Teacher @ MindSay

I thought it's been a while since i updated my dedicated readers (i've learned recently there are at least a couple!) on my life... as opposed to the more usual news stories that i find most interesting and share-worthy.  So, here it is:
I've been watching a lot of movies on DVD or online on Netflix, it's much more value for your money now that you can also watch a lot of them online from their Site.  Unfortunately, to do so, i have to use "the Borg's" [Star Trek reference] Internet Explorer instead of Mozilla Firefox which is what i prefer to use the rest of the time.  I also got caught up on The Office (season 2 & 3 via Netflix and season 4 via NBC's Website).  The Office (USA version) has an actor who is a Baha'i, by the name of Rainn Wilson, in case you didn't know.  He also had a supporting role in The Last Mimzy (love it!) and Juno, which i'm hoping to finally see this week, as it's playing at the Olympia Film Society's Theater this week. And on Lost, from the ABC website.
And in brief:
Had a stye on my left eyelid last week, didn't go to a doctor since i don't have medical insurance yet (but will soon-- see job news below) but managed to treat it with hot certified organic green tea bags over a few days (green tea has some anti-bacterial properties)-- and prayer    0;^) .
Almost finished studying Arising to Serve (Ruhi book 2) and looking forward to soon doing the practice for it.  Also, i'm currently facilitating a Twin Manifestations-- Ruhi book 4 study circle on Monday evenings, which is also very enjoyable.
On Saturday morning i observed the Bell Misogi and Aikido class at Olympia's fairly new Aikido dojo-- it's only been around for about a year and a half.  This Saturday or by next week i'm planning to start training there, even though my Gi is currently lost (i still hope it'll be found though), but they said i can train in street clothes for now, so i'm glad about that!
I recently finished reading The Kite Runner and will soon finish Khaled Hosseini's next book A Thousand Splendid Suns.  They're both great books!  Well worth reading.
And, i finally got hired for a full time job as an assistant teacher at a "Head Start" preschool.  I filled out the paperwork on Monday, lots of it :^p  And and got a clean bill of health from the doctor.  It's called "Roger's Head Start" and is on the same grounds as an elementary school and/or kindergarten in N.E. Olympia-- that's one of the great things about it: that it's in Olympia (as opposed to one of the many nearby towns)!  It's a full time job. (but not during the summer).  I'm very happy about it, i think i'll enjoy it much more than some of the other options that i looked at/applied for.  Together with the part time theater work i'll be able to get through the summer financially, now, even if i don't get a summer job, but i'm probably going to try to get one, anyway.
I'll be minding the kids on their bus rides and also assist in the classroom for the afternoon class so it'll still be a 40 hour week.  And i'll be able to get full Benefits through it (i.e. health insurance).  It pays $9.25/hr. Which is not all that much but good enough for now, since, importantly, it leaves my evenings and weekends free for Theater work and Baha'i activities.  I will be one of the follow-spot operators for The Rocky Horror Show in June and July which will be very fun, i'm really looking forward to it!

myclette has just told us that it is National Poetry month, and environgirl asked her to write a poem each day this month.  I thought this was just what I needed to get my butt into gear and do some fun writing again.  I may just keep them light; this one certainly is, and I hope you all enjoy....please feel free to write poems as well...I would love to see what all of you friends can do...I challenge you!

 

I will do day two and three tomorrow, so that I will be up to date.

Here goes; enjoy!

 

APRIL FOOL

 

I recall on this day, the one time when I

Was a substitute teacher, and oh, my, my, my!

The littlest tyke, in third grade was she

Pulled the wool o’er my eyes, beautifully!

 

She entered the room, had one leg well bound

She’d sprained her ankle and fallen aground

When she’d played in the park the previous day

I had no doubt that it had happened that way.

 

An hour went by and then we were called

For the library hour, ‘twas way down the hall

Down a flight of stairs was the way to the room

To walk all the way would surely be doom

 

That little miss hobbled so slowly

That I decided to help would be holy

I picked up the darling and took her downstairs

Depositing her at the desk with her wares

 

I wondered at first why she’d said she was fine

With the bandaged leg, and the dragging in line

I even carried her back up the steps

Just to discover that tradition she’d kept

 

“April Fool” she said, with cheeks that were red

She yanked off the bandage; that’s all that she said

Almost went skipping back down to class

So happy that she’d made of the teacher an…. ass!

 

Bonniegirl April 2008

 

 

This is officially my very first blog. I'll have to be honest, I was a little nervous about putting my thoughts out there for everyone to view. I am looking for anyone who would like to comment on becoming a middle school teacher. My plans are to teach 7th or 8th grade Social Studies. Do you think there is still a need to teach Social Studies? My thought...more than ever! I believe it's very important for students' to understand the world around them because we are becoming more of "one" world. The United States does more now than ever with other countries.

