I wish. I try to get things done over the weekend, but we always end up having something else to do. Saturday I tried to get everything prepared for this week, but I was unsuccessful in doing that. Then in the afternoon there was a party at my dad's work that we all went to. That was fun, with really good food, and a not-too-good MC. Then Jakob did a Grassroots Shakespeare show in the park in the evening, so we had a night out. Then Sunday I tried to work on stuff a bit more but I couldn't get through some of the stuff that my students had finished, so I ended up taking a long break. In the evening though it was nice to go over to my parents and eat and just relax there for a bit.
I want my lazy weekends back.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
D9
So I went with the boys over the weekend to go see District 9. I'm still not sure what I feel about the movie. There are some great moments, but not a lot that I would say "oooh, I need to see that movie again". The story line was kind of weak and some of the visuals were really disgusting. There are things left unsaid and unfinished. It is done in a documentary style, but they lose that style after a while then start it back up again. It keeps dropping in and out, so you kind of need to pay attention. Some of the CGI work was well done, but like I said before, some of the visuals I could have done without, along with a lot of the dialogue. Plus the accents keep changing on certain characters too.
There was just a lot left to do on this movie (in my opinion), so this definitely isn't something I would recommend to most people.
There was just a lot left to do on this movie (in my opinion), so this definitely isn't something I would recommend to most people.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Cookies!
I got cookies yesterday and they were yummy! Thanks Court! Just what I needed. Read my teaching blog if you are interested in know what is going on.
On another note, I am happy that it is Friday. I get a few days to think only minimally and try and relax and get set for the next week.
Ahhh, let the weekend start.
On another note, I am happy that it is Friday. I get a few days to think only minimally and try and relax and get set for the next week.
Ahhh, let the weekend start.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Why so much trouble?
Ugg, it is getting ridiculous to try and move around town. The students are all coming back, meaning that there is more traffic and weird people that don't know how to navigate the streets around campus.
There are times I like summer around here because it tends to get a bit quieter and the streets aren't as crowded (unless there is an event going on), but this summer there were so many people that actually decided to stay in town that there hasn't been that much of a difference in the traffic . . . until now. The town is beginning to fill up again and people are trying to navigate things. I'm trying to navigate around them and make sure that I'm alive and navigating through life isn't exactly what I wanted to be doing right now.
Sorry, that was a really weird transition into trying to navigate through life right now. Yep, that is what I'm trying to do. So many things are going on right now that I have very little control over and trying to make sure that everything is in its place in such a short amount of time is driving me the wrong direction. I guess I'm just going to have to try and take it a couple days at a time until things start to fall into place and move the way I want them to again.
Jakob and I are also trying to figure out what exactly it is we want to do with our futures. I've got this job now, but do I want to stay with it? Jakob is finishing up his teaching license. Do we want to stay with that? Ugg, things are so frustrating.
Not to mention teaching; because I really don't want to think about that at the moment. Yes, I'm in the middle of my day, but it isn't clear to me what it is I am supposed to be doing. I get that I'm supposed to be teaching, but teaching exactly what is what I'm trying to figure out. I have the standards and the programs, but I keep getting the "_______ did it this way" and "________ did that" and I have to keep reminding them that I'm not ________, but I appreciate the fact that they are trying to put me in the right direction.
Sigh, oh well. Back to working with freshman.
There are times I like summer around here because it tends to get a bit quieter and the streets aren't as crowded (unless there is an event going on), but this summer there were so many people that actually decided to stay in town that there hasn't been that much of a difference in the traffic . . . until now. The town is beginning to fill up again and people are trying to navigate things. I'm trying to navigate around them and make sure that I'm alive and navigating through life isn't exactly what I wanted to be doing right now.
Sorry, that was a really weird transition into trying to navigate through life right now. Yep, that is what I'm trying to do. So many things are going on right now that I have very little control over and trying to make sure that everything is in its place in such a short amount of time is driving me the wrong direction. I guess I'm just going to have to try and take it a couple days at a time until things start to fall into place and move the way I want them to again.
Jakob and I are also trying to figure out what exactly it is we want to do with our futures. I've got this job now, but do I want to stay with it? Jakob is finishing up his teaching license. Do we want to stay with that? Ugg, things are so frustrating.
Not to mention teaching; because I really don't want to think about that at the moment. Yes, I'm in the middle of my day, but it isn't clear to me what it is I am supposed to be doing. I get that I'm supposed to be teaching, but teaching exactly what is what I'm trying to figure out. I have the standards and the programs, but I keep getting the "_______ did it this way" and "________ did that" and I have to keep reminding them that I'm not ________, but I appreciate the fact that they are trying to put me in the right direction.
Sigh, oh well. Back to working with freshman.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Another book and new blog
So I've been busy with pre-school start stuff so most of my reading has either been put on hold or changed course. I've had to read a couple of children's books to analyze them, so I'm counting them.
