18 years. That's almost my entire life. I have been a student for 18 years. Today, at about 12PM, I will officially be a college graduate. It's hard to believe that I have finally made it. 18 years, 92,500$, laughter, tears, memories, sorrows, all nighters, lots and lots of coffee. This chapter really is ending and a new one is beginning.
I have to be up at 6AM to get ready for this huge ceremony and for some reason I cannot go to sleep. It makes me mad...but I know that there are so many reasons why I am not sleeping right now. Excitement is surging through me right now. I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve night. I have so much to be thankful for right now that listing them would take years. I love the fact that my family made the trip out here for this one little celebration just for little ole me. Imagine that. Not only that, but I will be seeing my BESTIE Mandy Sue in a few weeks in Hawaii. She, her husband Stephen and their little boy, Ethan will be meeting me there for a week of adventures that I can only dream about right now.
After tomorrow, real life begins. (Well, minus my little excursion to Hawaii...that's still a little unreal to me right now!) I have to start saving for my apartment. I have to continue to prepare for my first year of teaching; with the help of Tarrah and Mrs. Furst of course. I thank God all the time for all of the wonderful things and people He has put into my path and those that He has in store for me. I pray that He will guide me and direct me the way He wants me to go and help me to make the right decisions through the next phases of my journey.
Dear friends, pray for me. This is big stuff. I feel prepared, but am I ready? Only time will tell.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Final Week
This is my last week at Summerville High. I was talking to a former class mate of mine from high school the other day and we laughed about how strange it is to be on the other side of the fence. Talk about mild culture shock! The last several months, however, have been fun and though right now I am bored out of my mind, I am going to miss being here with Tarrah and Tony everyday.
This morning, the HSAP exit exam started. Tarrah was supposed to monitor for the first period of the day since she has first period planning. Because I am awesome and didn't have anything better to do, I opted to monitor in her place. I will be doing that tomorrow and Thursday too. It makes for a very LONG first period. 50 minutes of total silence and constant walking around the room is in no way thrilling. Oh well.
So as I was sitting at my little teacher desk this morning, bored because Tony is not here for me to bother, I was thinking about some random things that I have learned during this experience. Here's what I have so far:
1. 95% of what they teach you in Education classes in college is either not applicable or bogus.
2. 9th graders smell bad.
3. High Schoolers are lazy.
4. Giving students a second chance to write a paper for a higher grade is pointless because they do not try.
5. Kids don't know how to read.
6. Folding chairs are very uncomfortable and I need a very comfortable chair for my classroom when I get started in the fall.
7. There are at least three students that have crushes on me and 9th graders, though they smell bad, can be rather adorable when they act like they don't like you but feel the need to come say hi every morning and afternoon.
8. Hearing "Ms. Johnson" rocks.
9. Teaching rocks.
10. Jolly Ranchers are great motivators.
I'm sure I will add to this list one day, but that's all I have for now. Tarrah is talking again and I can't concentrate when she is teaching....So for now I will get back to those research papers. I may need to go to the teacher's lounge so I can finish.
Until next time, take care!
This morning, the HSAP exit exam started. Tarrah was supposed to monitor for the first period of the day since she has first period planning. Because I am awesome and didn't have anything better to do, I opted to monitor in her place. I will be doing that tomorrow and Thursday too. It makes for a very LONG first period. 50 minutes of total silence and constant walking around the room is in no way thrilling. Oh well.
So as I was sitting at my little teacher desk this morning, bored because Tony is not here for me to bother, I was thinking about some random things that I have learned during this experience. Here's what I have so far:
1. 95% of what they teach you in Education classes in college is either not applicable or bogus.
2. 9th graders smell bad.
3. High Schoolers are lazy.
4. Giving students a second chance to write a paper for a higher grade is pointless because they do not try.
5. Kids don't know how to read.
6. Folding chairs are very uncomfortable and I need a very comfortable chair for my classroom when I get started in the fall.
7. There are at least three students that have crushes on me and 9th graders, though they smell bad, can be rather adorable when they act like they don't like you but feel the need to come say hi every morning and afternoon.
8. Hearing "Ms. Johnson" rocks.
9. Teaching rocks.
10. Jolly Ranchers are great motivators.
I'm sure I will add to this list one day, but that's all I have for now. Tarrah is talking again and I can't concentrate when she is teaching....So for now I will get back to those research papers. I may need to go to the teacher's lounge so I can finish.
Until next time, take care!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
My Apologies and Final Thoughts
Dear Readers,
I am so sorry. I set out on this adventure as a student teacher with the idea that I would be able to write something every day about the events that took place during my student teaching experience. Unfortunately this did not happen. With the tasks of planning lessons, grading papers, and still managing to take time to take care of myself, I was unable to keep up with the added task. This saddens me simply because as I look back, there are so many interesting events that took place, but there is no way at this point that I could possibly get it down. No matter though. I will tell you that it has been quite a ride.
I have three weeks left of my experience at Summerville High School. It has been a rather eventful experience; one that I will always cherish and remember. Though I am looking forward to turning a page and closing this chapter of my life, I will always look back and fondly remember the monsters, ahem, I mean students, I have had the pleasure of working with over the last several months. I will greatly miss my wonderful Cooperating Teacher, Tarrah. Oh and I cannot forget Mr. Citro, the best partner/inclusion teacher ever. I have had a wonderful time working this these two individuals. I have learned so much from them and value them as so much more than as just my cooperating teacher and partner, but rather as dear friends.
