Saturday, December 17, 2011
Here Come the Holidays...
People around me are flocking--completely anxious for Christmas break. But I have reached a state of calmness. I'm not losing my mind counting down the days before break--I am ok with it. I had a fantastic last week at work. This kids were surprisingly compliant, and I had the opportunity to chaperone my first field trip to the local skating rink. I haven't skated since the days of Skate World in 7th grade myself, but it was pretty fun!
My students are currently studying the Industrial Revolution Unit, where they are learning about industrialization, imperialism, and basic principals of economics. Their unit test is to be this Thursday, after a few days of review to make them as fully prepared as possible. We are also working on respect. I have become increasingly stricter and more consistent regarding classroom management, and I can tell the difference in just two weeks time. I make sure my students know they they always have the opportunity to make their own choices, but that their choice may sometimes come with a consequence. My method of discipline is as simple as writing a reflection essay, which my kids receive after their 3rd misbehavior for the class period. It is possible to earn more than one essay also. If they do not return the essay to me by class time the next day, they immediately go to a timeout room and are not able to enter the classroom again until they have accepted responsibility for their actions and become accountable.
It's a bummer that I am not allowed to show any holiday cheer in this school, because it might make parents "angry" because of religious reasons. So, when you teach, don't try and wear a halloween costume (even when they never told you you couldn't), and don't try and be a jovial person around the holidays. It will bite you in the ass.
I had a class long observation by my principal Friday with my most difficult class, both behaviorally and academically speaking. It went....ok. Even though I sometimes find myself pulling out my hair, they were so eerily quiet. The level that which I have to teach them is heartbreaking. I have students, whom in the 7th grade, are working at a 2nd grade level- max. They know hardly any English, yet I am expected to teach them the standards at the same level of rigor and with the same academic vocabulary....even when I say.. "write the title at top," and they look at me and have ZERO idea what a title is. Many of them are at the pre-emergent or emergent stage for English skills. I would definitely say that one of my weaknesses is trying to adapt to these students, because I have no idea when something makes sense to them, and which things work best for them yet. AND I have students mixed into this class who are performing at or above grade level that I am expected to teach and challenge as well.
I never said teaching was easy, and anyone who thinks it is is OUTRAGEOUS. Especially for teachers in their first years. But the hilarity of things that come out of my students mouths make it all worth it. The coworkers that I have that are amazing people totally help me through it...those that do not try and talk shit and create drama.
So, on Friday, December 23rd, I finish out my second quarter of teaching -- the first semester. I will be ONE QUARTER of the way done!!! I will have been teaching for 7 months! HOLY CRAP. hahaha...and at 6am, December 24th, I will be OFF!!! And back to Oregon for two weeks in the cold in the rain. I ask that you PLEASE try and get ahold of me now and try and make plans if you want to see me, because I hate the wishywashy shit about trying to hang out once I'm already there, since I don't have my own car there. Ooook. Here we go! Time to work ok. xxxx
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Coming Out of the Slumps.
There's this thing, know as the phases of first-year teachers attitudes towards teaching. This graph, says exactly how I've been feeling since July...so I'll just paste it in here. Let me note that this graph is according to the traditional September start, so bump back the graph in your mind so that the survival stage is at the beginning of August, since that is when I started school. It will also explain why I haven't written a new entry since August---mid survival stage.
The beginning of July I was highly anticipatory. While I was wiped out from long trainings, I was ready for the beginning of the school year and the start of my new life.
August hit, and it was a whirlwind, trying to keep up with lesson plans so I wouldn't fail my students. I spent my time trying to grade all the papers I gave them and build quality connections, and forgot about the most important thing--giving them a valuable education. I wanted to give them all the education in the world, but it wasn't until September that I started analyzing and criticizing my teaching methods in order to adjust them and give my students the best lessons possible. Taking large amounts of history and trying to get 12 year olds who are 3 years behind in reading and writing to remember it all is a difficult task. But through the past 4 months, I have been fine-tuning these skills, and am feeling much more confident in my ability to teach these children and change their lives.
