Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The beginning

These last two days have been amazing and overwhelming. Know that when I get a minute I will tell all, but I am so very tired now. I just got home from open house and am about to close my eyes for the night.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

4 Days

I have finished moving my stuff into my new house, now the problem is unpacking everything. If I could only get to my bed to get some sleep this would not be a problem. The biggest problem is I have 4 days until pre-planning starts and I do not have myself together. Today was my only day off of my job and I spent it at the eye doctor, the library, and in the car. So back to work tomorrow and No time to unpack.

I am worried about the first day of school. I know that my student teaching this semester will be pretty hands-off, but how do I introduce myself to them? How much should I tell them about myself? What will be expected of me? Our orientation is soon, but I am starting early with the seniors because I want to be in their from the beginning. I think it will make me more comfortable. So no orientation until the second week of school. Wish me luck and please tell me how your first week of student teaching went!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Busy, Busy, Busy


This is exactly how I feel right now! I am trying to get my stuff moved from my apartment to the new house by the 30th, but the cleaning people haven't finished the new house so I can't really put anything in the new house. So I am just waiting, with half of my stuff packed and no room to pack anything else. They were supposed to have it ready yesterday, nope. Now they are supposed to be done Friday, so lets pray for that. Also, pre-planning starts in 10 days and if all my stuff isn't moved and unpacked I will probably have a panic attack. I hate disorganization during stressful times. I am also trying to figure out just how to organize my school things in the most efficient way, but I guess I will have to wait until I start to figure that out. I am also working about 35 hours a week now, "part-time" (I also work weird hours, like 4am to 1pm or 2pm to 10:30pm, my whole day has to revolve around work sometimes). And my three year anniversary with a wonderful, wonderful guy is in two weeks and I do not know what I want to do with him. I am overwhelmed and nervous and excited. Please offer tips on how you plan to handle your student teaching, working, and life. And also what to wear! :)

Friday, July 20, 2012

It is getting closer!

I got my final schedule for student teaching, finally! They waited awful long to let us know and the suspense was killing me! It turns out that I will have full in the classroom days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with half a day in the classroom on Tuesday and Thursdays. The other half of the days on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be made up of classes that I take in my elementary school or one of the other elementary schools in our district. It looks very organized and it makes me feel better. I will end up spending about 35 hours a week student teaching and taking classes, and have to find time to work amongst all of that. Any fellow student teachers out there? How are you planning on working and student teaching? Or do you plan to work at all? Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear some advice!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Good Grief

I am so very tired today. I did the damage assessment walk-through for the new place that I am renting today, I realized, it doesn't have a dishwasher! Why I did not notice that before I paid the deposit, I have no idea. It is usually a deal breaker for me, because I can't make myself stay still and wash dishes. A dishwasher is a necessity for me. However, it does have a washer and dryer, which my current place lacks. So I guess I am trading clean dishes for clean clothes, and I am okay with that. Maybe I will just use paper plates and order takeout? Sounds like a plan to me. In the area I live, everything is old. To have a place with a dishwasher is a luxury, and was probably added recently. It is hard to find something with modern conveniences, a good size, and a good location.
Also, for the first time in the 17 years I have had glasses, I am trying contacts. My eyes are having a hard time adjusting and I constantly feel like my eyes are dry and sandy, it is not pleasant, and I hope it stops soon. It makes me feel like I am constantly tired with sleep in my eyes.
23 days until pre-planning and my nerves are starting, I am not even sure what my class assignment is yet! I wish they would hurry and send us our information packets because I am getting nervous and anxious and excited. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

New Teacher Survival Guide

A New Teacher Survival Guide is something that I think we all would love to get our hands on. It is similar to what I am trying to create. Good news! Scholastic has some to the rescue, yet again. Scholastic has created a New Teacher Survival Guide that has so many resources that I do not know where to start! There are teaching tips, resources, and a survival guide that goes out each month of school to help new teachers. The one that they currently have is for August, a little early I know, for creating an efficient physical classroom. They give you tips on decorating, desk layout, organization, anything you can think of. I am hooked on Scholastic. I subscribed to their newsletter (all free!) that send out lesson plans, tips, resources, and much much more each week. While this may sound like a Scholastic promotion, it is not. They have no idea I exist, they are just fantastic and worth bragging on. I am sure all of you are familiar with Scholastic, so hop on over there and subscribe!