And now for some wonderful news. I have a job! Even with all of the cutbacks and hiring freezes, I have been hired. Though I have not signed my permanent contract, I have signed the open contract stating that I have the job. As of August of 2010, I will be an employee of the Dorchester County, District 4 School District. I will be teaching English at Woodland High School in Dorchester, South Carolina. It will be quite a drive every morning from Summerville, but I look forward to the drive.
Another rather exciting piece of new is that I am planing to spread my wings, even if just a little bit, and moving out on my own. I will still be in Summerville, but I will have my own space and I am looking forward to it more than I can express in this one space. The goal is to be moved in and settled before the beginning of August so that I have one less thing to worry about as I begin my first year as a high school teacher.
Keep me in your prayers, as I am sure you already do. Take care my friends.
~Christine
I am so sorry. I set out on this adventure as a student teacher with the idea that I would be able to write something every day about the events that took place during my student teaching experience. Unfortunately this did not happen. With the tasks of planning lessons, grading papers, and still managing to take time to take care of myself, I was unable to keep up with the added task. This saddens me simply because as I look back, there are so many interesting events that took place, but there is no way at this point that I could possibly get it down. No matter though. I will tell you that it has been quite a ride.
I have three weeks left of my experience at Summerville High School. It has been a rather eventful experience; one that I will always cherish and remember. Though I am looking forward to turning a page and closing this chapter of my life, I will always look back and fondly remember the monsters, ahem, I mean students, I have had the pleasure of working with over the last several months. I will greatly miss my wonderful Cooperating Teacher, Tarrah. Oh and I cannot forget Mr. Citro, the best partner/inclusion teacher ever. I have had a wonderful time working this these two individuals. I have learned so much from them and value them as so much more than as just my cooperating teacher and partner, but rather as dear friends.
And now for some wonderful news. I have a job! Even with all of the cutbacks and hiring freezes, I have been hired. Though I have not signed my permanent contract, I have signed the open contract stating that I have the job. As of August of 2010, I will be an employee of the Dorchester County, District 4 School District. I will be teaching English at Woodland High School in Dorchester, South Carolina. It will be quite a drive every morning from Summerville, but I look forward to the drive.
Another rather exciting piece of new is that I am planing to spread my wings, even if just a little bit, and moving out on my own. I will still be in Summerville, but I will have my own space and I am looking forward to it more than I can express in this one space. The goal is to be moved in and settled before the beginning of August so that I have one less thing to worry about as I begin my first year as a high school teacher.
Keep me in your prayers, as I am sure you already do. Take care my friends.
~Christine
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Mission Statement
I have started this blog for the same reason most people start blogs. I want to tell my story. I may be slightly bias, but teaching is an incredibly eventful occupation. I may not be licenced and I may not be getting paid yet, but teaching is what I know I want to do, and everyday is a new adventure as I work through this last step of becoming a "real" teacher.
I am told on a regular basis that I am crazy for wanting to teach, especially because I want to teach high school. Teenagers can be overly emotional, volatile, disrespectful balls of hormones. It takes special people to educate them. Special people who care enough to try and be that positive influence to that young person who feels everybody has given up on them. Special people who will use their passion and energy to make a positive difference in the lives of the young people, leaders of tomorrow. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am incredible...not yet anyway ;o) But I am working towards being one of those special people.
Last semester the course work I did made me really think about some important stuff. Do I really want to be a teacher? Why do I really want to be a teacher? What kind of teacher do I want to be? I have answers for those:
Yes, I really want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher so I can make a difference in the lives of young people. I want to be a teacher so that I can share my knowledge with them because knowledge is power and education is the great equalizer. I want to be the kind of teacher that someone looks back on later in life and says, in a positive sense, "She is the reason I am who I am today. She made me feel like I was worth something. She showed me I could do anything I put my mind to."
There have been many influences in my life who have contributed to my decision to be a teacher. They have been both family members and teachers. The support of my friends and family in this endeavor and the guidance of God are the only things that have gotten me this far. Now that the end it so close I can almost taste it, I am filled with a mixture of excitement and determination. Follow me, if you wish, on this journey through what could be the most exciting semester of my educational career. I promise you will never be bored!
I am told on a regular basis that I am crazy for wanting to teach, especially because I want to teach high school. Teenagers can be overly emotional, volatile, disrespectful balls of hormones. It takes special people to educate them. Special people who care enough to try and be that positive influence to that young person who feels everybody has given up on them. Special people who will use their passion and energy to make a positive difference in the lives of the young people, leaders of tomorrow. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am incredible...not yet anyway ;o) But I am working towards being one of those special people.
Last semester the course work I did made me really think about some important stuff. Do I really want to be a teacher? Why do I really want to be a teacher? What kind of teacher do I want to be? I have answers for those:
Yes, I really want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher so I can make a difference in the lives of young people. I want to be a teacher so that I can share my knowledge with them because knowledge is power and education is the great equalizer. I want to be the kind of teacher that someone looks back on later in life and says, in a positive sense, "She is the reason I am who I am today. She made me feel like I was worth something. She showed me I could do anything I put my mind to."
There have been many influences in my life who have contributed to my decision to be a teacher. They have been both family members and teachers. The support of my friends and family in this endeavor and the guidance of God are the only things that have gotten me this far. Now that the end it so close I can almost taste it, I am filled with a mixture of excitement and determination. Follow me, if you wish, on this journey through what could be the most exciting semester of my educational career. I promise you will never be bored!
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