Sunday, August 16, 2009

Student Teaching Jitters

Okay, so I'm really freaking out about student teaching. There's so much to be done before I go back to Maine, and then before I go back to TEACH...gaaaaaah, nerves are jumpin'

I'm in Borders right now, and I'm looking over the Student Teacher Handbook. These are the things that I'm freaking out about on this 48-numbered "Responsibilities of the Student Teacher" list that is THREE PAGES LONG (10pt. Times New Roman Font, and the numbers are in no particular order):

1. Obtain a scope and sequence of subject matter for the 15 week period if possible (which means assuming one subject a week).
2. Accept increased responsibilities over the 15 weeks.
3. The cooperating teacher needs to approve ALL lessons at least 24 hours prior to student teachers teaching them.
4. Be responsible for the entire classroom by week 14 (including any drills or unexpected classroom problems).

Those four things are FREAKING me out. It's not because I can't do those things, I certainly can, and without trouble, it's just those things are huge things that are scary.

I'm trying to focus on things that are just as challenging, but not as scary; for instance, being prepared before the students come into the classroom. I'm the queen of doing that.



Anyway, the store is closing soon...I just wanted to share my nerves with the whole world.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Update/Trip of the Year

I know I know, I haven't blogged in...well.. a long time, but I'm back, at least for one time before I go back to school.

*Sighs* Okay. A lot has happened since I blogged last, and I'd like to share. So let's start, shall we?

I got more working hours, and worked almost everyday in July, which was good. At church, I cantored three times in a row, so I guess they like me :-) . Fr. Leo, an Australian priest who has known my family for a few years came up to see us. The trip was okay except for the migranes I kept getting. It seems like I always have to be on my best behavior when Fr. Leo comes, which isn't a bad thing, but I don't want to have him think of my family as...I don't know... disgraceful? I can't think of any other word. I just don't want him to look down on us.

After Fr. Leo left for New York, which was probably his millionth stop on his trip, I had about a day and a half to pack for my own vacation.

Of course, my vacation was to see Jake. Duh. (okay, Valley Girl moment is done) As always, being with Jake made me feel whole again; like the only thing that matters is us.

Okay, enough with the sappy stuff. Basically the trip went like this:

First, I flew on Southwest. One pilot was drunk. I'm sure of it.

I got to the Indianapolis International Airport earlier that I expected. When I called Jake after I got to the baggage claim, I saw him walking around looking for me. He went around me twice before he saw me. I'm guessing that's a good sign; that I looked too good to be me. Anyway, we headed for Steak n' Shake then...mmmmmm I love that place. Good food and great prices. We then went to Wal-Mart to look for True Blood. I bought it for Jake as a not-so-birthday present. OOh then we went into GameStop and I beat his score at archery. Hehe.

Wednesday, I spent the morning with Carol, Jake's mom. That woman has so much strength, and I don't know how she lives with 4 boys all the time. She drove me to Jake's work where I was then passed around to different departments of the hotel to meet everyone that Jake works with. Everyone except the General Manager it seemed like, haha. We met up with Sari, one of our good friends, and her daughter, Abby (who is, I must say, the cutest 1 year old I've met in a long time), and later Kevin, Sari's husband. It was really nice to be around them since I haven't seen them in almost two years. After lunch, Jake and I hit the road for Cincinnati.

I think the best part of the trip, for me anyway, was there; we had cheap Chinese, swam in the pool and just were goofing around (no, not THAT way...perves..). I loved just hanging out with him, and Jake even got a free Club sandwich out of it.

Thursday, we had breakfast and headed to the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky. I'll have pictures up later, I swear. Probably after I get back to school. It was a great place to go, and I learned a different aspect of my faith. We had lunch there, and then we headed to Norris City, where Jake grew up. It rained all the way down; well, no it didn't. It was sun for 20 minutes, then rain for an hour, and then sun, and the cycle would start again.

Once we got down to Illinois, we had amazing pizza and then we stopped at Jake's grandmother's, and his uncle's house. There I learned the real definition of "Bless Your Heart" and it's not a good one. Oh well. I got to beat up Jake everytime he said it to me. That was fun. We then went to Jake's cousin's house, and stayed there for a while. Then we went to Jake's cousin's parent's house. It's weird, don't ask; but they're great people, and I enjoyed every minute I spent with them.

Friday, we spent the first part fo the day just taking care of the kids (Samantha, Tyler, and little Tori), and then went down to Grandma's to bring our stuff down and just relax and spend time with her for a while. Then, we went and grabbed Jake's friends Buckman and Corey. By the time we got back to Norris City to pick up Sam, Jake's cousin, I already was dead of laughter. Bless my heart.

We went down to Evansville, IN, and we went to dinner and then to an arcade/laser tag place. I wasn't last place at laser tag at least, and I did hit Jake more than he hit me. :-D I'm pretty proud of that fact. After laser tag, and Corey winning 1 ticket at Deal or No Deal, we had ice cream at Coldstone, and headed back to Norris City. I then took the bed while Jake slept on the couch, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Saturday, Jake and I said bye to Grandma and then headed back to Noblesville. We got back at a reasonable time, and then got ready for the....Dave Matthews Concert. Which was amazing. That band can really play. I mean REALLY play. Cassie then called me about a half hour before the concert ended. Jake tried to leave her a message. It didn't work. Haha Baby...I was right. You needed to press 1.

Sunday, we got up for Mass, which was the weirdest Mass I've ever been to. And then we went to Wal-Mart and met up with Boje, one of Jake's...acquaintances, I guess you could call him. Sunday we just hung out at home adn had a good Turkey dinner.

Monday was the hardest, but I pulled through and didn't lose it till the very end, when I had to say that I loved him and goodbye.

Okay that took me about an hour to write because everything was just such a blur. It went so fast, and I wish I had just took more time to do things with him. Like I said before, I feel whole when I'm with him. It's not that I don't feel whole when I'm not with Jake, but it's like there's an actual hole that created itself, and when I'm not with him, it's filled up with memories and the love I get from all my friends and family; but you can still tell there's a hole. When I'm with Jake, it's like that hole doesn't exist. At all. *sighs*

So that has been my life this past summer. I've got two weeks left of work, and then I'm sort of done, and I need to pack my life for college, which takes me SO long...at least most of it is in the same boxes and stuff.

I've been bad and not talked to anyone this summer, and I'm so sorry for that. Hopefully you'll all forgive me when I get back.

*muah!* love you all