With the leaves in full color, perhaps even past full color, I figured this past week was a great week to do my hiking and orienteering unit. Some teachers gave me a hard time but you would not believe how much one can get out of a brisk walk through the woods. Tuesdays and thursdays I teach 10 classes including my 5th grade girls. With pedometers being introduced this week, I thought it might be cool to see how many miles I actually walked while teaching on a tuesday or thursday. Through 8 classes, I had already walked just shy of 9 miles. Needless to say, the students and I were beat. My students are truly enjoying the simplicity of a hike.
After a great week that included my first "flu bug" of the year, I returned to Eau Claire for the opening day of pheasant season. Every time I return to Eau Claire, I am always looking to see where Altoona football is in action. Having student taught, coached and subbed in Altoona, there are many great connections that I love to keep in touch with. I stopped in at the game to initially see Matt, but had the chance to also see Altoona (Jon and Durka) finally beat up on a team instead of the other way around. . .(kidding guys). I also had the chance to talk and catch up with Ali, Ariel and Mo. . .along with many other students I had while teaching there. As I was leaving the game, I got into my car and realized how much my life has been influenced by the students I have taught and the athletes I have coached. These people, really become a part of your life and there is a sincere care that develops from your time with them. A care that says "I would do anything to make sure these young adults get the best in life". It was a bitter sweet feeling I got leaving Altoona's football field. In one way, I cannot help but miss my connections at Altoona. In another way, I am very excited to experience the relationships I will establish in Spooner. I hope all is well with whoever is reading this and you can appreciate your relationships as much as I am trying to!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
What a trip!
So my first month has come and gone. My classroom protocol has been established and now the students have turned to finding ways around this "ideal" management philosophy. . .and they have found the loop-holes. I shall spend the next few weeks patching up these holes.
It has been such a long time since my last blog and for good reason. I apologize and do let me explain. See, being I am a newbie to the real world experience, I cannot yet afford internet or a computer for that matter. Who would have thought "high speed" internet could cost so much. I then turned to plan B: blog from school. Well, for all those in education or any other business building where internet can be a distraction for both students and staff, the Spooner School District was kind enough to filter this blog site. I can see my blog but I cannot publish any posts. . .go figure. I even pulled out the stops and pleaded with the tech. department that the blog is my way of reflecting and will be used in my Professional Development Plan (the NEW way to get relicensed in education). With no avail, I am left to plan C: blogging from Michael's computer whenever I get the chance to be in EC. Sorry for stealing your computer Michael.
The first two weeks of school were packed with blog-worthy stories highlighted by a hot September day in which I held classes outside. Apparently, Spooner elementary grounds are great breeding grounds for grasshoppers. As I took one 1st grade class outside to play some kicking games, I noticed the students were no longer listening to me, but rather hunched around the mesh ball bag looking at something. I knew right away what they were looking at. . .grasshoppers. I went over to break up the distraction and one student blurted out "Mr. S, look, that one hopper is tackling the other", as he pointed out 2 hoppers that were um. . . mating for lack of a better word.
"You bet!" I reaplied. I was immediately corrected by different student who clearly has parents that must not hide their in-bedroom practices that well. Jacob let everyone in the class know "They aren't tackling each other. They are HUMPING". Of course, this was followed by a slew of questions from various students regarding what "humping" meant. I am still 6 credits short of my health education certification so I figured I was not qualified to answer this question. Needless to say, the rest of my management that day was spent redirecting the class. I couldn't help but immediately bust a small laugh. Loved it!
As I sit here tonight (Wed. Oct. 8th), getting ready for my first teacher convention, "OOOooooo", I am drowning in reflection on what a great month this has been capped off by an amazing day today. The kids made my day today. I have truly realized my frustrating days and weeks are when my "education" has not been centered around the kids. When I get caught up in the business and politics of it all, I begin to get frustrated and confused, but when I re-center myself to the children, my job again becomes the best job in the world. Lovelove!
It has been such a long time since my last blog and for good reason. I apologize and do let me explain. See, being I am a newbie to the real world experience, I cannot yet afford internet or a computer for that matter. Who would have thought "high speed" internet could cost so much. I then turned to plan B: blog from school. Well, for all those in education or any other business building where internet can be a distraction for both students and staff, the Spooner School District was kind enough to filter this blog site. I can see my blog but I cannot publish any posts. . .go figure. I even pulled out the stops and pleaded with the tech. department that the blog is my way of reflecting and will be used in my Professional Development Plan (the NEW way to get relicensed in education). With no avail, I am left to plan C: blogging from Michael's computer whenever I get the chance to be in EC. Sorry for stealing your computer Michael.
The first two weeks of school were packed with blog-worthy stories highlighted by a hot September day in which I held classes outside. Apparently, Spooner elementary grounds are great breeding grounds for grasshoppers. As I took one 1st grade class outside to play some kicking games, I noticed the students were no longer listening to me, but rather hunched around the mesh ball bag looking at something. I knew right away what they were looking at. . .grasshoppers. I went over to break up the distraction and one student blurted out "Mr. S, look, that one hopper is tackling the other", as he pointed out 2 hoppers that were um. . . mating for lack of a better word.
"You bet!" I reaplied. I was immediately corrected by different student who clearly has parents that must not hide their in-bedroom practices that well. Jacob let everyone in the class know "They aren't tackling each other. They are HUMPING". Of course, this was followed by a slew of questions from various students regarding what "humping" meant. I am still 6 credits short of my health education certification so I figured I was not qualified to answer this question. Needless to say, the rest of my management that day was spent redirecting the class. I couldn't help but immediately bust a small laugh. Loved it!
As I sit here tonight (Wed. Oct. 8th), getting ready for my first teacher convention, "OOOooooo", I am drowning in reflection on what a great month this has been capped off by an amazing day today. The kids made my day today. I have truly realized my frustrating days and weeks are when my "education" has not been centered around the kids. When I get caught up in the business and politics of it all, I begin to get frustrated and confused, but when I re-center myself to the children, my job again becomes the best job in the world. Lovelove!
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