I was a different person...

Have you ever had one of those days where you felt like you were walking on clouds? Everything was going right? You were on your game? I had one of those yesterday :-)

Yesterday I taught my first lesson and overall it went amazingly. I was so nervous all day but once I got in front of the students, I was a different person. I felt confident and didn't stumble over my words like I usually do. I was able to be funny yet serious at the same time. I wasn't act like I was above the students, I worked at the same level as them and they responded well. My cp was really happy with my lesson and the things I did right. I had command of the classroom and seemed so at home there. I really think its because of the teaching program I'm in. I knew to have the students read the directions instead doing it and modeling during the directions. I gave positive re-enforcement after each and every group presented their collage.

I was telling Dougie last night that I really felt like a teacher yesterday. I really think I can do this! I told my advisor about how the lesson went and she was so proud. She asked me if I had any teachers in my family because it seems to be in my blood. What a huge compliment!

Anyways, I'm getting ready for class. I just wanted to share how my day went.

Happy Veteran's Day

First off, I want to thank all of those who have served our country and have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Thank you. I also want to thank all those who are currently involved in the Armed Services for their hard work and dedication. It shouldn't matter if the war is wrong or not, we should be supporting our troops and keeping them in our prayers.

That said, I wanted to write a quick update. I'm a little fired up today but I'm feeling better. I have my first lesson tomorrow which should be interesting. My lesson plan is complete... all I have to do is make my example and write out my note cards so I know what to say tomorrow. I'm also working on the huge pile of laundry that's been building up for a while now. I just got back a little while ago from McKinnon's which is a newer market in town. They have a huge butcher case and I picked up some chicken cutlets so I could make my famous Chicken Parm tonight. I was also able to pick up the extra things I needed because they are like a mini Market Basket. It was a fun time.

This weekend was a good one too. Friday night I stayed in with Rosie and watched a movie while Dougie went to poker. Saturday was my cousin Amanda's rollerskating birthday party. You should have seen me. I looked good on that floor, passing all the little kids and looking like a huge dork. Then I did some homework and then had dinner with the in-laws at TGIFriday's in Manchester.

Sunday was Mass and Father Art is back (he had a heart attack in early October so its nice to have him back). And then Dougie and I took Dave out for lunch for his birthday. We went to Fresh City and pigged out on salad and stir fry. Then Dougie and I went to his parents when I did homework and they watched the football games that were on. Finally, the best part was my trip to Hallmark with Kiki. She has a great appreciation for Hallmark so I invited her to the special private shopping event they had for their big spenders (yikes, that makes me one of them!!!) and they had champagne, chocolate, and lots of great deals. I got my Christmas cards buy 1 get the other half off and some other stuff for people for Christmas. It was a fun time and I was so glad Kiki could make it up. It's nice to know someone who loves Hallmark even more than myself. Plus I got to see some old co-workers and I find I really miss it. Maybe that will be my summer job when I'm a teacher?

Okay, I guess I better get back to work. I have some more reading to do for Wednesday and a fake lesson plan due for my Professional Prep class tomorrow. Ciao!

Tired....

Since I'm over my half-way point at school, I've noticed I've been less excited about this whole path I'm on. For those freaking out (Doug), this doesn't mean I want to quit. It just means I'm losing steam and that scares me. I keep using the excuses "They are over-working us" or "It will never be this crazy when I'm a real teacher". But maybe it true...maybe this is what it will be like and you just deal with it. All I know is that I'm a little tired of doing homework every night of the week and living in the library.

On a brighter note, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I don't know why I get so pumped for it... maybe because its the start of the holiday season for me. Once we have Thanksgiving, then we start Advent, then about 6 birthdays later we have Christmas Eve (my favorite night of the year since my first Butterfield Christmas Eve ) and then Christmas morning which is amazing when you are married (and for all those who made fun of me for moving out Christmas 05 so I could wait to have my first Christmas in the apartment married, I still stand by that decision). So you see, Thanksgiving is my gateway to a fabulous time of year!

Today I'm going to be a boring college student: I have a 12 source bibliography to work on for my 15-20 page seminar paper, reading to catch up on, projects to start, and I'm working on next week's lesson plan to send to my CP since I'm TEACHING next week. Yes, I just said teaching. And I'm freaking out! As part of Field Study II, we have to teach four lessons in our observing classroom: collaborative learning, writing, literature, and grammar. My first lesson is collaborative learning and what I hope to do first discuss and brainstorm the traits of a hero as a class (we are reading Oedipus) and then in small groups the students will make character sketches using stuff out of magazines and they need to pick four symbolic traits to show in the collage. Some students will be working on the typical hero and some will be working on Oedipus. Then as class we will come back together and present our collages to the class. My CP really seemed to like it so we'll see how it goes. I'm really nervous about taking over the class since I've never done it before and my CP will be there watching me and evaluing me.

On that note, I'm gonna get started on my stuff. Hope everyone has a great day!