October, when the rest of the state was on a one week fall break, my school did not get it. THIS was the slump into disillusionment. Oh my God, the hardest two months of my life were here, and I have never shed more tears. My administration has been completely unsupportive, but it finally hit the point where I felt as if they were trying to get me to fail my students so they could fire me. Their constant badgering turned me into a mess, and the stress was of ridiculous proportions. The homesickness was at full force, and I wanted more than anything to be able to go home. My sister came, which was a great help, and them one month later, November 10th-ish my mom came. It wasn't until the week after my mom came that I began to pick my head back up. My perspective as a teacher has shifted, and I have come to realize how much I love and appreciate my job, despite the great difficulty of it. There is still so much to learn, and juggling grad school and trying to sleep at the same time is very difficult.
I tried more than anything to keep my head up during this period, and I'll admit, not hearing the support from my "friends" back home made it even worse. People who said they really cared about me didn't make much attempt to talk to me, or try and save up to come see me. I have always been an attentive person, so I know peoples' spending habits when I'm around them. Which is why I know I am not a priority in many people's lives, because they would rather buy shoes than see me. Going home for Thanksgiving drilled that in even further, because only very few people reached out to see me. My heart feels empty, feeling residual feelings of love and desire for the ones that got away. That, is not a good feeling. I can't help thinking about that "what if" from 2 years ago, or the "what if" right now. One thing I do know in life, is that I want to find someone for me.
But even still, I am happy, and once again fully content living in Phoenix, Arizona. I knew I loved it here, especially the weather, but the feelings of homesickness made me doubt myself. I thought, if I was at home there would be people who would come over and see me and try and make me feel better. But, clearly, there were not. The only thing I am missing from this place is my family, and a few friends. And being as none of us like the cold, I have no idea whats stopping them. Take a chance...it can pay off.
So here I am, in my 5th month of teaching 7th grade social studies. I consider myself much more aware of US history, and of the minds and insane development of 12 year olds. I know how to appreciate the little things, and I wake up every day happy that the sun is shining. I am a teacher. TEACHER. and for those of you that don't understand all that entails, just spend an afternoon with me, and I'll be sure to let you know. The 16 hours a day that I put in for my kids may be exhausting, but it's completely worth it.
And, to leave you with this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU
The beginning of July I was highly anticipatory. While I was wiped out from long trainings, I was ready for the beginning of the school year and the start of my new life.
August hit, and it was a whirlwind, trying to keep up with lesson plans so I wouldn't fail my students. I spent my time trying to grade all the papers I gave them and build quality connections, and forgot about the most important thing--giving them a valuable education. I wanted to give them all the education in the world, but it wasn't until September that I started analyzing and criticizing my teaching methods in order to adjust them and give my students the best lessons possible. Taking large amounts of history and trying to get 12 year olds who are 3 years behind in reading and writing to remember it all is a difficult task. But through the past 4 months, I have been fine-tuning these skills, and am feeling much more confident in my ability to teach these children and change their lives.
October, when the rest of the state was on a one week fall break, my school did not get it. THIS was the slump into disillusionment. Oh my God, the hardest two months of my life were here, and I have never shed more tears. My administration has been completely unsupportive, but it finally hit the point where I felt as if they were trying to get me to fail my students so they could fire me. Their constant badgering turned me into a mess, and the stress was of ridiculous proportions. The homesickness was at full force, and I wanted more than anything to be able to go home. My sister came, which was a great help, and them one month later, November 10th-ish my mom came. It wasn't until the week after my mom came that I began to pick my head back up. My perspective as a teacher has shifted, and I have come to realize how much I love and appreciate my job, despite the great difficulty of it. There is still so much to learn, and juggling grad school and trying to sleep at the same time is very difficult.
