I love the idea of making new recipes and trying new dishes. Many times when I do try a new recipe the result is successful and I end up making said dish several weeks (or more) in a row.
I have a tendency of falling into a rut. I get a taste for something particular and keep eating/listening/reading...whichever until I want something new.
On the cooking front I have the above to keep me in the rut and also my wariness of trying a new dish and having it turn out unsuccessful and thus waste the ingredients. I blame my frugal nature for part of that and then I don't want to fail as well.
I have this new dish that I want to try and was going to cook today but then both Mom and I goofed and got the wrong kind of beans... the kind that required three hours at least cooking time. (I wanted to cook this for supper and it was already five o'clock. Nice huh?)
We'll see how the attempt turns out tomorrow!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
On lesson planning
One of the things that is drilled into a person going through any teacher training program is that the best of lesson plans will be altered due to unforseen circumstances such as fire drills or absences.
This week we had testing and the schedule was changed even from when the sixth grade team worked out a schedule. Because of this change things got pushed back. No big deal.
I am hoping that the week's worth of plans that I worked on today with my cooperating teacher and the other sixth grade social studies teacher will stand somewhat firm. :D
You never know though. When I got home today I checked my school e-mail and discovered an e-mail from the principal mandating schoolwide use of a particular program for the first twenty minutes of every class period. (I have to go back and check the e-mail now because I can't remember if that was every class or just a certain period. Not that that matters of course. :D) At first I had a "you've got to be kidding moment" but then I realized that we probably would have been doing some sort of catch up because the morning periods are behind regardless of the principal's mandate.
Nice huh?
This week we had testing and the schedule was changed even from when the sixth grade team worked out a schedule. Because of this change things got pushed back. No big deal.
I am hoping that the week's worth of plans that I worked on today with my cooperating teacher and the other sixth grade social studies teacher will stand somewhat firm. :D
You never know though. When I got home today I checked my school e-mail and discovered an e-mail from the principal mandating schoolwide use of a particular program for the first twenty minutes of every class period. (I have to go back and check the e-mail now because I can't remember if that was every class or just a certain period. Not that that matters of course. :D) At first I had a "you've got to be kidding moment" but then I realized that we probably would have been doing some sort of catch up because the morning periods are behind regardless of the principal's mandate.
Nice huh?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
On being a student and a teacher
Right now I am completing my Masters of Arts in teaching, specifically my student teaching. I started the program in the summer and am completing it in one year unlike some of the other people in the program who took a few classes last spring to lighten their load now.
While I am student teaching (aka unpaid teaching) I have assignments to complete for my other classes (Methods, Literature for Teachers and Middle School Reading). Separately either of things things are not difficult to do. Together they can be quite confusing.
Some of the assignments intertwine with the student teaching part while others do not. All of my assignments for my "outside" classes have due dates. In addition, there are deadlines like turning grades in that are applicable only for teaching.
For someone as forgetful as me this causes immense difficulty. Specific dates stick in my mind but unless I write it down I forget why the particular date is important. On the flip side having all of these due dates can make my hand bleed ink putting everything down on the page to make sure that I can remember it.
Sometimes though this intertwining doesn't happen so well. The past few days and weekends have been full of pushing forward to finish assignments that I could have been working on earlier but didn't realize that the due date or date for the execution of the assignment was as close as it is. (Take for instance a unit with a pre and post test that I have to complete for my Methods class. I intended to teach this unit when my University Supervisor came to observe. I realized when I left school yesterday that that week was coming up next week and I had done really nothing in preparation for that unit because I kind of forgot about it. lol)
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love teaching. I absolutely love learning. I don't love doing both at the same time. I want to be able to give my full attention to both and sometimes I don't have enough attention to go around.
After I start teaching I know that I will more than likely pursue yet another degree... such as teaching English as a Second Language... but I will take a maximum of one class while I am teaching or more during the summers.
That aside, I will plug along for the remaining 71 days of the semester and do the best that I can with God's help. Whatever happens I know that God is in control.
