Mind Overload

I've had harder semesters than the one I'm currently in.  What makes this semester so different are the different levels of learning I'm engaging my brain in. So I'm still sitting in a classroom listening to professors lecture about blah blah this and that. Some of it helpful and some of it is the biggest waste of time and money. Then I shift to the semi adult world where I am in charge of students who ask academic, social, and moral questions. Who need guidance in more ways than one and at times look up to me more than their own teacher. It's quite a change which my mind and body are not used to. Then I shift to my third dimension of learning which is nothing like I've ever experienced before. Shift with me to the world of DD (where I work but I don't want to put their name here). It is technical, it is technological, and if you thought there were a lot of acronyms in education then come to my office. It is seriously like speaking another language.  There are times when my coworkers are talking and I honest to goodness did not understand a single word they said!! I'm stretching my brain in three different directions intellectually and it is pushing back, hard. I love the challenge, I love the new worlds I am being introduced to, but it's crazy. 

On a sadder note, I found out the other day that I'll be switching mentor teachers next semester.  My current mentor teacher is pregnant and due in March. I can't observe a substitute for obvious reasons. However, I'm starting to connect with these students. They're starting to understand the way I work and my expectations of them. They are slowly depending on me to guide them through activities, answer their questions, and just be another presence in the classroom. Now halfway through the school year I'm switching teachers. I'm very bummed. 

On a positive note, Mike and I are continually growing as a couple as we learn about "pink glasses, pink hearing aides, blue glasses, and blue hearing aides". It's amazing how one little topic can open the floodgates to wealth of understanding. Love and Respect is a gold mine.

If I was bored....

So last night may have been kind of a long night what with the Cowboys giving me a heartattack as I want to jump through the screen and STRANGLE Barron. However, I got about five hours of sleep and off to school I went. Mondays are rough days anyway for everybody but today was especially tough. I was exhausted and my teacher lectured ALL day. 

One thing my profs hound and beat us with is MODEL, MODEL, MODEL. Model EVERYTHING because the student's can't read your mind (just like husbands but we'll get to that). Today we took Cornell notes which is basically where the teacher provides an outline of the notes with some blanks and the kids fill in those blanks using the notes the teacher provides. All very simple and effective for note taking. Then she asked them to write a poem using the notes they had just taken. Their choices were a hiaku or a chiquain. Now she did have examples in their science journals but she didn't really explain it or explain the thought process. 

Now you have to remember that these students are the lowest of the lows when it comes to TAKS. Out of 50 questions the may have gotten 13 right, and that's on a good student. So these students need a bit more accommodation and help.  Honestly it got a bit tiring after awhile. I was  yawning so much it looked like I was crying. I was literally falling asleep. How sad is that?! The intern is falling asleep! How do you think your students are holding up?! I like aspects of her teaching but some of it I just want to say "Hey, these kids need EXTRA help, remember"? 

On a different note, Mike and I started Love and Respect and we got the workbooks to go with it. Twice a week we go to the gym then sit down and go through half of the questions from the workbook for the respective chapter. Tonight we started Chapter 2, Deciphering the Code. I haven't finished reading the chapter but so far this has opened up so many windows.  I knew I struggled in this area immensely, but what I didn't realize was how much it took a toll on Mike and, ultimately, our marriage. To help this we decided to get a journal. Unlike my husband I am not a wizard with spoken words. However, if I can sit down and think about what I want to say and how to make it comprehensible for someone else besides myself then I can communicate.  In this journal we write notes of encouragement (this is Mike's primary love language) and I'll write any frustrations I have. Having this outlet has had an unbelievable positive outcome. I struggle with the little things such as asking him to empty the dishwasher, take out the trash, etc. I'll let those little frustrations fester until something sets me off until we're arguing like a stupid high school couple.

First day of school

Wow what a day! Today was the first day I was able to be in a classroom with real students. That sounds silly but everything in my college career to this point has been theoretical. I was able to help the students move from one thinking level to the next! That is one of the most rewarding feelings when the students think beyond the basic material. I learned so much today and it was only day one! I can see how teachers would call their students their children. I have personally connected with some of them. I want to know their stories and their struggles. I want to help them and protect them. 

I found out today I'm in a Title I School but you'd never know from the look of it. Sadly I found out one of my students lost a lens in his glasses so he's been using just one lens and closing the other eye. Some of the students have children (I'm with 8th graders). Some of them have already been in juvie. Some of them have lost parents to violence. Some of them have lost valuable school information to violence as well. It breaks my heart. I left the school and cried because one of the stories was heartbreaking. 

Transitioning from the practice of theory to "practicing" my knowledge on students is going to be the greatest learning experience for me. Sadly the teacher I am with does everything our professors tell us not to do. 

Oih I could go on for ever!