THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY! :)
Although this week hasn't been too stressful, I am really glad that it is Friday. I really could use a weekend full of rest and relaxation.
I was able to get everything done for my portfolio on Tuesday. I only had to spend about 2.5 hours in the tech center on Monday night to finish it up. Haha. Oh well, its done now and over with.
I went to my first Bluffton University Men's Basketball game of the season on Thursday. Bluffton played Manchester, a conference rival. Bluffton ended up winning the game, so that was good. I love the popcorn at Bluffton sporting events. Because I love the popcorn so much, I decided to get a bag at the game. When I ordered my popcorn, they told me that I didn't have to pay for it! I was so excited...that sort of thing usually never happens to me.
I am looking forward to this weekend. I have plans to just hang out with my friends and finish up some grading that I have to do. Since today was my last day of teaching, and next weekend is only observation for me, I do not have to worry about making lesson plans. YAY! :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
SNOW!
Okay, so my Thanksgiving Break definitely went by incredibly too fast! I would like to say that I worked really hard on my list of things to do, but it wouldn't be true if I said it. I relaxed, went and saw the movie Role Models, which is absolutely hilarious, and hung out with family and friends. I did work some on my portfolio and a few other things.
It has been snowing non-stop all day today here in Bluffton and the surrounding areas. I keep praying that it will snow enough to warrant a delay, but then again, I just got back from Thanksgiving Break. As I look out my window, I do not forsee a delay ocurring anytime soon as the snow is not sticking.
With only two weeks of the semester left to go, a delay would sure be nice as it is beginning to be crunch time on campus. My portfolio would be one of the many items that I need to be finishing (especially since it is due tomorrow! :) )
It has been snowing non-stop all day today here in Bluffton and the surrounding areas. I keep praying that it will snow enough to warrant a delay, but then again, I just got back from Thanksgiving Break. As I look out my window, I do not forsee a delay ocurring anytime soon as the snow is not sticking.
With only two weeks of the semester left to go, a delay would sure be nice as it is beginning to be crunch time on campus. My portfolio would be one of the many items that I need to be finishing (especially since it is due tomorrow! :) )
Thursday, November 20, 2008
For Seniors Only
As I walked through Marbeck Center this evening, I realized that it was time yet again for another Admissions Office sposored For Seniors Only night. I was very pleased to see many perspective high school seniors on campus tonight.
Tonight made me travel down memory lane...I can remember when I came for my FSO stay. I was able to stay a Resident Advisor on campus, which was nice. We ended up watching 50 First Dates with another college student and her perspective student. The next day, I got a campus tour, and informative session on Bluffton, and visit to an Introduction to Education class. My FSO experience helped me to solidify my decision to attend Bluffton.
Prior to solidifying my decision on where I would attend college, I was pretty much set on attending a large state school; Bluffton was the only other school that I was considering. After my FSO stay during my fall break, Bluffton moved up and I gained more respect for it. Eventually, I decided to attend Bluffton (obviously). I couldn't be any more happy with my decision. Bluffton has opened my eyes to so many things and has giving me many experiences than I could have had if I had attended the state school I was looking at.
Here I am, already a senior in college and remembering back to four years ago. Where has the time gone? I am sure that the next four years will go just as fast, if not faster as the last four years. I wonder what I will be doing in four years from now. Will I be in graduate school? Will I have completed graduate school? What ever I may being doing in four years from now, I will always remember my FSO stay at Bluffton University and my four years here at Bluffton as an undergraduate student.
Tonight made me travel down memory lane...I can remember when I came for my FSO stay. I was able to stay a Resident Advisor on campus, which was nice. We ended up watching 50 First Dates with another college student and her perspective student. The next day, I got a campus tour, and informative session on Bluffton, and visit to an Introduction to Education class. My FSO experience helped me to solidify my decision to attend Bluffton.
Prior to solidifying my decision on where I would attend college, I was pretty much set on attending a large state school; Bluffton was the only other school that I was considering. After my FSO stay during my fall break, Bluffton moved up and I gained more respect for it. Eventually, I decided to attend Bluffton (obviously). I couldn't be any more happy with my decision. Bluffton has opened my eyes to so many things and has giving me many experiences than I could have had if I had attended the state school I was looking at.
Here I am, already a senior in college and remembering back to four years ago. Where has the time gone? I am sure that the next four years will go just as fast, if not faster as the last four years. I wonder what I will be doing in four years from now. Will I be in graduate school? Will I have completed graduate school? What ever I may being doing in four years from now, I will always remember my FSO stay at Bluffton University and my four years here at Bluffton as an undergraduate student.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Thanksgiving...when are you coming?
This week has been a pretty stressful week. I have been working on finalizing everything for my portfolio. Although my portfolio isn't due until December 2, I figured I should be working on it now.