While I am student teaching (aka unpaid teaching) I have assignments to complete for my other classes (Methods, Literature for Teachers and Middle School Reading). Separately either of things things are not difficult to do. Together they can be quite confusing.
Some of the assignments intertwine with the student teaching part while others do not. All of my assignments for my "outside" classes have due dates. In addition, there are deadlines like turning grades in that are applicable only for teaching.
For someone as forgetful as me this causes immense difficulty. Specific dates stick in my mind but unless I write it down I forget why the particular date is important. On the flip side having all of these due dates can make my hand bleed ink putting everything down on the page to make sure that I can remember it.
Sometimes though this intertwining doesn't happen so well. The past few days and weekends have been full of pushing forward to finish assignments that I could have been working on earlier but didn't realize that the due date or date for the execution of the assignment was as close as it is. (Take for instance a unit with a pre and post test that I have to complete for my Methods class. I intended to teach this unit when my University Supervisor came to observe. I realized when I left school yesterday that that week was coming up next week and I had done really nothing in preparation for that unit because I kind of forgot about it. lol)
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love teaching. I absolutely love learning. I don't love doing both at the same time. I want to be able to give my full attention to both and sometimes I don't have enough attention to go around.
After I start teaching I know that I will more than likely pursue yet another degree... such as teaching English as a Second Language... but I will take a maximum of one class while I am teaching or more during the summers.
That aside, I will plug along for the remaining 71 days of the semester and do the best that I can with God's help. Whatever happens I know that God is in control.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
On... L. Frank Baum
I had most of Baum's other books on my want to read list and recently I have been reading the rest of his books and crossing them off of my list.
On one hand I wonder why these books were so popular because they are remarkably predictable and a little off the wall. On the other hand when I compare Baum's book to Gregory Maguire's books I much prefer Baum's innocent style.
While I think that some of Baum's books are critical to have in a library I do think that some of his books at least are repetitive and while they introduce rather remarkable characters unnecessary to read.
On one hand I wonder why these books were so popular because they are remarkably predictable and a little off the wall. On the other hand when I compare Baum's book to Gregory Maguire's books I much prefer Baum's innocent style.
While I think that some of Baum's books are critical to have in a library I do think that some of his books at least are repetitive and while they introduce rather remarkable characters unnecessary to read.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
On meetings
Since starting my journey in the MAT program I have come to a realization. I suppose that I have always known this but it has become glaringly clear. Most adults love talking to each other even if that talking includes complaining about how much time we have to spend in meetings.
Now isn't that ironic?
Granted, there are many things on a teacher's plate, especially a teacher at a Title 1 school. The oversight superimposed on such a school is necessary but can be quite time consuming. Trust me I have seen this in action and actually heard more about it than seen it. Actually, that is not true but you know what I mean.
I think though that all of this work could be accomplished in a much shorter time if the teachers spent less time complaining about the world load and more time actually doing it. Please don't think that I am complaining but it is at times like this when I am most thankful that God made me a quiet person. :D
Something else that I have learned from all of this is how to approach meetings. First, I will make a list (mental or on paper) of what I need to find out to help me accomplish my responsibilities. Second, I will be willing to give of my time in order to listen to another person no matter how long they may wind on. (That's where the hard part is going to come in but I know that God will help me with it. :D)
Now isn't that ironic?
Granted, there are many things on a teacher's plate, especially a teacher at a Title 1 school. The oversight superimposed on such a school is necessary but can be quite time consuming. Trust me I have seen this in action and actually heard more about it than seen it. Actually, that is not true but you know what I mean.
I think though that all of this work could be accomplished in a much shorter time if the teachers spent less time complaining about the world load and more time actually doing it. Please don't think that I am complaining but it is at times like this when I am most thankful that God made me a quiet person. :D
Something else that I have learned from all of this is how to approach meetings. First, I will make a list (mental or on paper) of what I need to find out to help me accomplish my responsibilities. Second, I will be willing to give of my time in order to listen to another person no matter how long they may wind on. (That's where the hard part is going to come in but I know that God will help me with it. :D)
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