Puterdusky!!!!!!
Thank you for your IT assistance.
You are truly an amzing human being!!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Blog Help Request
I have the option of adding a "gadget," but not a new page element. How do I do so?
I am trying to add the Good Reads widget to my blog. Cannot.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Frustatedly yours,
MT
I am trying to add the Good Reads widget to my blog. Cannot.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Frustatedly yours,
MT
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Student Teaching Part 1
I am in a two-day stretch of snow days and I thought I would write a little about student teaching. So far so good. Cory may find some of this more interesting than others.
It has helped that I worked with my host teacher once before and was not only familiar with the school and the novel that I would be teaching. So really, so far so good.
After tomorrow I will be a quarter of my way through student teaching. There are nine periods at Sarah Scott Middle School. My schedule is as follows: 1: advisory (basically homeroom, not sure why they call it advisory). 2: advanced lit. 3: team meeting (when the seventh grade team meets, daily) 4,5,6: regular lit. 7, 8: lunch and personal prep. time (12:55 until 2:23) sometimes I go out, sometimes I go home, sometimes I stay and read, 9: last class, reg. lit. The schedule is awesome, the students are released at 3:15. My host teacher prefers to begin her day early and so leaves very soon after the students leave. I usually arrive at the school at around 7:15 and leave around 3:20 or 3:30. We've had one faculty meeting so far, that lasted until around 4:30. My host teacher is also the team leader, of which Cory knows something about.
The school is in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, but, as my experience in 2007, the students continue to upend the middle-school stigma. There are moments, of course, but so there are at any stage. The most basic observation is that of the wide range of maturity levels found in a middle school. There are students that look like fourth graders sitting by students that look like first year college students, but the behavior and academic levels are deceiving.
Cory, any dissension between reg. ed. and special ed. at your school?
It is interesting to see how a school operates. This particular school has a very good principal and I think that helps immensely.
I plan, as discussed with Cory, to write a little more often and with more specifics regarding education. But let this be a preliminary look at my experience so far. So much happens everyday. It has been going very well so far. More soon.
It has helped that I worked with my host teacher once before and was not only familiar with the school and the novel that I would be teaching. So really, so far so good.
After tomorrow I will be a quarter of my way through student teaching. There are nine periods at Sarah Scott Middle School. My schedule is as follows: 1: advisory (basically homeroom, not sure why they call it advisory). 2: advanced lit. 3: team meeting (when the seventh grade team meets, daily) 4,5,6: regular lit. 7, 8: lunch and personal prep. time (12:55 until 2:23) sometimes I go out, sometimes I go home, sometimes I stay and read, 9: last class, reg. lit. The schedule is awesome, the students are released at 3:15. My host teacher prefers to begin her day early and so leaves very soon after the students leave. I usually arrive at the school at around 7:15 and leave around 3:20 or 3:30. We've had one faculty meeting so far, that lasted until around 4:30. My host teacher is also the team leader, of which Cory knows something about.
The school is in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, but, as my experience in 2007, the students continue to upend the middle-school stigma. There are moments, of course, but so there are at any stage. The most basic observation is that of the wide range of maturity levels found in a middle school. There are students that look like fourth graders sitting by students that look like first year college students, but the behavior and academic levels are deceiving.
Cory, any dissension between reg. ed. and special ed. at your school?
It is interesting to see how a school operates. This particular school has a very good principal and I think that helps immensely.
I plan, as discussed with Cory, to write a little more often and with more specifics regarding education. But let this be a preliminary look at my experience so far. So much happens everyday. It has been going very well so far. More soon.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Overlap
an update on a brief time period of transition, excitement, change, and some anxiety...
The overlap consists of finishing up school as I have known it, my time at the bookstore, and a new part-time job at JC Penney.
Mix in enjoying the seasonal cheer with Molly and Trista and Mr. T and I have been hopping.
First, a little breaking news from KC - my brother is now a father as of this past Saturday, Ellia, a beautiful little girl.
OK, for fun and to offer a little in the form of a recap - the week before Thanksgiving I began a job at JC Penney. As I approach the end of my Bookstore days, while Trista is still working towards her career situation, while student teaching takes off in Jan., and in these uncertain economic times - Trista and I thought it in our best interest that I take on some kind of part time job. Ugh!