It will definitely be nice to have a few days off next week. I honestly can't believe that Thanksgiving is one week from tomorrow, but at the same time, it couldn't come any sooner. Last night, we had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in Marbeck. Every year, Bluffton's administration serves us turkey at the dinner. The Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners are the two most favorite among students. I can't wait for my own Thanksgivings at home, back in good 'ole Indiana.
Tomorrow night, I am going to be meeting with the other students whom I will be traveling with to Washington, DC to Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration. I am looking forward to this meeting. This will be a great time for us to figure out what all of us need to bring back from Thanksgiving break for the trip, etc.
THANKSGIVING, PLEASE COME SOONER! (As a future college student, you will one day understand how amazing it is to have a few days off and away from everything.)
It will definitely be nice to have a few days off next week. I honestly can't believe that Thanksgiving is one week from tomorrow, but at the same time, it couldn't come any sooner. Last night, we had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in Marbeck. Every year, Bluffton's administration serves us turkey at the dinner. The Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners are the two most favorite among students. I can't wait for my own Thanksgivings at home, back in good 'ole Indiana.
Tomorrow night, I am going to be meeting with the other students whom I will be traveling with to Washington, DC to Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration. I am looking forward to this meeting. This will be a great time for us to figure out what all of us need to bring back from Thanksgiving break for the trip, etc.
THANKSGIVING, PLEASE COME SOONER! (As a future college student, you will one day understand how amazing it is to have a few days off and away from everything.)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Okay, so now that the election is over, I will definitely have some more time to post on this blog.
So far, student teaching has gone well. I have now completed my five weeks of math and am now going to be starting my third week of science! Time sure has flown by! I have definitely learned a lot from my student teaching experience. I am glad that Bluffton allowed me to chose the type of school setting that I wanted to teach in (urban...I have only observed in and attended rural schools) and the grade level.
Reality hit me earlier this week when I had to register for Spring Semester classes. I can't believe that it was already time to register! I am not too sure how I feel about going from teaching and assigning all of the homework to learning and doing all of the homework. Haha...oh well!
Tonight Kate and I are going to the Cup Dinner, which is sponsored by the Family and Consumer Sciences Association (a student organization on campus), at the First Mennonite Church here in Bluffton. This is always a favorite of mine. The Cup Dinner is a great benefit dinner for the food pantries in the Lima area. A lot of Bluffton students will be at the Cup Dinner, so it will be neat to be able to network with some other Bluffton students.
Later this evening, we are going to the Root beer Keg Party. The Keg Party is sponsored by a student organization on campus, P.A.L.S.. This will be a fun night of dancing to loud music and drinking root beer!
So far, student teaching has gone well. I have now completed my five weeks of math and am now going to be starting my third week of science! Time sure has flown by! I have definitely learned a lot from my student teaching experience. I am glad that Bluffton allowed me to chose the type of school setting that I wanted to teach in (urban...I have only observed in and attended rural schools) and the grade level.
Reality hit me earlier this week when I had to register for Spring Semester classes. I can't believe that it was already time to register! I am not too sure how I feel about going from teaching and assigning all of the homework to learning and doing all of the homework. Haha...oh well!
Tonight Kate and I are going to the Cup Dinner, which is sponsored by the Family and Consumer Sciences Association (a student organization on campus), at the First Mennonite Church here in Bluffton. This is always a favorite of mine. The Cup Dinner is a great benefit dinner for the food pantries in the Lima area. A lot of Bluffton students will be at the Cup Dinner, so it will be neat to be able to network with some other Bluffton students.
Later this evening, we are going to the Root beer Keg Party. The Keg Party is sponsored by a student organization on campus, P.A.L.S.. This will be a fun night of dancing to loud music and drinking root beer!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
1/3 Done!
Wow, I can't believe it. We are already five weeks into this semester, with ten more to go. Next week starts week six! That means that we are already 1/3 of the way done with our first semester and I am 1/6 of the way done with my senior year of college! Time sure has gone by fast.
For me, the conclusion of the first five weeks brings about a large adjustment. I will now begin student teaching full-time, Monday through Friday, starting on Monday and continuing for the rest of the semester. My first-semester classes here at Bluffton are ending today and now my homework load will be different. Notice that I didn't say my homework load will be lessened. I will have 15 lesson plans each week to write and prepare for, I will have homework to grade, and quizzes and tests to write and grade.
I began writing my lesson plans yesterday for next week. It took me forever to write six of them. I still have eleven more to go and am already sick of them! LOL! The Education Department here at Bluffton has a form that we must fill out for every lesson that we teach. While, I hate filling them out as they are very time consuming, they allow me to really think about the lesson I am going to teach--the amount of time each activity should take, the materials that are needed for the lesson, the resources that are needed to make the lesson a success, etc., etc., etc.