I tried more than anything to keep my head up during this period, and I'll admit, not hearing the support from my "friends" back home made it even worse. People who said they really cared about me didn't make much attempt to talk to me, or try and save up to come see me. I have always been an attentive person, so I know peoples' spending habits when I'm around them. Which is why I know I am not a priority in many people's lives, because they would rather buy shoes than see me. Going home for Thanksgiving drilled that in even further, because only very few people reached out to see me. My heart feels empty, feeling residual feelings of love and desire for the ones that got away. That, is not a good feeling. I can't help thinking about that "what if" from 2 years ago, or the "what if" right now. One thing I do know in life, is that I want to find someone for me.
But even still, I am happy, and once again fully content living in Phoenix, Arizona. I knew I loved it here, especially the weather, but the feelings of homesickness made me doubt myself. I thought, if I was at home there would be people who would come over and see me and try and make me feel better. But, clearly, there were not. The only thing I am missing from this place is my family, and a few friends. And being as none of us like the cold, I have no idea whats stopping them. Take a chance...it can pay off.
So here I am, in my 5th month of teaching 7th grade social studies. I consider myself much more aware of US history, and of the minds and insane development of 12 year olds. I know how to appreciate the little things, and I wake up every day happy that the sun is shining. I am a teacher. TEACHER. and for those of you that don't understand all that entails, just spend an afternoon with me, and I'll be sure to let you know. The 16 hours a day that I put in for my kids may be exhausting, but it's completely worth it.
And, to leave you with this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Two weeks of teaching done!!
So I just finished my second week of teaching at Cordova Middle School in Phoenix. I'm still alive!! The hardest part is probably trying to come up with a good lesson plan. I feel like I'm under so much pressure, because its these children's futures that are stake. I'm getting enough sleep, but every waking moment of my week days is spent on lesson planning, and half of my weekends as well. And tomorrow I start my classes at ASU, so that's going to be a whole new battle.
I would definitely say its the one day a week on the weekend thats keeping me sane. Last weekend I went tubing on the salt river and had a great time with great friends. Yesterday I went shooting for the first time and then to the brewery, and then down to mill ave to drink the night away. It was fun. I have no one I'm trying to impress, I don't want hook ups, so it's just dancing with good friends. Stress free. But now, thinking about the rest of today and tomorrow, I'm stressing out about the amount of work I have to do. UGH. But if I can get ahead of the game this weekend and next weekend, I can go to San Diego stress free for labor day weekend and not worry about lesson planning then. Yay.
Iiiiiii...think I'm going to lesson plan for a bit. So I can go to the gym and get buff again hahaha.
I would definitely say its the one day a week on the weekend thats keeping me sane. Last weekend I went tubing on the salt river and had a great time with great friends. Yesterday I went shooting for the first time and then to the brewery, and then down to mill ave to drink the night away. It was fun. I have no one I'm trying to impress, I don't want hook ups, so it's just dancing with good friends. Stress free. But now, thinking about the rest of today and tomorrow, I'm stressing out about the amount of work I have to do. UGH. But if I can get ahead of the game this weekend and next weekend, I can go to San Diego stress free for labor day weekend and not worry about lesson planning then. Yay.
Iiiiiii...think I'm going to lesson plan for a bit. So I can go to the gym and get buff again hahaha.
Friday, July 29, 2011
I'm Still Alive.
HELLO! Today is Friday, July 29th, 2011. And...time is going WAY to fast. Like holy crap. In the last two months, that I haven't been writing, a whole hell of a lot has happened. Let me see if I can remember everything....
Well, July 16th was the last day of the intensive 5 week institute that was held at Arizona State University and public schools around the area that was aimed at training all of us to become excellent teachers in just that small amount of time. On a normal day, I would wake up around 5:30am, prep some items for the day, be on the bus by 6:40 to go to the job site, be at school until 5pm, and then come back to eat and work on lesson plans for the next day, going to be usually between 10 and 11. And my days were often much shorter than other people. I would like to thank the 3 jobs I juggled during full time school that helped me with my time management so well. But still, a 14 to 16 hour work day isn't too fun.
It was because of these long work days that we spent our Friday evenings out at The Vine, the bar across the road from campus, and Mill Ave, a whole street of bars and clubs. And because of my fondness for a camera, it's also probably why you think all we did was party, since I have a tendency to upload all these pictures haha. Truth of the matter was that it kept our sanity, and kept life interesting.
