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.