For the next five weeks I will be teaching math. I am nervous about taking over the classroom, but I really enjoy the students in my math classes and my cooperating teacher. I know that over the next five weeks, I will have my eyes opened to so many new things...I know that I will walk away from this experience a much better teacher and possibly even a better person. I am glad that the Education Department at Bluffton makes all of the education majors visit schools and observe classrooms for so many hours a semester, starting one's first semester in the education program. Because of this, I am comfortable in the classroom and I know that I want to be a teacher, but no matter how many classes I have taken, how many textbooks I have read, and how many hours I have observed students and teachers, I know that only my clinical practice (student teaching) experience can prepare me for the occupation that I am about to embark upon.
For me, the conclusion of the first five weeks brings about a large adjustment. I will now begin student teaching full-time, Monday through Friday, starting on Monday and continuing for the rest of the semester. My first-semester classes here at Bluffton are ending today and now my homework load will be different. Notice that I didn't say my homework load will be lessened. I will have 15 lesson plans each week to write and prepare for, I will have homework to grade, and quizzes and tests to write and grade.
I began writing my lesson plans yesterday for next week. It took me forever to write six of them. I still have eleven more to go and am already sick of them! LOL! The Education Department here at Bluffton has a form that we must fill out for every lesson that we teach. While, I hate filling them out as they are very time consuming, they allow me to really think about the lesson I am going to teach--the amount of time each activity should take, the materials that are needed for the lesson, the resources that are needed to make the lesson a success, etc., etc., etc.
For the next five weeks I will be teaching math. I am nervous about taking over the classroom, but I really enjoy the students in my math classes and my cooperating teacher. I know that over the next five weeks, I will have my eyes opened to so many new things...I know that I will walk away from this experience a much better teacher and possibly even a better person. I am glad that the Education Department at Bluffton makes all of the education majors visit schools and observe classrooms for so many hours a semester, starting one's first semester in the education program. Because of this, I am comfortable in the classroom and I know that I want to be a teacher, but no matter how many classes I have taken, how many textbooks I have read, and how many hours I have observed students and teachers, I know that only my clinical practice (student teaching) experience can prepare me for the occupation that I am about to embark upon.
Mid-week Report
This week (so far) has proven to be incredibly, once again. However, although busy, Tuesday was a really fun day. My science professor took my science methods class to the Columbus Zoo, to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch, and then to an education store that sells resources to teachers.
The zoo was really interesting. We were able to talk with a zoo employee and find out how the online learning works. Since I did not attend a school in Ohio, I never had the opportunity to experience the online learning from the students perspective, but it seems like it would captivate the students' attention. After learning about the online learning, we were able to take a "behind the scenes" tour through a building and see all different kinds of animals. The animals that we saw were the animals that the zoo uses in its various educational programs and shows. We met two birds who could talk to us. They were hilarious. After our "behind the scenes" tour, we were allowed to walk around the zoo and look at the various exhibits.
The education store was neat. It was full of all kinds of goodies for teachers. If I was rich, and I knew what subject (math or science) that I will be teaching, and the grade level I will be teaching, I would have bought lots of cool stuff for my classroom.
This is one reason why I like Bluffton so much...because we have smaller classes (there are only 4 other students in my science methods class), we are able to go places such as the Columbus Zoo and the education store. My professor is very interesting and definitely cares about each of us. His number one goal is to make sure that we learn as much as we can without making our learning boring.
The zoo was really interesting. We were able to talk with a zoo employee and find out how the online learning works. Since I did not attend a school in Ohio, I never had the opportunity to experience the online learning from the students perspective, but it seems like it would captivate the students' attention. After learning about the online learning, we were able to take a "behind the scenes" tour through a building and see all different kinds of animals. The animals that we saw were the animals that the zoo uses in its various educational programs and shows. We met two birds who could talk to us. They were hilarious. After our "behind the scenes" tour, we were allowed to walk around the zoo and look at the various exhibits.
The education store was neat. It was full of all kinds of goodies for teachers. If I was rich, and I knew what subject (math or science) that I will be teaching, and the grade level I will be teaching, I would have bought lots of cool stuff for my classroom.
This is one reason why I like Bluffton so much...because we have smaller classes (there are only 4 other students in my science methods class), we are able to go places such as the Columbus Zoo and the education store. My professor is very interesting and definitely cares about each of us. His number one goal is to make sure that we learn as much as we can without making our learning boring.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
WEEKEND!!
Okay, so I am very glad that the weekend is here! Last week did go by extremely fast, but I am always glad for the weekend to be here.