So during those long 5 weeks, I flew home to Oregon to graduate, and was looking for a place to live. I since then have moved into my own apartment in central phoenix, and am finding the location to be great so far, with the exception of not having our local variety of bars to attend haha.
Two weeks ago I got bronchitis and laryngitis, and it has been a slow recovery. I was completely voiceless for 3 days, and then extremely quieted for nearly 2 weeks after that. I would say I have my voice back finally, but my coughing has yet to cease, and has actually giving me costochondritis, which is a swelling of the cartilage in between the ribs. SO PAINFUL. I just need to sleep a ton and hopefully it will heal itself within the next month...
but no! No time to sleep, because I get kids in 1 week for the first day of school!!! Yes!! I have been into my classroom, and have seen the wrath that I will be facing. I have heard numerous horror stories about these kids, but I have decided that I will wait until I have them for a while before I say it as well...I must enforce the behavior management, and a disciplinary system, before I can say they're bad kids. Now, as long as I don't find any knives or bullets, we'll be ok.
3 weeks ago I was also officially certified to become a licensed teacher in Arizona, and have credentials to teach both Social Studies and English in any 7-12th grade classroom. Although I'm not good at speaking English, so I think it would be a horrible idea to have me teach it haha. My curriculum for 7th grade social studies is based around US history, and I will be teaching 3 regular social studies, a reading edge program, a social studies hybrid class, and an honors class. The tough thing about social studies, it prioritizing the standards they give us. Most subjects, at the 7th grade level, have between 40 and 60 standards to teach throughout the year. Which is reasonable. Social studies however, has over 250...so I am essentially slashing 200 of these standards, or finding an extremely brief way to fit them into my curriculum. Coming up with the lesson plans, and interactive activities, as well as which standards I should prioritize is definitely a concern of mine. As well as getting my kids invested enough to want to learn this.
The moment that made my life in Arizona here official was spending 3 hours at DMV Tuesday. But, at the end of those 3 hours, I walked out with an Arizona drivers license, and Arizona title and registration, and license plates for my car. Driving around, I'm no longer the stupid Oregon driver if I mess up. I'm one of them. Or so they think. I'll also be an Oregon girl at heart. I miss the beauty of the green trees and grass. But that's during the summer. I probably won't feel as bad once it's winter and never stops raining there.
Every day that I'm in Arizona though, I find something beautiful about it. 95% of the time, it is usually the beauty of the nature of landscape. Walking from the downtown ASU campus on Thursday, I realized that most definitely, does Arizona have the most beautiful sunsets. They're also a shade of pink or orange, like the sunsets you see on calendars. The sunrises are orange in color usually, but I can honestly say I've only seen like 2 of those, since I don't like to wake up early.
Lynne and I were walking through this little garden in between a variety of restaurants and shops Thursday as well, and it had a cute lit pathway, and little ponds, and grass, and tons of greenery. It may be difficult to maintain the plush greenness here, but it made me feel much more comfortable seeing it.
You can probably tell by now that I have no direction while writing this, and that I am just rambling about the first thing that comes into my mind. So, I better close out, but with one more thing...
I need visitors. Please come see me. I'm sure you'll love it here. :)
Well, July 16th was the last day of the intensive 5 week institute that was held at Arizona State University and public schools around the area that was aimed at training all of us to become excellent teachers in just that small amount of time. On a normal day, I would wake up around 5:30am, prep some items for the day, be on the bus by 6:40 to go to the job site, be at school until 5pm, and then come back to eat and work on lesson plans for the next day, going to be usually between 10 and 11. And my days were often much shorter than other people. I would like to thank the 3 jobs I juggled during full time school that helped me with my time management so well. But still, a 14 to 16 hour work day isn't too fun.
It was because of these long work days that we spent our Friday evenings out at The Vine, the bar across the road from campus, and Mill Ave, a whole street of bars and clubs. And because of my fondness for a camera, it's also probably why you think all we did was party, since I have a tendency to upload all these pictures haha. Truth of the matter was that it kept our sanity, and kept life interesting.
