First, I must apologize to Mollie. I am sorry that I didn't respond to the first tag that you gave me. I have a hard time thinking of 7 unique things about myself so I haven't had a chance yet. But the new tag I can do without too much thinking :)
10 years ago:
I was 13 and my family was living with my grandparents while we were waiting for our new house to built. It was my first year of middle school and mid-year I moved to my new school...Skyridge Middle School. I was trying to find my place in life (like everyone else) and realizing that I didn't want to be cool but I didn't want to be a loser either...I like to think that I landed somewhere in the middle...probably closer to the loser side of things! I did, of course, put way too much pressure on myself to be smart.
5 things on my to-do list today:
-look over Revo War unit
-organize binder
-plan science
-unit plan outline
-email thesis to Crystal
3 bad habits:
1. Leaving my phone on silent or vibrate without knowing where it is (this drives Skyler crazy)
2. Picking at my skin (my poor roommates and husband have tried to cure me but there seems to be little hope)
3. lying in bed without getting reading for bed. I don't mind it so much, but Skyler doesn't understand why I do this. But falling into bed is just so tempting. I always get back up and get ready. It just isn't the most efficient use of my time.
Places I have lived:
Vancouver, Washington
Camas, Washington
Provo, Utah
Springville, Utah
Newfield, NY
Jobs I have had:
babysitter (age 12/13)
garden nursery water girl/flower planter (age 13-15)
neighborhood lawn mower girl (age 14-15)
assistant at an insurance company (age 16-18, then 1 summer)
waitress/hostess at a small Italian restaurant (age 17, 1 summer)
janitor at the MTC for one day--then my mom and dad forbid me from walking that late (THANK YOU!--age 19)
baker at the Morris Center (hi Nathan!--age 19)
data entry specialist for LDS Philanthropies (age 19-21)
Teaching Assistant for a nursery school (age 21/22)
Things people don't know about me:
I am rebellious at heart sometimes. For example, the other day Skyler told me that I needed to stop procrastinating and get to work (in a much nicer way than that sounds). I wasn't ready for that stage yet, I was still in the "please-feel-sorry-for-me-for-having-so-much-to-do-stage." But I went right to work and thought to myself for about 3 mins..."why would he tell me what to do, he knows that I have a lot to do and that I will get to it eventually." Luckily, I talked myself out of the pouting/festering, but I sure don't like to be told what to do. (this might only be news for a few people since the people who reads this went to school with me or are my parents!)
What else, I love to travel. This was actually news to me upon our arrival in New York. I grew up in a family that went to the same beach for vacation, and I loved it. But now living in New York I find myself wanting to go somewhere new every chance I get. Is this the east coast or is this the traveler in me being unleashed? And, I LOVE the idea of going to every country possible (I add the "possible" because I really want to go to Venezuela, but that wouldn't be a smart move right now, thanks Chavez!)
I am absolutely in love with my husband Skyler Mark Tanner! (okay, must of you know that, but I thought I would remind you!)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Life as a student teacher...
Life as a teacher is wonderful. But this week I have been rudely reminded that I am a STUDENT teacher. What reminded me? The fact that I have to work on my thesis! Not only that, but I have a ton of lesson plans and reflections to write up. Also this Saturday I have my last certification exam.
Despite the fact that I am bitter about all of that, life is good. I have this week off for my district's February break. Which is quite helpful considering how large my to-do list is. Skyler and I were able to enjoy the weekend. We celebrated Valentine's Day on Thursday ... a good excuse to liven life up a bit with some chocolate and sweet time together. We made the most delicious meal as part of evening together. It was a shrimp pasta dish--hands down the most amazing pasta I have ever had!
Skyler gave me my gift in the morning and I gave him his gifts throughout the day. (this was taken at 5:30am. Notice the website in the background...that is the district page...we were keeping our fingers crossed for a snow day)
our lovely meal (no, we haven't taken up drinking...that is a bottle of root beer for Skyler and balsamic vinegar for our salad and bread and I have a glass of limonata)
Winter is getting to me a bit. I found myself full of energy last night and no ideas as how to expel it. So, in the middle of our scripture reading I decided to sing...not a reverent hymn of any sort, but the star spangled banner. Skyler quickly laughed and informed me that it was inappropriate to sing something so obnoxious while sitting in bed. (I know this sounds crazy, but you would be going crazy too if you hadn't seen the sun in a long time and snow and clouds were the only thing in the forecast for the next ten days.) Luckily, Skyler understands me and quickly made use of my energy by asking me to take over reading...not only to read, but to sing each verse. That gave us a good laugh!