Last night watch a movie with my girlfriend, Kate, in her room with her and some of our friends. It was nice to be able just to relax and not worrying about completing my homework for the next day or preparing anything for student teaching. As I type this, I am able to look out my window and watch the girl's tennis team playing Anderson University. It is so nice that everything on this campus is close...I don't have to leave my room to watch the tennis match. Anyways, I am headed to Lima today to go shopping with Kate and tomorrow I am going to be in Lima canvassing for Barack Obama. OBAMA '08! :)
Since it looks like this afternoon and tomorrow I am going to be busy, I am needing to work on my homework whenever I can. This week is my last week of observation before I begin student teaching full-time. Since this is my last week of oberservation, it is also my last week of classes here at Bluffton for the semester. YAY! No more homework! :) I have a couple of things that I need to finish up for my math class--putting together my binder and studying for my final, which is going to be Monday night.
My science class is going to be going to the Columbus Zoo on Tuesday as well as a store for math and science educators. I am so excited for our trip. It will be neat to learn "behind the scenes" at the zoo and hang out with all of my future science teacher friends. :)
Last night watch a movie with my girlfriend, Kate, in her room with her and some of our friends. It was nice to be able just to relax and not worrying about completing my homework for the next day or preparing anything for student teaching. As I type this, I am able to look out my window and watch the girl's tennis team playing Anderson University. It is so nice that everything on this campus is close...I don't have to leave my room to watch the tennis match. Anyways, I am headed to Lima today to go shopping with Kate and tomorrow I am going to be in Lima canvassing for Barack Obama. OBAMA '08! :)
Since it looks like this afternoon and tomorrow I am going to be busy, I am needing to work on my homework whenever I can. This week is my last week of observation before I begin student teaching full-time. Since this is my last week of oberservation, it is also my last week of classes here at Bluffton for the semester. YAY! No more homework! :) I have a couple of things that I need to finish up for my math class--putting together my binder and studying for my final, which is going to be Monday night.
My science class is going to be going to the Columbus Zoo on Tuesday as well as a store for math and science educators. I am so excited for our trip. It will be neat to learn "behind the scenes" at the zoo and hang out with all of my future science teacher friends. :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fall
As I walked around on campus last night, I realized by sights and smells on campus that Fall is quickly settling in here on campus. Fall is by far my most favorite season here at Bluffton. Why you may ask? The answer is simple!
With the hundreds of trees and lots of vegetation across Bluffton's campus, when Fall comes, Bluffton's campus looks like a canvass that someone has painted with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. The sight truly is magnificent. Now maybe it is because I am going to be a science teacher that I love nature so much, but I think that anyone would be struck by the beautiful fall scenery here on campus...not to mention the smells that accompany Fall.
However, unfoturnately, I get bogged down with homework much more than I would like and get too busy with life in general to always take the time to appreciate the sights and smells of Fall on Bluffton's campus.
With the hundreds of trees and lots of vegetation across Bluffton's campus, when Fall comes, Bluffton's campus looks like a canvass that someone has painted with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. The sight truly is magnificent. Now maybe it is because I am going to be a science teacher that I love nature so much, but I think that anyone would be struck by the beautiful fall scenery here on campus...not to mention the smells that accompany Fall.
However, unfoturnately, I get bogged down with homework much more than I would like and get too busy with life in general to always take the time to appreciate the sights and smells of Fall on Bluffton's campus.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wow! Where has the time gone?
Wow, I can't believe that it has been a little over three months since I last blogged (Refer to my cross cultural blog: http://blufftonguatemala.blogspot.com to read about my experience with 10 other Bluffton students in Guatemala during May 2008.) for Bluffton University. One thing is for sure, I have stayed extremely busy since then.
With that being said, I am already in the third week of my final year here at Bluffton! I can't believe how fast my college experience has gone so far.
Although it is only the third week of school, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with student teaching, taking classes, and working with the recycling program. I am doing my student teaching at a middle school in Findlay, OH. For the first five weeks of the semester, I go to Findlay on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. While that may sound good...it isn't. Since I only go three days a week, I have to take a math methods course and a science methods course on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They each last 2.5 hours!
I have been able to handle my student teaching responsibilities along with my homework and such from my classes pretty well so far; however, I can't wait until I start student teaching full time.
I am very glad that the weekend is fast approaching! I am planning on writing a couple of lesson plans and relaxing. Hopefully next time I write on this blog, I will be well relaxed from the weekend.
With that being said, I am already in the third week of my final year here at Bluffton! I can't believe how fast my college experience has gone so far.
Although it is only the third week of school, I am feeling a little overwhelmed with student teaching, taking classes, and working with the recycling program. I am doing my student teaching at a middle school in Findlay, OH. For the first five weeks of the semester, I go to Findlay on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. While that may sound good...it isn't. Since I only go three days a week, I have to take a math methods course and a science methods course on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They each last 2.5 hours!
I have been able to handle my student teaching responsibilities along with my homework and such from my classes pretty well so far; however, I can't wait until I start student teaching full time.
I am very glad that the weekend is fast approaching! I am planning on writing a couple of lesson plans and relaxing. Hopefully next time I write on this blog, I will be well relaxed from the weekend.
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