The stress and joy on campus is almost tangible right now. I know that as I hand in final projects and presentations, it feels really good and less stressful. I have officially finished 1 class. Today I will finish another class. That leaves my exit interview for my student teaching and my computerized final next week. This semester really happened. I don't know when. It hasn't seemed like 16 weeks have gone by, but it has.
We also had tithing settlement yesterday. Amazing that 2009 is also coming to a close. It has been an interesting year, especially the latter portion. It has been a good year too.
Also, as time is winding down, it is only 5 days until Endrit and I hit the road down to Vegas. A much needed reprieve from the every day. A time that I don't have to be worried about finals or assignments.
After everything I will be doing all of my lesson planning. That is going to be interesting, but I am excited for it. My site teacher wants me to start teaching right after the break. I will do that, but she will be making the lessons for the earth science portion while I make the plans for the physical science that I will be teaching.
12/4/09
To Do List
My to do list for tomorrow is hefty.
I am going to the 8:00 am session at the temple (I am so glad we live so close to the temple).
After that I have to transcribe my self assessment of the last mini lesson that I did for my class today.
I have to go to a concert and take notes on 3 songs that are performed and write a full description with technical music terms into a paper that will be about 2 pages.
Repeat the last one (for extra credit in the music class)
Transcribe and get statistics for approximately 75 surveys of middle school kids for my final project in my urban education class.
Make a PowerPoint (well finish it. I started it tonight) for my final presentation on said surveys of middle school students.
Do a self reflection for November and October for my AmeriCorps scholarship. Oops, October should have been handed in a month ago, but the will take it.
Plan for Endrit and I to do the magic show on Tuesday.
Lots, and lots of things to do. I might be able to breathe and eat in there somewhere...
I am going to the 8:00 am session at the temple (I am so glad we live so close to the temple).
After that I have to transcribe my self assessment of the last mini lesson that I did for my class today.
I have to go to a concert and take notes on 3 songs that are performed and write a full description with technical music terms into a paper that will be about 2 pages.
Repeat the last one (for extra credit in the music class)
Transcribe and get statistics for approximately 75 surveys of middle school kids for my final project in my urban education class.
Make a PowerPoint (well finish it. I started it tonight) for my final presentation on said surveys of middle school students.
Do a self reflection for November and October for my AmeriCorps scholarship. Oops, October should have been handed in a month ago, but the will take it.
Plan for Endrit and I to do the magic show on Tuesday.
Lots, and lots of things to do. I might be able to breathe and eat in there somewhere...
12/3/09
Finals
I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I have been blogging a bit less this last little while. I shouldn't be surprised that I have so much homework due at this time of year, but it is catching me a little bit off guard this semester. I don't know if it is because of the student teaching or what, but it is interesting. I have a few things that I have to do that I normal don't have to do. I am behind on some things, I am caught up on others and I am trying to get ahead on a select few things. Come Monday I will be done with one of my classes. Tuesday I will be done with another one of my classes. This Friday I am done with my student teaching class minus the exit interview. It is definitely interesting. I can't believe that the semester is almost done. I don't know where 2009 went. This has by far been the fastest feeling year by far. I hope that it is the same way when I am teaching next semester.
I am feeling more and more optimistic. I am almost certain that I will get a good enough grade in my classes to keep my scholarships as well as keep me in the program. It was touch and go for a while in one of my classes. Like I said it has been an interesting semester.
I am feeling more and more optimistic. I am almost certain that I will get a good enough grade in my classes to keep my scholarships as well as keep me in the program. It was touch and go for a while in one of my classes. Like I said it has been an interesting semester.
11/29/09
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving started out at my parent's house where we had a great Thanksgiving dinner. My Mom is always a great cook! I was able to meet my brother's fiance and help them with their engagement and family pictures. It was really fun. I think that Dexter and Jimmy were having all sorts of fun as well running in and out and scooting around on the hardwood floors. It took Jimmy a while to calm down, but he ended up happy.
Endrit and I then took a trip to Shelley to see Rick and Janet. We saw 2 of their kids families as well. It was really fun playing a new game. I think that people were nice to me because I didn't play well enough to win both times I played. The next day Endrit and I went diving at the pool where I found out that I could in fact finish my dive certification with the advice my doctor gave me about my frontal sinuses. John Abrams and his wife were diving that day as well so he was able to get an update on my brothers. It is a small world. We were able to take some pictures, my tank fell off, and I had a great time in the water and look forward to finishing the certification.
The Saturday of spring break I spent on writing my test redo. I was a happy little hermit that day. Audi (Rick and Janet's Irish Setter) was wondering where her friend went and gave me big smiles when I emerged periodically from my room.
Today we went back to my parent's house to pick up our kitties that were excited to see Endrit and I. Jimmy even came out of hiding when we came in and called for him. They have been happy to be home. They slept all the way home and have been asleep on their respective pillows since coming home.
It was a really fun weekend seeing everyone.
Endrit and I then took a trip to Shelley to see Rick and Janet. We saw 2 of their kids families as well. It was really fun playing a new game. I think that people were nice to me because I didn't play well enough to win both times I played. The next day Endrit and I went diving at the pool where I found out that I could in fact finish my dive certification with the advice my doctor gave me about my frontal sinuses. John Abrams and his wife were diving that day as well so he was able to get an update on my brothers. It is a small world. We were able to take some pictures, my tank fell off, and I had a great time in the water and look forward to finishing the certification.
The Saturday of spring break I spent on writing my test redo. I was a happy little hermit that day. Audi (Rick and Janet's Irish Setter) was wondering where her friend went and gave me big smiles when I emerged periodically from my room.
Today we went back to my parent's house to pick up our kitties that were excited to see Endrit and I. Jimmy even came out of hiding when we came in and called for him. They have been happy to be home. They slept all the way home and have been asleep on their respective pillows since coming home.
It was a really fun weekend seeing everyone.
11/23/09
Homework Holiday
I have a ton to do over the holiday break...or non break as it will be. I have to resubmit my resubmission. It sucks, but it is still for full points. I am truly grateful for that. So, that is all. I am going to have a homework holiday. (that doesn't mean I am taking a break from homework, it means I am spending the holiday doing homework)
11/20/09
A needed boost
This last little while in school has been not so great. This semester hasn't been a good semester. But, I got a test score in one of my classes today and it gave me a much needed boost. I got 100%. It has been a long time since I have gotten a 100% on a test rather than a quiz. It made sense that I would do a bit of homework after that because I was feeling productive.
11/15/09
Praxis
Yesterday I took my 2 Praxis exams for teaching. The first one was the PLT. It is the Principles of Teaching and Learning exam. Essentially it is an essay test so, because of the subjectivity of the scoring, I have no idea how I did on it, but I have hope that I passed it. The second test that I took was my content area test. Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge. I actually really enjoyed this test. Call me crazy for liking a test, but the questions were fun and mostly easy. I know that I passed that one and am looking forward to getting the score in 4 weeks.
It was a long day. I am glad that they are finally over with. It certainly isn't fun to spend 6 hours at a testing center in 1 day. But, totally worth it in the end.
It was a long day. I am glad that they are finally over with. It certainly isn't fun to spend 6 hours at a testing center in 1 day. But, totally worth it in the end.
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