesday morning until the 70 hours are done.
My classes are all going okay so far. I especially enjoy Cultural Diversity. The name made me think it would just be an hour and a half of white guilt twice a week, but it's not at all. It's actually an extention of the sociology class I took with this same professor last fall, just with education.
I have decided to live on campus at Greenville next semester. I am currently waiting for Greenville to tally how much all of this will cost me. I guess I'll start getting loans once I know. Luckily, I still have a little bit of inheritance left from my grandmother, but that won't even cover an entire semester.
From October 31: Better than expected and Greenville update
After completing 40 of my 70 hours of observation, I find that I actually like the Alton math class better than the Roxana history class. The material isn't so enjoyable, but the teacher (Mrs. Lask) is the best. She is always offering me tips for teaching and doing all she can to utilize me as much as possible. While in Roxana I was pretty much a paper grader and sat and listened to the lessons, in Alton I assist with the lessons. Everyone in the class knows my name (Mr. Sims) and they ask me for help with their homework. Sometimes there are questions I can't answer, but I help them as much as I possibly can. Sitting through the teacher team meetings on Wednesday mornings also gives me a good idea of the behind the scene struggles and debates that exist in school districts. Especially concerning behavior problems.
Things are mostly the same at Lewis and Clark (or as my friend AJ would call it, Lewie and Chewie) as they always are. My most difficult class by far is special education. I have talked to several former L & C students who are now at Greenville and they all say that this class is insanely hard and the best you can hope for is a C or maybe squeak by with a low B. I'm doing my best to stay afloat. For the first time since the beginning of the semester, I do have a shot at getting a B. I will pour everything into getting it.
This past Monday was Fall Preview Day at Greenville. I stayed overnight on Sunday with AJ and his roommate Paul and they showed me the campus unofficially. I got to see the real Greenville and not the glossy Greenville that they would show on an official tour. The next day I finally sat down one on one with the Head of the History Department, Richard Huston, and we went over my Lewis and Clark transcript and he answered any questions that I could think of. He was very helpful and really made me feel welcome. Yesterday he emailed me a tentative schedule for my remaining semesters that will have me graduating in the Spring of 2011. I'm very excited about the prospect of moving on. It will be good to get out of Madison County. You all have no idea.
I don't want to spoil the suspense you all are feeling about my remaining classes  , so I'll just give my probable next semester schedule. My semester at Lewis and Clark ends December 18. I will be taking Educational Practice during the interterm at Greenville (January 5-23). The actual Spring Semester starts January 28.
Spring 2009
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Historical Method 8:30-9:20
Behavior Management 10:30-11:20
Eastern Civilization 1:30-2:20
World Regional Geography 2:30-3:20
Tuesday, Thursday
Anthropology 11:00-12:20
Nicole will be coming in the Spring to finish her degree in early childhood education. Looks like my friend Brad is coming this fall to work on a BA in Broadcasting. Along with AJ, Jessica, and Kyle, it seems everybody I know is coming to this school. Everybody must be following me.
I will keep everybody updated with future major updates.
Happy Halloween! And a shout out to my friend Mason who graduates from Navy bootcamp today. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Mason.
-Randy
From December 18: Sayonara Godfrey, Hello Greenville
Final Grades:
Cultural Awareness in the Classroom: A
Microeconomics: A
Special Ed: B
Psychology: A
Last semester's cumulative GPA: 3.587
Cumulative Lewis and Clark GPA: 3.613
My last day of class was December 16th. Economics was a pretty useful class, especially in our current wonderful economy. Cultural Awareness was enjoyable because of the class discussions. I love discussions. I'm glad Special Ed is over with (thankfully I was able to work hard and get that B). Psychology was just alright.
I will kind of miss Lewis and Clark. I had some good times there. Not all of the teachers were good, but most were. My favorite by far was Jim Tejkowski. I had him for five classes over four semesters and got to know him pretty well. He told me after I took my last class with him this Spring that he had me more than any other student ever. He wrote me a very nice letter of recommendation last week that said, in part, that I have 'an ability to complete complex research projects at a level above that of many of his peers' and that I am a 'joy to teach and clearly possesses a drive to learn that is sometimes absent in his peers.' Makes me feel good , especially after being told I'm the most disrespectful employee ever by another person who shall not be named.