So during those long 5 weeks, I flew home to Oregon to graduate, and was looking for a place to live. I since then have moved into my own apartment in central phoenix, and am finding the location to be great so far, with the exception of not having our local variety of bars to attend haha.
Two weeks ago I got bronchitis and laryngitis, and it has been a slow recovery. I was completely voiceless for 3 days, and then extremely quieted for nearly 2 weeks after that. I would say I have my voice back finally, but my coughing has yet to cease, and has actually giving me costochondritis, which is a swelling of the cartilage in between the ribs. SO PAINFUL. I just need to sleep a ton and hopefully it will heal itself within the next month...
but no! No time to sleep, because I get kids in 1 week for the first day of school!!! Yes!! I have been into my classroom, and have seen the wrath that I will be facing. I have heard numerous horror stories about these kids, but I have decided that I will wait until I have them for a while before I say it as well...I must enforce the behavior management, and a disciplinary system, before I can say they're bad kids. Now, as long as I don't find any knives or bullets, we'll be ok.
3 weeks ago I was also officially certified to become a licensed teacher in Arizona, and have credentials to teach both Social Studies and English in any 7-12th grade classroom. Although I'm not good at speaking English, so I think it would be a horrible idea to have me teach it haha. My curriculum for 7th grade social studies is based around US history, and I will be teaching 3 regular social studies, a reading edge program, a social studies hybrid class, and an honors class. The tough thing about social studies, it prioritizing the standards they give us. Most subjects, at the 7th grade level, have between 40 and 60 standards to teach throughout the year. Which is reasonable. Social studies however, has over 250...so I am essentially slashing 200 of these standards, or finding an extremely brief way to fit them into my curriculum. Coming up with the lesson plans, and interactive activities, as well as which standards I should prioritize is definitely a concern of mine. As well as getting my kids invested enough to want to learn this.
The moment that made my life in Arizona here official was spending 3 hours at DMV Tuesday. But, at the end of those 3 hours, I walked out with an Arizona drivers license, and Arizona title and registration, and license plates for my car. Driving around, I'm no longer the stupid Oregon driver if I mess up. I'm one of them. Or so they think. I'll also be an Oregon girl at heart. I miss the beauty of the green trees and grass. But that's during the summer. I probably won't feel as bad once it's winter and never stops raining there.
Every day that I'm in Arizona though, I find something beautiful about it. 95% of the time, it is usually the beauty of the nature of landscape. Walking from the downtown ASU campus on Thursday, I realized that most definitely, does Arizona have the most beautiful sunsets. They're also a shade of pink or orange, like the sunsets you see on calendars. The sunrises are orange in color usually, but I can honestly say I've only seen like 2 of those, since I don't like to wake up early.
Lynne and I were walking through this little garden in between a variety of restaurants and shops Thursday as well, and it had a cute lit pathway, and little ponds, and grass, and tons of greenery. It may be difficult to maintain the plush greenness here, but it made me feel much more comfortable seeing it.
You can probably tell by now that I have no direction while writing this, and that I am just rambling about the first thing that comes into my mind. So, I better close out, but with one more thing...
I need visitors. Please come see me. I'm sure you'll love it here. :)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Proven. Road to Phoenix=long drive. 2 days later, I am HERE!!
I am IN PHOENIX!!! And holy cow, was that a long journey. The last month has been insanely crazy for me...getting in a accident, having a root canal, having 4 wisdom teeth pulled (with an allergic reaction to vicodin), working 40 hours a week, writing a 7 page philosophy paper, a 22 page thesis paper, 45 hours of online course work (that I'm still working on), studying for my next teacher licensure test, packing up my entire house and moving it, and selecting a few things to put in my car to live off of for the next 2 months, cleaning out my house, going to class and taking finals, and then driving 1150 miles from Cottage Grove, OR to Phoenix, AZ. But....I am here!!!
Phew. I'm tired.