In other news, I cannot stop looking at classroom themes on Pinterest! Tell me that I am not the only one? I have two years before I even have a chance of having a classroom of my own and I already have all of these ideas! My very favorite place for inspiration is Schoolgirl Style! Her ideas are absolutely darling, and well above my level of creativity! This garden party theme is so cute! So much color!
http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com
I love the bright colors and the flowers and the butterflies. However, I do not know how I would ever pull this off. She puts so much work into her classrooms. They are beautiful! I am so very, very jealous and cannot wait until I have my own room!

Saturday, July 7, 2012

My First Lesson

The first lesson that I was ever able to teach was during my freshman year. I was doing classroom observations as part of my pre-education classes. I ended up with a wonderful cooperating teacher who allowed me to participate in the class, rather than simply observe. One day, she split the class into small groups, one for me, one for her, and one for her aid. We did a lesson on our place in the world and I was hooked. They were all so eager to answer, eager to learn, and so very smart. The lesson that I did was very basic, we read a story and then answered some questions about the story. We then went through and asked each student to describe their place in the world. However, while pinteresting today, I found this cute little craft.
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/26/my-place-in-the-world-project/
This was from Kid World Citizen, a wonderful site about creating globally minded children. Basically, this is a much more creative and interactive way of teaching students their place in the world. They learn everything from their planet to their home address. It is wonderful and beautiful and I cannot wait to try it out someday!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Just Five Rules

http:/studentteachingsurvival.blogspot.com
     Whole Brain Teaching (Power Teaching) is quickly becoming an obsession of mine. The classroom management is based on five simple rules that help keep the classroom running smoothly. It seems so strange that only these rules could keep a classroom under control. I feel like they give students a lot of perceived freedoms, while setting rules that make them think about everything that they do. Student practice the rules several times a day, with hand motions to help reinforce them. By the student practicing the rules and having motions that go with them, they have them in their head all day. This creates a calmer, more organized classroom. There are other procedures and rule that build off of these rules. Any other things that you expect in your classroom would be procedures, and by doing these things you keep your teacher happy (rule number 5!). I cannot believe how much sense this type of teaching makes to me. If you haven't yet, check out Whole Brain Teaching and see what it has to offer. Let me know what you think. Any current teachers out there implement anything like this? How do you think it would work out in your classroom? 
     On another note, you may have noticed my countdown timer on the top of the page, only 30 days until I start by student teaching! I am so very nervous and am still looking for tips from those of you who are doing it/have done it! I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Baby You're a Firework

http://www.northgeorgia.edu
Happy Fourth of July! I saw the fireworks put off by my city at my college. They were beautiful and fantastic! I love the fireworks! God Bless and have a great night! Stay safe and enjoy this wonderful weather and this time off to relax. Student teaching starts in 1 month and 2 days and I am so very nervous.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

I Hate Squash: A Squash Dressing Tutorial

I hate squash, but I ♥ Squash Dressing with my whole heart. My old timey way Southern Baptist church does a fundraiser in the form of a cookbook. Our church ladies are known all around in the community for how well they cook, in fact they started a group that does cooking for families who have had a death and need help with meals or preparing food for the funeral. They cook for all the revivals and we eat after church every Sunday at one of the ladies houses. The lady who's squash dressing recipe I use I consider to be an adopted grandma, she has done so much for me. I have never tried to make her squash dressing, but I saw that she had sent it in for the newest church cookbook and couldn't resist. My aunt gave me a bunch of squash from her garden and I knew it was the right time. It is very easy to make, and oh so delicious. So, here we go!
Gather up your supplies, ignore my lack of squash in this picture, I forgot the most important ingredient! Anyways, one can of cream of chicken soup (you could easily make this vegetarian by using cream of mushroom which I am sure would be equally as good), 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning, 1 stick or 1/2 cup of butter (melted), 1 small onion chopped, 2 cups of crumbled cornbread and 2 cups of squash that has been boiled, drained, and sliced (or sliced, boiled, and drained).

