Free time? What is this thing you speak of? Vacation time? No schoolwork (at least I'm pretending I have no work to do)?? How shall I spend my days?! Well, since the military sometimes likes to toy with my schedule, we can't leave to go home for Christmas until the 23rd (sad). AND, that means I am spending a week alone while not working. So... what to do... I have some ideas. There's the required packing to vacation that has to (eventually) get done. There's also the expected cleaning... which surprisingly, I've almost completed! Amazing!! And then there's the required books I have to read for my class. But, let's be honest... none of that is really fun. Instead, I've managed to spend my days watching Bones on Netflix or a variety of other movies. I also bought a Sistine Chapel puzzle from Target that is calming and challenging. Fantastic! It's a 2000 piece puzzle... my hardest yet. I do realize that as I tell this tale, I depict my clear nerdiness, but Grandma always told me to keep my brain active. Other activities so far this week? Hanging out at the Post Office (which is NO fun), baking pizza (because I don't want to cook), and playing laser pointer with the dogs (because that's the easiest way to tire them out). One other thing I learned this week so far... washing a tarp is an activity best done NOT in the washing machine. Good times! :) As fun as my week has been so far, I can't wait to head up to the beautiful winter wonderland that awaits our Christmas celebration! Snow shoeing across the lake; wearing my wolf fur hat; seeing my family! VERY exciting! I really am one of those people who enjoys my family. So, this free time that people speak of... I have decided I LOVE IT!!
"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"
-Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Respect - v. - to consider worthy of high regard.
It's a simple enough definition, but in today's society, this word holds a lot of power. I always hear students talk to me about how a teacher or fellow student doesn't respect them, so why should they show respect. That's a simple enough explanation. Here's the part I don't understand. How can people demand respect? Is it right for students to instantly respect teachers because we're "authority figures"? Should teachers instantly respect students because the students demand respect? I believe this idea applies all over the place.
I also believe people have overused this word repsect. They throw it around like everyone deserves respect, but I don't think that's true. I think everyone deserves to be treated kindly, and I believe that people who will earn the most respect will always treat others respectfully. BUT, people still have to earn others respect... they have to be somebody that others consider worthy of high regard. And, sad to say, I don't think everyone in this world deserves that. I wonder if there is a way to teach this idea to my students. How do I teach them the difference between being respectful and giving someone their respect.
And so, I end my random ramblings today hoping that you will ponder the difference and understand that being respectful doesn't necessarily mean that you are giving respect.
“I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It's a simple enough definition, but in today's society, this word holds a lot of power. I always hear students talk to me about how a teacher or fellow student doesn't respect them, so why should they show respect. That's a simple enough explanation. Here's the part I don't understand. How can people demand respect? Is it right for students to instantly respect teachers because we're "authority figures"? Should teachers instantly respect students because the students demand respect? I believe this idea applies all over the place.
I also believe people have overused this word repsect. They throw it around like everyone deserves respect, but I don't think that's true. I think everyone deserves to be treated kindly, and I believe that people who will earn the most respect will always treat others respectfully. BUT, people still have to earn others respect... they have to be somebody that others consider worthy of high regard. And, sad to say, I don't think everyone in this world deserves that. I wonder if there is a way to teach this idea to my students. How do I teach them the difference between being respectful and giving someone their respect.
And so, I end my random ramblings today hoping that you will ponder the difference and understand that being respectful doesn't necessarily mean that you are giving respect.
“I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Friday, December 3, 2010
I forgot a quote for the week:
“The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke
“The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke
Teaching American History Grant
If there are two things that go together like oil and water, it's education and politics. As a teacher, all I see coming from politics is... BAD. Currently, politics are causing me to have district test scores determine my pay... AND district tests are not beneficial to students whatsoever. They don't determine which classes students should be put in. They don't determine student's ability or any accommodations students may need.
BUT, the government has done one thing great for education: the Teaching American History Grant. Amazing! This grant was created to ensure history educators had extra history/pedagogy classes. This way teachers were constantly on top of current pedagogy and could be constant lifelong learners WITHOUT spending an arm and a leg on tuitions.
Here is how I have been blessed with the Teaching American History grant:
I will have completed my last 8 masters credits with TAH grant classes
Last spring, I had the opportunity to present at the National Council for History Educators conference... and I have the same opportunity this year as well!!
I have gain massive amounts of state/local history and improved using local archives to teach
I've been taught how to use DBQs in all levels of classrooms
Finally, I have recently been accepted to take a 10 day trip to Boston and a week of class at George Mason University in June and July! This last course will help me complete my Masters and have 4 extra credits. I am so excited!
And I am so happy that SOMETIMES our government gets things right with education. For now, i'll stay positive and keep that in mind every time my school frustrates me.
BUT, the government has done one thing great for education: the Teaching American History Grant. Amazing! This grant was created to ensure history educators had extra history/pedagogy classes. This way teachers were constantly on top of current pedagogy and could be constant lifelong learners WITHOUT spending an arm and a leg on tuitions.
Here is how I have been blessed with the Teaching American History grant:
I will have completed my last 8 masters credits with TAH grant classes
Last spring, I had the opportunity to present at the National Council for History Educators conference... and I have the same opportunity this year as well!!
I have gain massive amounts of state/local history and improved using local archives to teach
I've been taught how to use DBQs in all levels of classrooms
Finally, I have recently been accepted to take a 10 day trip to Boston and a week of class at George Mason University in June and July! This last course will help me complete my Masters and have 4 extra credits. I am so excited!
And I am so happy that SOMETIMES our government gets things right with education. For now, i'll stay positive and keep that in mind every time my school frustrates me.