But I must keep working. more SEI coursework and studying for my AEPA exam in the morning, of which both are required to get my license. Here goes...
p.s. please send as much love as possible. I get homesick easily, and am finding myself missing everyone a lot...and a few people insanely much. It's no bueno. Miss you guys. :(
Phew. I'm tired.
But I must keep working. more SEI coursework and studying for my AEPA exam in the morning, of which both are required to get my license. Here goes...
p.s. please send as much love as possible. I get homesick easily, and am finding myself missing everyone a lot...and a few people insanely much. It's no bueno. Miss you guys. :(
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well. let's see..... I'm going back to work today!!!!! And a long 2 1/2 weeks off. I've gotta kinda stir crazy, so it will be fun at first, but I know I will be sick of it very soon. And I can't really afford any time away from my studies, homework, and institute stuff. So that sucks. :/
On a horrible note, I failed that ORELA test again, the one I drove down to medford for. So I'm still waiting on the Praxis II from last saturday...and I should get those results on May 23...a ridiculous time I must say. So exactly 1 week before I leave I find out how much I'm going to be dreading life and that last test. :/ I've got a 30 minute presentation in my latin american studies class and a 20 page thesis paper I must write before I can get started on my pre-institute work and SEI course, which is reading like 4 books and doing a ton of activities with them. It pretty much sucks! Sooo I'ma get off, and hopefully make some progress on all this!
aaand....I leave in 22 DAYS!!! TWENTY-TWO DAYS! holy crap. It's coming QUICK!
On a horrible note, I failed that ORELA test again, the one I drove down to medford for. So I'm still waiting on the Praxis II from last saturday...and I should get those results on May 23...a ridiculous time I must say. So exactly 1 week before I leave I find out how much I'm going to be dreading life and that last test. :/ I've got a 30 minute presentation in my latin american studies class and a 20 page thesis paper I must write before I can get started on my pre-institute work and SEI course, which is reading like 4 books and doing a ton of activities with them. It pretty much sucks! Sooo I'ma get off, and hopefully make some progress on all this!
aaand....I leave in 22 DAYS!!! TWENTY-TWO DAYS! holy crap. It's coming QUICK!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
It's May. I Leave In ONE MONTH!!!
yessirree. I am pulling away from my life in Oregon one month from today, and headed to start a new beginning in Phoenix. April was an overwhelming month for me, but I expect May to be even more so. Being May 1st, I have started my SEI course thru ASU, which is an online course to prepare one for teaching students who speak English as a second language. Of course I can't get the website to work, so that poses a bit of a problem. I'll probably spend the rest of today rewriting a human rights report for my philosophy class and then hopefully making a bit of progress for my 20 page thesis paper that I have to have done within the month as well....yeah. the one I haven't started yet. The rest of this evening and tomorrow afternoon will be spent studying for my THIRD ORELA Social Sciences test which is on Tuesday. I took the Praxis II Saturday and felt I did alright, but I am not willing to wait 4-6 weeks to hear my fate. If for some reason I failed that test, it would be devastating. Especially since I will already be in Phoenix with all my stuff by the time I find out. This test on Tuesday is computer operated, and so I receive an instant print-out of my score. Yes, the Oregon passing scores are generally 20 points higher than everything else. So if I pass this I will feel completely confident in my new found knowledge and abilities in Social Studies content. It just sucks that I have to drive to Medford to take it, since I'm already in pain to begin with, and driving makes it worse.
Part of the reason April was so tough for me was that 2/3 through the month, on the 21st, I was driving with my sister to the gym and was rear-ended by a crazy lady going about 40 that hit us while stopped at a red light. I've been trying to muster through my days with whiplash, and now an intensifying neck pain. My options are either to suffer with pain, or be completely sedated by my muscle relaxers. So it has made it extremely difficult to study and do homework. And my body naturally is tired all the time trying to repair itself. I am going crazy from spending so much time at home on the couch, but I do feel fortunate for one part of this. While I'm bored as hell and need to be working to pay my bills, I'm grateful that this has allowed me some time to spend with friends and family, that I otherwise would not have gotten before I moved.