I am sure I will post more during the week as I try to avoid responsibilities.
Despite the fact that I am bitter about all of that, life is good. I have this week off for my district's February break. Which is quite helpful considering how large my to-do list is. Skyler and I were able to enjoy the weekend. We celebrated Valentine's Day on Thursday ... a good excuse to liven life up a bit with some chocolate and sweet time together. We made the most delicious meal as part of evening together. It was a shrimp pasta dish--hands down the most amazing pasta I have ever had!
Skyler gave me my gift in the morning and I gave him his gifts throughout the day. (this was taken at 5:30am. Notice the website in the background...that is the district page...we were keeping our fingers crossed for a snow day)
our lovely meal (no, we haven't taken up drinking...that is a bottle of root beer for Skyler and balsamic vinegar for our salad and bread and I have a glass of limonata)Winter is getting to me a bit. I found myself full of energy last night and no ideas as how to expel it. So, in the middle of our scripture reading I decided to sing...not a reverent hymn of any sort, but the star spangled banner. Skyler quickly laughed and informed me that it was inappropriate to sing something so obnoxious while sitting in bed. (I know this sounds crazy, but you would be going crazy too if you hadn't seen the sun in a long time and snow and clouds were the only thing in the forecast for the next ten days.) Luckily, Skyler understands me and quickly made use of my energy by asking me to take over reading...not only to read, but to sing each verse. That gave us a good laugh!
I am sure I will post more during the week as I try to avoid responsibilities.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Life as a teacher...
So for those of you who don't know I have started my student teaching, which means I am in the same classroom all day everyday for 8 weeks at a time. The actual teacher of the classroom is always there, but if she were to leave I am expected to run the show...which means I do a lot of the teaching. So in some ways I am job shadowing and in training. Also for my degree I am observed by a supervisor once a week or so and she determines how well I teach. This can be stressful.
Well, so far I have survived the first 2 weeks. I have really enjoyed it and I think I am starting to fall into place. My students are responding well to me and my host teacher and supervisor are both very complementary. This does not mean that I am perfect, by any means. For example, I still struggle with management. It is hard to keep 27 students quiet when you are walking in the halls to lunch! I am working on having a "stronger voice"--being stern without being emotional, evidently I have a nice voice (something good to know--I think it is a nice way to say that I have a soft, passive tone). I am really growing to love each of my 27 students, even those who ALWAYS disrupt the class. Each of my students definitely have something special to offer.
My lessons seem to go well. My students are responsive to my questions and seem to enjoy learning the things I teach them. It is hard to come up with "the perfect lesson." I am teaching the American Revolution unit, which is a blast. I especially love that I get to do this in New York. I don't remember having an entire unit on the American Revolution when I was in school in Washington state.
So, if I am so busy, how do I have time to do this blog update? Well, in the life of a teacher you never know what is going to happen. I woke up this morning at 5am, got completely ready, then at 6:55 Skyler went to start the car and realized that the car was covered in ice. So he checked the district website and sure enough school was canceled. Oddly enough school cancellations are just as exciting to me as a teacher as they were when I was in elementary school!
Well, so far I have survived the first 2 weeks. I have really enjoyed it and I think I am starting to fall into place. My students are responding well to me and my host teacher and supervisor are both very complementary. This does not mean that I am perfect, by any means. For example, I still struggle with management. It is hard to keep 27 students quiet when you are walking in the halls to lunch! I am working on having a "stronger voice"--being stern without being emotional, evidently I have a nice voice (something good to know--I think it is a nice way to say that I have a soft, passive tone). I am really growing to love each of my 27 students, even those who ALWAYS disrupt the class. Each of my students definitely have something special to offer.
My lessons seem to go well. My students are responsive to my questions and seem to enjoy learning the things I teach them. It is hard to come up with "the perfect lesson." I am teaching the American Revolution unit, which is a blast. I especially love that I get to do this in New York. I don't remember having an entire unit on the American Revolution when I was in school in Washington state.
So, if I am so busy, how do I have time to do this blog update? Well, in the life of a teacher you never know what is going to happen. I woke up this morning at 5am, got completely ready, then at 6:55 Skyler went to start the car and realized that the car was covered in ice. So he checked the district website and sure enough school was canceled. Oddly enough school cancellations are just as exciting to me as a teacher as they were when I was in elementary school!
Bangs continued...
With so many requests for a full picture I decided to oblige. I had intentionally cropped the other pictures because I wasn't wearing make up at the time and was lounging around in my sweats after a day in nylons! :) But this morning the opportunity presented itself to look nice and take pictures. So here is the full look.
So, what do you all think now?
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