People are busy. People are busy with school, work, families, etc. and you have to have something to help you unwind at the end of a long, busy week and even during the week. I wanted to share a couple of things I am doing this semester to help my stress stay low and enjoy this experience that I have.
1. Reading. There is nothing like reading a good book at the end of the day to unwind, especially fiction where you can just let your mind flow into the book. I am reading through C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogies. I am on the first book, Out of The Silent Planet.
2. Cooking. I find it relaxing and enjoyable to come home a couple nights of the week and make dinner and/or dessert. Something about a good, homemade hot meal. Tonight I made lasagna, garlic bread, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Yum! Of course I enjoy when my husband cooks too :)
3. Yoga/Pilates. Every Thursday night I go to a class at a church close by. I get to go with a dear friend and it only costs $2 a class! I enjoy stretching and breathing my way to relaxation.
4. Church. There is no better way to start my week than at church. I love being there Sunday nights and Kyle and I look forward to serving and growing together in a small group soon.
5. My husband. I feel so blessed to have him to come home to everyday after school. He has been such an encouragement to me.
6. Lucy, my Christmas kitten. Nothing like snuggling up at the end of the day with a cute little kitten, takes all the stress away!
These are just a few of the things I am enjoying especially during this season in my life. I feel very blessed!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Church
Kyle and I have found a church that we both love going to. We have been in South Carolina since we got married, so moving to Indiana and finding a church here seemed like quiet the task. Luckily, we have found it. We LOVE being there. I love the worship, the leaders, the messages, and the fellowship. We are so thankful to be a part of a church in Indianapolis and a part of what God is doing in this city. I go Sundays to be encouraged and fed, and I leave blessed, encouraged, and reminded of the wonderful God I serve.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Life in pictures
Aren't these kids adorable???
And FULL of personality!
A glimpse into my classroom...
This is where I am spending my waking hours! This week has been better than the week before as I have been able to get to know the students and my cooperating teacher better!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
First Week
Whew! I feel somewhat accomplished because I have completed my first week of student teaching! The first week went well, I enjoy my class, my cooperating teacher, and my fellow teachers. This week was a little off and unlike what the others will be, so my cooperating teacher and I had lots of recess and afterschool duty this week. I spent most of my day observing my teacher, taking notes on the students, and working through a schedule of how the semester will unfold. I will begin teaching math first, and I will start that in 2 weeks. After that, I will add one subject at a time until I am the full-time teacher in April. My Unit study will be in Science on vertebrates and invertebrates, which will include a Zoo field trip! :)
There are definitely expectations I had going into student teaching, and I have seen that some of those expectations aren't going to be met. I also went in with preconcieved ideas of how things work in the classroom, and I am gently being reminded of a wider spectrum. My school is strictly uses A Beka curriculum, which I am very unfamiliar with and will take some getting used to. Going in with an open heart and mind allows me to take in things so much better, even if they are things I necessarily wouldn't do in my own classroom, there certainly are things I would love to have in my classroom. One thing I admire most about my cooperating teacher is that she is calm and laid back, which is not how I pictured myself in the classroom. I have always worked with teachers who have a strong grip on the classroom, and they are very displined and orderly. My class on the other hand, they ARE disciplined and orderly, but in a different way. I really respect how my cooperating teacher lets their personalities come out, and that the classroom doesn't always have to be silent. But this will take some getting used to :)
All in all, this has been a great week and I am looking forward to the weeks to come! Next week = observations and work on my LRP. Thanks for reading!
There are definitely expectations I had going into student teaching, and I have seen that some of those expectations aren't going to be met. I also went in with preconcieved ideas of how things work in the classroom, and I am gently being reminded of a wider spectrum. My school is strictly uses A Beka curriculum, which I am very unfamiliar with and will take some getting used to. Going in with an open heart and mind allows me to take in things so much better, even if they are things I necessarily wouldn't do in my own classroom, there certainly are things I would love to have in my classroom. One thing I admire most about my cooperating teacher is that she is calm and laid back, which is not how I pictured myself in the classroom. I have always worked with teachers who have a strong grip on the classroom, and they are very displined and orderly. My class on the other hand, they ARE disciplined and orderly, but in a different way. I really respect how my cooperating teacher lets their personalities come out, and that the classroom doesn't always have to be silent. But this will take some getting used to :)
All in all, this has been a great week and I am looking forward to the weeks to come! Next week = observations and work on my LRP. Thanks for reading!
Monday, January 3, 2011
First Day - Check!
Well, I successfully completed my first day of student teaching, and what a sweet feeling! The class was extremely well behaved today (which I am told is not completely normal :), but they were wonderful! There are 10 wonderful boys and 7 sweet girls, all VERY different in their personalities and experiences. I am really looking forward to making an interest inventory for them this week to learn more about them. There are definitely some that I know will be hard to handle, and some that already have a place in my heart, but my prayer for this semester is that I would get to know each of them personally and appreciate all their uniqueness! One thing is for sure - they LOVE to be creative so I will need to incorporate that in as much as possible.
From here, I am observing and doing various activities in the next two weeks and hopefully jumping ahead on my long range plan and unit study (which will be 2 full weeks of science that I will teach). My first lesson will be in week three! There's lots to do, but today I am just soaking in all the changes and information! I am sipping on a free drink from my fellow baristas :) and going home to make a warm dinner.
Next goal: enjoy the class this week and get to know them, and get through a whole week of recess duty!
From here, I am observing and doing various activities in the next two weeks and hopefully jumping ahead on my long range plan and unit study (which will be 2 full weeks of science that I will teach). My first lesson will be in week three! There's lots to do, but today I am just soaking in all the changes and information! I am sipping on a free drink from my fellow baristas :) and going home to make a warm dinner.
Next goal: enjoy the class this week and get to know them, and get through a whole week of recess duty!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tomorrow is only a day away!
I cannot believe how fast time has flown by and tomorrow will be my first day student teaching. I am of course excited but also full of uncertainty and anxiety. I have already met the wonderful bunch and the teacher, so I feel somewhat comfortable knowing a little of what I will be doing this semester. I hope that I can give all of my energy to this experience so that I can get the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity. I hope I can get into this routine of teaching and being in school rather quickly, I am used to making drinks all day at Starbucks! There's still lots to do, but one day at a time and it will all get done!
For those of you who don't know I am student teaching at a school in Indianapolis called Heritage Christian School. Kyle and I recently moved into an apartment about 15 minutes from the school so it should be a close drive! We actually moved in close to Thanksgiving, had an apartment fire, and just got back last week so it has been extra crazy trying to reorganize and clean out apartment and get ready for student teaching. I am thankful to have my friends and family near, and especially those who have experienced this before.
Please leave me a note and let me know you are following, I am glad to have you along! I will post my experiences, questions, frusterations, and insights, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading, until we meet again!
For those of you who don't know I am student teaching at a school in Indianapolis called Heritage Christian School. Kyle and I recently moved into an apartment about 15 minutes from the school so it should be a close drive! We actually moved in close to Thanksgiving, had an apartment fire, and just got back last week so it has been extra crazy trying to reorganize and clean out apartment and get ready for student teaching. I am thankful to have my friends and family near, and especially those who have experienced this before.
Please leave me a note and let me know you are following, I am glad to have you along! I will post my experiences, questions, frusterations, and insights, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading, until we meet again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