I am increasingly restless as I know my physical health is going downhill, and my muscles are going byebye and the fat is piling on. So I am really hoping that I can get into training again soon. Today was the Eugene half-marathon, and I know a couple of people that ran it. That takes a lot of balls and determination. And so I'm inspired, and have officially committed myself to running a half-marathon in Phoenix by the end of the year. It will be exciting, and hopefully I can get through it! I think it's a great goal to work for, and will be a good stress reliever once school starts and I need a release. Aaand I've found one of the other girls to run it with me. So thanks Janelle! :)
I have also decided that I want to sell my couches before I leave so I can just rent a trailer instead of a giant uhaul. It will save me a lot of money. So if anyone wants to buy them, let me know. I'm still deciding on the price. So you can always throw something out there.
I'm off to enjoy this sunny day, and possibly read outside in my lounge chair or nap the day away. Either way...The countdown has officially begun. 1 month!! EEEEE!
Part of the reason April was so tough for me was that 2/3 through the month, on the 21st, I was driving with my sister to the gym and was rear-ended by a crazy lady going about 40 that hit us while stopped at a red light. I've been trying to muster through my days with whiplash, and now an intensifying neck pain. My options are either to suffer with pain, or be completely sedated by my muscle relaxers. So it has made it extremely difficult to study and do homework. And my body naturally is tired all the time trying to repair itself. I am going crazy from spending so much time at home on the couch, but I do feel fortunate for one part of this. While I'm bored as hell and need to be working to pay my bills, I'm grateful that this has allowed me some time to spend with friends and family, that I otherwise would not have gotten before I moved.
I am increasingly restless as I know my physical health is going downhill, and my muscles are going byebye and the fat is piling on. So I am really hoping that I can get into training again soon. Today was the Eugene half-marathon, and I know a couple of people that ran it. That takes a lot of balls and determination. And so I'm inspired, and have officially committed myself to running a half-marathon in Phoenix by the end of the year. It will be exciting, and hopefully I can get through it! I think it's a great goal to work for, and will be a good stress reliever once school starts and I need a release. Aaand I've found one of the other girls to run it with me. So thanks Janelle! :)
I have also decided that I want to sell my couches before I leave so I can just rent a trailer instead of a giant uhaul. It will save me a lot of money. So if anyone wants to buy them, let me know. I'm still deciding on the price. So you can always throw something out there.
I'm off to enjoy this sunny day, and possibly read outside in my lounge chair or nap the day away. Either way...The countdown has officially begun. 1 month!! EEEEE!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ZzzzZzzz
I'm on overdrive. I've successfully studied for 4 hours a day for my Praxis test since Saturday, with the exception of today (but if I read til midnight it's possible since I've put in about 40 minutes already today. I've registered for that test, which is on April 30th, my English Immersion class through Arizona State, and my Arizona State Educators test in English, which will be on June 4th. Aaaand shelled out a wonderful 500 bucks for them all. Not fun. Buuut here I am. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm still alive!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Mhhm.. up, at the ass crack of dawn, again. No surprise there. 6:30-7:30 is my waking time, despite when I have to work, because of everything I have to do. It's getting a tad tiring, but I'm determined. Because I HAVE TO PASS THIS EFFIN TEST!!! So before I was required to take the ORELA NES Pearson Social Sciences TEst #303, which had an Oregon passing score of 237, and I obtained 231. Twice. Yes, I beat national standards, which were 220, but I just wasn't good enough, and that shot down my dreams of grad school. Well, the dreams are back, and on top of it, there's a lot more riding on this next test, being a teacher for kids that need it desperately. I can't fail. But I also can't neglect my classes now and fail those, or I still wouldn't get there. This time around I have to take the Praxis 2, Test #0081, in Social Studies. Because Arizona doesn't have a passing score for it, I have to get the passing score of Mississippi. I know, right? Weird. So the plan of attack for this weekend is to finish my LAS readings and write my paper today, so I can spend all tomorrow studying for this damn test. I'm hoping to put in at least an hour a day, I think it will make a big difference. Otherwise I'll look like a big ass when I walk into safeway a month down the road and say "just kidding guys, I'm not leaving." Terrified. Absolutely terrified to disappoint. If I can get to Phoenix, the world is open to me. And, if I ever settle down, they have incredibly cheap housing haha. :) Well I'm off to prepare for my 11 hour workday. Hopefully I can get something done today as well!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
On the Road to Phoenix...and becoming a TEACHER!!!
