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.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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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