 

I am currently a second year college student working towards my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. I'd love to hear from anyone who has any advice for me. What do you wish someone had told you before becoming a teacher? What is the best part about being a teacher? What is the worst part?

 

For one of my assignment’s I was asked to create a blog about my class and if I would use “blogging” in my classroom. I’ve heard that student’s tend to be a little more honest when asked to write something online. This could be a bad thing, but I think I would actually enjoy reading comments by my students. This would be perfect for those who don’t like to speak up in class, but at the same time I could get them to share their feelings about a subject.

 

For example, if we are learning about China I would ask them to blog each other on what they’ve learned about China and their thoughts. I think I could get a real sense of how the students feel about the subject matter. I could treat it like a discussion board students complete for online courses.

This is the week of the New Experiment ... revisited.  No, not another economic plan, but a re-arrangement of the students at the Child Development Center where I am now employed.  I was hired to teach the "young" 2's ... an ominous task!  The first two weeks of my employ (and most of the recent past), the class of 12 two yr olds have been taught as one class by one teacher with one aide.  Starting tomorrow, there will be an "older" 2's AND a "younger" 2's class.  I am really looking forward to the experiment, and think it will prove successful on several levels.  We will still join together for outside playtime and walks, and probably for their blessed nap-time, too!  ;) The hardest thing, at least at the beginning, will be the separation from former classmates. I'm sure I'll hear ... “Where's Joey? Or Lauren?” a few times, but they'll see each other at various times most days.  

 

Drawing up lesson plans for a "young" 2's class is a bit different than for a high school lit class.  (I know ... that 's a big surprise, hmmm?)  In a high school classroom, the lesson plan, at least for me, helped me to stay on track, focused, and organized.  Although it wasn't exactly chiseled in stone as unalterable, it was not often we strayed far from it.  In the classroom of 2 yr olds, the lesson plan is simply a general guideline ... almost a "wish list" or prophetic vision of where I think the various questions or stories might take us.  We do have some structure so the children know generally what to expect, although it will change now that the class is smaller and more intimate.  With only 6 students at the most, I should have more time to observe and work with each child individually ... at least that is my expectation.  Free play is the best way to assess and observe their development, so that will continue to be a big part of the day.  These students all love story-time, though, too, and are used to having several small books read to them at one time.  Many of the books we have are nursery rhymes or finger play songs like "Eansy-Weansy Spider", "Baa Baa Black Sheep,"  “5 Little Monkeys,” "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" etc ... a cool thing because they then can look at the books later and sing along to themselves in individual play.  (The books really take a beating, too!) 

 

Our Spring theme is "Our Bloomin' Garden," and the plan is to build a garden-esque bulletin board with the daily art projects of the students that demonstrates, at least to some degree, their personal growth.  One of the books I will be using is called, “I Am a Seed.” It's a cute little book about how different seeds grow up differently depending on what kind of seed they are.” Fun, concepts, hmmm?  

There is a marked difference, though, between this class and the class I left behind at my former center ... a huge difference!  In the old center, out of the 8 students I had, only one could really carry on a conversation.  It made her stand out miles above the others, but in reality, she is normal.  In this center, every one of them has enough language to have a simple conversation or repeat sentences and phrases that they hear.  It's an interesting comparison because it is not just an economic issue, but that's for another post ... :)

 

~ B

I heard about this ruling yesterday and am somewhat aghast that such a ruling was handed down.

"Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children," wrote Justice H. Walter Croskey in a Feb. 28 opinion signed by the two other members of the district court. "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program."

For those of us who are not truly informed, say the judge for instance, it might come as a total shock that the majority of the Founders were home educated. Whether it was Washington, taught by his own mother, or any of the other Founders; the majority enjoyed the education of people who did not hold a teaching certificate.

At any given point in history, children have been educated by those who have never held a degree or a certification. The fact that this particular judge has handed down such a ruling when California has long supported Home education is just another example of judicial legislation.

Not that I am in any way surprised that we see this coming out of the Great State of California's Justice League. I should also note that I've met many teachers who held a certificate and still managed to be more uneducated than I. And I...well I have no degree.

The theory that only those with certs are capable educators is the prevalent thought in today's society of social engineering. It is not just a matter of law anymore, but is a commonly held misconception. For the majority of America this ruling will probably seem to 'just make sense". And for them I'd say, try talking to your local college graduate. Ask them those probing questions of where the Empire State building is...or something truly deep like that. My guess is that if your experience is like my own, you will find yourself over-awed by their amazing lack of education.

However, ask them about any social issue like marijuana use, gay rights, racial tension, or global warming and you will get a plethora of information. Mostly incorrect of course because the science and the unbiased studies don't make scratch with the college teachers of today. After all...who needs true scientific method when it goes against the social engineering you think is necessary. Why stop the brainwashing for a little education?

As the wise man once said....."A little education is a dangerous thing."