Because it has my name for the URL, I figured to just recycle my europe blog, into my teaching blog. This will be my, whenever I'm going on a new adventure blog. Or, in the case of my life, my everyday blog. haha. SO. I'm going to write this in a jiffy, because I've got a TON to do before work in 2 hours.
Monday, I got accepted into the 2011 Teach for America Corps as a secondary social studies teacher in Phoenix, AZ. Teach for America pretty much finds you a high need area, with high needs students, and gets you a teaching job, trains you for it, and then places you in a two-year commitment. Often times, the staff members are given the option of staying on at that particular school after their term has ended, so we'll see if I do once I get there!
That test I failed 2 times while I was overwhelmed with 17 credits and full-time work? Well it's back. So, as I've calculated, just on the 2 history study guides I have alone, that's an extra 100 pages of reading a day, on top of my 20 page thesis paper, so I can be prepared and pass this damn thing by April 30. UGH! So wish me luck on that ok?
On about June 3rd (the date is not yet fully determined), I will be moving all of my stuff into a giant UHAUL and driving 1,100 miles to Phoenix, AZ. I will then stick everything in a storage unit, and proceed to move into the ASU campus dorms, where I will get to stay until the middle of July. While I'm there, and doing my institute training, I will hopefully find a nice person to move in with, or a cheap place of my own. So, worrying about moving later will save me a lot of stress which is GOOD.
Because I start my induction on June 7th, and on June 11th, my sister graduates, I have to fly home for my sisters graduation, and my own, which will be June 13th. And then fly back to Arizona that night, to be back for the 3rd day of institute. Can anyone say GPS!? I'll definitely get lost with all this maneuvering on my own.
Tonight I will be having dinner with the other corp members who have been accepted, which is exciting. I hear one of them is going to phoenix as well!
Well, my coffee is ready, and I'm ready to start day 1 of the rest of my life. Here we GO!
Monday, I got accepted into the 2011 Teach for America Corps as a secondary social studies teacher in Phoenix, AZ. Teach for America pretty much finds you a high need area, with high needs students, and gets you a teaching job, trains you for it, and then places you in a two-year commitment. Often times, the staff members are given the option of staying on at that particular school after their term has ended, so we'll see if I do once I get there!
That test I failed 2 times while I was overwhelmed with 17 credits and full-time work? Well it's back. So, as I've calculated, just on the 2 history study guides I have alone, that's an extra 100 pages of reading a day, on top of my 20 page thesis paper, so I can be prepared and pass this damn thing by April 30. UGH! So wish me luck on that ok?
On about June 3rd (the date is not yet fully determined), I will be moving all of my stuff into a giant UHAUL and driving 1,100 miles to Phoenix, AZ. I will then stick everything in a storage unit, and proceed to move into the ASU campus dorms, where I will get to stay until the middle of July. While I'm there, and doing my institute training, I will hopefully find a nice person to move in with, or a cheap place of my own. So, worrying about moving later will save me a lot of stress which is GOOD.
Because I start my induction on June 7th, and on June 11th, my sister graduates, I have to fly home for my sisters graduation, and my own, which will be June 13th. And then fly back to Arizona that night, to be back for the 3rd day of institute. Can anyone say GPS!? I'll definitely get lost with all this maneuvering on my own.
Tonight I will be having dinner with the other corp members who have been accepted, which is exciting. I hear one of them is going to phoenix as well!
Well, my coffee is ready, and I'm ready to start day 1 of the rest of my life. Here we GO!
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