I am lazy sometimes. I mash my squash after boiling instead of slicing, it eliminates some of the cooking skills actually needed for this recipe.

Chop your onion. Duh.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, this picture looks like more than what you will have because I doubled the batch, we REALLY love Squash Dressing around here. Mix it really well, you want the squash and cornbread to be equally distributed.

Pour it into a well greased baking dish. I like to use this one that is sort of short and deep because I like mine really moist and gooey, however, you can use whatever you want. Remember that the thinner the mixture is the crispier it will be and the thicker the mixture is the wetter it will be. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown and delicious.

Here is what happened in this picture, I left to do laundry with the dressing in the oven, asking my roommate to take it out when the timer went off. I came back to a half eaten pan of squash dressing. It is that good folks. Comfort food at its finest. If I was a good southern girl I would serve this up with fried pork chops and green beans, but I am a busy southern girl so I served it with Diet Coke and paper plates. Try it out and let me know! 



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Moving On Out

Ever since I have moved into my apartment I have hated it. I am used to big open spaces, no neighbors, and quiet when I am sleeping. I also have two babies in the form of dogs who hate not having room to run. So when a new company bought my complex and wouldn't allow people with pets to resign their lease I was both relieved and immediately stressed. It is so hard to find somewhere that allows pets and on my budget of $0 it is impossible. Student teaching is hard on the bank account. I have very little time to work and am struggling to pay my relatively cheap rent as it is. If you know of any places in the Dahlonega, Ga area that allow pets for a low, LOW price, let me know.:) Until then, lets pray that my stress levels calm down before I have a heart attack.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Whole Brain Teaching

Have you heard of Power Teaching or Whole Brain Teaching? Two semesters ago I did a presentation on diversifying lesson plans to meet the needs of different learning styles. I used this video as an example of easily incorporating physical movement in everyday activities.
I really liked the way that this teacher managed her classroom and the way that the students were so active! I did not think much more of it until I stumbled upon a post at Teaching Happily Ever After on Power Teaching. She uses it in her first grade classroom and says that the students do so well in it. In my future classroom I would love to implement Whole Brain Teaching, it looks so interactive, no passive learning there! If you are looking for different teaching styles that you might want to use in your classroom, I HIGHLY recommend popping over to Power Teachers to watch some more videos an check out the techniques used in Whole Brain Teaching! Also check out Teaching Happily Ever After, tons of cool things on her blog! It is all about technology in the classroom! Which is a great thing to keep up to date on!
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Friday, June 22, 2012

Allow me to introduce myself...

Hello! My name is Caroline and I am a Junior in an education program. My major is early childhood education as well as special education. I will begin my first year of student teaching August 6th. I have gotten my school placement, but still do not know what grade level I will be with. The suspense is killing me! I am spending most of my time stressing about how I am going to support myself during these two years of student teaching and pinning teacher things on Pinterest. Believe it or not, my biggest fear is what to wear! I have very little professional clothing and I cannot decide which way to go when buying. Should I go for slacks and blouses? Dresses? Skirts? How should I dress for the most comfort and functionality, but still be stylish? You opinions are most appreciated. Though I haven't even began student teaching, I am looking forward to having my own classroom! Check out these manners cards!
I found them at this Etsy shop! They are meant for rules at home, but the store does custom orders, they would be perfect for a zoo theme! I love the little panda, too cute! I hope this will help me to keep up with what I am learning through my student teaching and help me vent a little of my anxieties. Fellow student teachers out there, or current teachers, what are your thoughts on student teaching? Was it/Is it as hard for you as I think it is going to be for me (as in paying your bills, stress level wise)? I would love to know!