Looking for a job was about the last thing I wanted to be doing. One night of searching and it dawned on me. I happen to know the store manager at the local JC Penney. I explained my situation and boom - job search over. The store manager has been more than accommodating, paying me a slightly higher hourly rate, and extreme flexibility. Part of the overlap has to do with the retail season (as unfortunate and ugly as a phrase as it is) and my timing. I knew I would have a better chance getting on prior to the holidays, - the consequence, of course: THE OVERLAP. Prior to Thanksgiving I had three consecutive nights of surprisingly intensive training. I became "certified." I work in the men's or young men's department. I worked Black Friday from 3:45 am until 1:00 PM. It sucked, but it is over. I have tried to be at the top of my game so as to stay on post holiday - that's my plan. It's an easy job and 12 hours a week, for the most part, should be a breeze. Some very cool people and some complete doorknobs - more on JCP specifics later.
Back to the overlap. Classes. Yikes - that pushed it for a while as I wrapped up classes and finals with a busy bookstore schedule and the start at JCP. Fortunately - with an amazing stroke of luck - my independent study professor allowed me to wrap up that class prior to Thanksgiving. So...last week, Wednesday to be precise....I took my last final as an undergrad. Boom! Done! And in additional good news, I received a rating in my education class that will exempt me from having to complete a tedious and long report covering my student teaching experience. That is a bullet I have been working to dodge this entire semester.
With school complete, the "trifold" nature of my overlap has been suddenly reduced to a "bifold" overlap. Two jobs. My last day at the bookstore will be December 27th and it cannot come any sooner. An example of one of the craziest overlap moments: Friday, Dec. 5th, the students threw a party for me (complete with a cake with a picture of me on it!)- I was up until 4:00 am, jello shots, rum-soaked cherries, gin and tonics, beer, coffee and home-made Kahlua in coffees. The next day, that same day (Sat. now), I had to do a resource fair for the bookstore at 8:00 am - that sucked. Later that day I had to work at JCP. Weird mix of fun and work and fatigue.
That was the big party, what is left is a smattering of lunches here and there and an after work gathering on my very last day. Monday, the 22nd, I am going to Greencastle for the last time to help the store manager there (whom I like) move some shelves and hang out - I am not counting this as one of my last days -because it will be mostly goofing off.
I have the 24th, 25th, and 26th completely off. I also have the week of the 29th off (we are going to try and slip in a trip to KC to see the new arrival). Then student teaching.
The anxiety concerns the change in income, but that in itself is also a good thing. Student teaching, at least for the first eight weeks is going to be fairly easy. I am familiar with the teacher (she is awesome), having worked with her in the past (she ended up requesting me) and I know what she is planning to do - she teaches literature. I am also in the unique position of not having to make up any snow days - so bring on the snow!!
Molly and Trista are well. Molly and I have started a fictional collection entitled: "A Catalogue of Caterpillars," in which we just draw made up caterpillars. We also just returned from her second Christmas program of the year. One more this Thursday.
Trista has an interview this Wednesday morning, for three hours. The staff psychologist position. Please send a good thought, prayer, or vibe our way. We'd definitely appreciate it.
In the meantime, I have been playing guitar again, which I have not done, I am sad to say, in a very long time. Look for "Old Freud" comments.
I have also read "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," started reading "Twelfth Night," and plan to read "Twilight" after that.
Cold here today -
The overlap consists of finishing up school as I have known it, my time at the bookstore, and a new part-time job at JC Penney.
Mix in enjoying the seasonal cheer with Molly and Trista and Mr. T and I have been hopping.
First, a little breaking news from KC - my brother is now a father as of this past Saturday, Ellia, a beautiful little girl.
OK, for fun and to offer a little in the form of a recap - the week before Thanksgiving I began a job at JC Penney. As I approach the end of my Bookstore days, while Trista is still working towards her career situation, while student teaching takes off in Jan., and in these uncertain economic times - Trista and I thought it in our best interest that I take on some kind of part time job. Ugh!