I finished my 70 hours of observations in Alton on November 17th. The fears I had going in turned out to be unfounded. I would rate my experience in this classroom a 10 out of 10. I would give a higher rating if it were possible. The material wasn't as hard for me as I feared, but, more importantly, the teacher made the difference. The teacher really went out of her way to be helpful. She was always providing teaching tips and answering my questions. She utilized me as more than just a grader, having me assist with her lessons and giving me the opportunity to get to know the children by running small groups and talking with them during homeroom period. I really was able to take an active role. I also attended team meetings when I was there on Wednesday mornings, an IEP meeting, and a presentation on AMS Web. I really learned a lot by being so involved. I sincerely think I got more out of this observation experience than I got out of the Roxana history classroom I observed in last semester. That was an overall positive experience too, but I was able to take a much more active role this time around and I'm really thankful for how things turned out.
On my last day of observation, Mrs. Lask had a poster board on the inside of her classroom door that said 'Goodbye and Good luck, Mr. Sims' for the kids to sign. This poster board is now up on my bedroom wall. She also gave me a gift bag of school supplies, which included a stapler, a pair of scissors, highlighers, ink pens, and post-it notes. There was also a card thanking me for my dedication and hard work and telling me that she knew I would be a great teacher. This really touched me. It really couldn't have gone better, it seems for both of us.
---
I'm now in debt. Yay! I've been told that a bill is on its way from Greenville for what the loans didn't cover. Every penny I saved from the Village of Glen Carbon and my grandmother gone in one check. Double Yay!
My room assignment for this Spring is also in. I will be in Kinney 110. My room mate's name is Zach Stokes and he'll arrive after interterm. I'm solo until then. Jessica and AJ were mean and didn't come for interterm so looks like Paul Shriver, AJ's room mate, gets to show me the ropes. AJ's talking about rooming this fall with me so I guess I'll just be with Zach for this one semester. I'll call him after Christmas to say hi.
I'm excited about going to Greenville, but I'm starting to get a little apprehensive. Never lived anywhere but with my parents. It'll be a whole different world. I'm thankful I already know people there to make the transition easier. Also, Nicole will be coming with me. It helps to have someone else in the same boat.
---
Just in time for Christmas, my dog Pugsleigh died suddenly last night. My mom has raised her since she was six weeks old and she's 11 now. She was more of a member of the family than a dog. I hope that dogs go to heaven.
Merry Christmas to everyone. My next blog will be from Greenville. Please pray for me, that I adjust well and do well academically and socially. Pray for my family too with the coping of the loss of Pugsleigh. And our crazy world can always use prayers.
Also, I turn 21 on Feburary 1st.
-Randy
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| Reactions (3) |
 cindy
Posts: 19897
Contrib Points: 5423
Since: 12/Jan/06
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| Posted By On Saturday, January 3rd 2009 7:42 pm |
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Good luck, Randy!
Sounds like you had a really positive teaching observation, and I'm glad you worked under such a helpful mentor teacher. I had a someone in your position (they call it a "practicum" here) last spring and she did a great job with my students, and it's always nice for us teachers to bounce ideas off students in the education programs. Your enthusiasm helps remind us why we became teachers in the first place, so I'm guessing she enjoyed having you in her classroom as much as you enjoyed being there.
I'm sorry about your dog. Hugs to you. And it wouldn't BE heaven without dogs, Randy. |
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KingJohn23
Posts: 3321
Contrib Points: 5747.5
Since: 08/Dec/05
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| Posted By On Saturday, January 3rd 2009 8:01 pm |
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I was very lucky to work under Mrs. Lask. Learned so much.
You're right, it would be a sad heaven without dogs. |
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holophonor
Posts: 10375
Contrib Points: 3977.3
Since: 30/Nov/05
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| Posted By On Saturday, January 3rd 2009 8:19 pm |
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Yay, I'm glad you posted these! *never reads them*
If I could go back in time, I think I would study to be a high school teacher, though I'm not sure which subject I'd wanna teach. Anything but history, LOL. I'm glad everything seems to be going well for you school-wise.
I'm so sorry to hear about Pugsleigh. I know what it's like to lose the pet you grew up with. |
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