Looking for a job was about the last thing I wanted to be doing. One night of searching and it dawned on me. I happen to know the store manager at the local JC Penney. I explained my situation and boom - job search over. The store manager has been more than accommodating, paying me a slightly higher hourly rate, and extreme flexibility. Part of the overlap has to do with the retail season (as unfortunate and ugly as a phrase as it is) and my timing. I knew I would have a better chance getting on prior to the holidays, - the consequence, of course: THE OVERLAP. Prior to Thanksgiving I had three consecutive nights of surprisingly intensive training. I became "certified." I work in the men's or young men's department. I worked Black Friday from 3:45 am until 1:00 PM. It sucked, but it is over. I have tried to be at the top of my game so as to stay on post holiday - that's my plan. It's an easy job and 12 hours a week, for the most part, should be a breeze. Some very cool people and some complete doorknobs - more on JCP specifics later.
Back to the overlap. Classes. Yikes - that pushed it for a while as I wrapped up classes and finals with a busy bookstore schedule and the start at JCP. Fortunately - with an amazing stroke of luck - my independent study professor allowed me to wrap up that class prior to Thanksgiving. So...last week, Wednesday to be precise....I took my last final as an undergrad. Boom! Done! And in additional good news, I received a rating in my education class that will exempt me from having to complete a tedious and long report covering my student teaching experience. That is a bullet I have been working to dodge this entire semester.
With school complete, the "trifold" nature of my overlap has been suddenly reduced to a "bifold" overlap. Two jobs. My last day at the bookstore will be December 27th and it cannot come any sooner. An example of one of the craziest overlap moments: Friday, Dec. 5th, the students threw a party for me (complete with a cake with a picture of me on it!)- I was up until 4:00 am, jello shots, rum-soaked cherries, gin and tonics, beer, coffee and home-made Kahlua in coffees. The next day, that same day (Sat. now), I had to do a resource fair for the bookstore at 8:00 am - that sucked. Later that day I had to work at JCP. Weird mix of fun and work and fatigue.
That was the big party, what is left is a smattering of lunches here and there and an after work gathering on my very last day. Monday, the 22nd, I am going to Greencastle for the last time to help the store manager there (whom I like) move some shelves and hang out - I am not counting this as one of my last days -because it will be mostly goofing off.
I have the 24th, 25th, and 26th completely off. I also have the week of the 29th off (we are going to try and slip in a trip to KC to see the new arrival). Then student teaching.
The anxiety concerns the change in income, but that in itself is also a good thing. Student teaching, at least for the first eight weeks is going to be fairly easy. I am familiar with the teacher (she is awesome), having worked with her in the past (she ended up requesting me) and I know what she is planning to do - she teaches literature. I am also in the unique position of not having to make up any snow days - so bring on the snow!!
Molly and Trista are well. Molly and I have started a fictional collection entitled: "A Catalogue of Caterpillars," in which we just draw made up caterpillars. We also just returned from her second Christmas program of the year. One more this Thursday.
Trista has an interview this Wednesday morning, for three hours. The staff psychologist position. Please send a good thought, prayer, or vibe our way. We'd definitely appreciate it.
In the meantime, I have been playing guitar again, which I have not done, I am sad to say, in a very long time. Look for "Old Freud" comments.
I have also read "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," started reading "Twelfth Night," and plan to read "Twilight" after that.
Cold here today -
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
YES!!!!! YESSSSSS!! WOW!!!!!!!!
I have not refreshed so much since keeping track of Utah Jazz scores in the late nineties. Back and forth, I was losing hope,and Trista came down and told me that O was ahead! What...and then....BLUE!!!!!! I could not believe how close it was...watching the counties, hoping for the best, watching huge swings within individual percentage increases...
Somehow I got my report done, but now I must sleep. Dream of the Blue Obamas tonight!
I have not refreshed so much since keeping track of Utah Jazz scores in the late nineties. Back and forth, I was losing hope,and Trista came down and told me that O was ahead! What...and then....BLUE!!!!!! I could not believe how close it was...watching the counties, hoping for the best, watching huge swings within individual percentage increases...
Somehow I got my report done, but now I must sleep. Dream of the Blue Obamas tonight!
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