I've started another blog to keep my school thoughts in. I will still post here for my reading and what is going on in my life, but anything regarding my teaching or what goes on in my class I'll post on my other blog: Adventures in Teaching CTE. I haven't had time to create a background, so I found something that I kind of liked. If anyone has any idea how to take away the search function and the "about me" and "rss feed" text at the top, please let me know. I can't find it in the xml.
Book 18: The Midnight Library (Voices) by Damien Graves
3 short stories geared towards younger readers. I may be able to use 1 of the stories in my film class and have them adapt it for film.
Book 19: A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
Another childrens book that has a fun story. It is a quick read. It follows Joey and Mary Alice through many summers with their "small town" Grandma Dowdel. Has some fun laughs in it.
I've started another blog to keep my school thoughts in. I will still post here for my reading and what is going on in my life, but anything regarding my teaching or what goes on in my class I'll post on my other blog: Adventures in Teaching CTE. I haven't had time to create a background, so I found something that I kind of liked. If anyone has any idea how to take away the search function and the "about me" and "rss feed" text at the top, please let me know. I can't find it in the xml.
Book 18: The Midnight Library (Voices) by Damien Graves
3 short stories geared towards younger readers. I may be able to use 1 of the stories in my film class and have them adapt it for film.
Book 19: A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
Another childrens book that has a fun story. It is a quick read. It follows Joey and Mary Alice through many summers with their "small town" Grandma Dowdel. Has some fun laughs in it.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
I'm on a roll
So, in order to help de-stress a bit (read previous post), I've been going over to my parent's home a lot lately.
1) because they have my adorable cat
2) they have a swinging bench
3) they have a private backyard where I can sit in that swing and read
4) Jakob is on set until really late recently so I go over to play with my cat and my brother. He's teaching me the finer points of gaming.
Book 17: Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Really good information, yet really disturbing information. I don't eat a lot of fast food and I don't eat beef, so it wasn't as bad for me as it would be for someone who actually eats that stuff.
Schlosser did a lot of research for this book and it shows (plus there is a HUGE section in the back of the book with all his research notes). The historical aspects that he brings in are really fascinating. While the book really revolves around MacDonalds (because it was one of the first real 'fast food' establishments) it touches base with other fast food places, as well as the companies and factories that supply those places (that is where it starts to get disturbing and gross).
I enjoyed the first few chapters of the book, then it began to get technical and kind of disturbing, so I did skim through the last chapter and a half. I decided to through this book in with the rest of the novels I'm reading as a change of pace and a change of thought process.
I had to read this book for a class in college, but we didn't read all the book, so I decided to take it off the shelf and reread it. Word of caution: don't be reading this book while eating. Some parts may make you sick.
1) because they have my adorable cat
2) they have a swinging bench
3) they have a private backyard where I can sit in that swing and read
4) Jakob is on set until really late recently so I go over to play with my cat and my brother. He's teaching me the finer points of gaming.
Book 17: Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Really good information, yet really disturbing information. I don't eat a lot of fast food and I don't eat beef, so it wasn't as bad for me as it would be for someone who actually eats that stuff.
Schlosser did a lot of research for this book and it shows (plus there is a HUGE section in the back of the book with all his research notes). The historical aspects that he brings in are really fascinating. While the book really revolves around MacDonalds (because it was one of the first real 'fast food' establishments) it touches base with other fast food places, as well as the companies and factories that supply those places (that is where it starts to get disturbing and gross).
I enjoyed the first few chapters of the book, then it began to get technical and kind of disturbing, so I did skim through the last chapter and a half. I decided to through this book in with the rest of the novels I'm reading as a change of pace and a change of thought process.
I had to read this book for a class in college, but we didn't read all the book, so I decided to take it off the shelf and reread it. Word of caution: don't be reading this book while eating. Some parts may make you sick.
Not yet, not yet, not yet
I really can't believe that next week I am officially starting as a teacher. I don't interact with the students until the 19th, but I'm really stressing out on this one.
I was hired really late in the hiring process, by teacher's standards. I didn't get my keys until a few days ago, and when I walked into my lab, it was a disaster. They received new computers for my lab but they can't open them until the 13th and even then they aren't sure if they will be keeping them because of budget problems in the district. If that happens, it will be a scramble to get usable computers into my lab before the first few days of school.
The teacher that I am taking over for didn't exactly leave her office in the best of standings either. It is a complete mess and I can't find anything. She left a few of the assignments that she's used in the past but nothing that I can really figure out and use. Meaning, I have no idea how in the world I'm going to teach a couple of my classes. For the past few days since I saw my lab, I've been trying to collect as much information/resources as I possibly can (thanks Trent!) but I'm still stressing out about all this. I'm such a visual learner that I think I wouldn't be stressing out as much if there was a way for me to see the classes being taught before I taught them. But since it is the summer, there is no way to do that. I'm at such a loss over all this. I'm not worried about the film class (well, not as worried as I am about the other classes). But it is really different since the last time I took a class like this. My senior year in high school I TA'd for one of the classes, but things have changed. When I was in school, we had a 7 period day of 52 minute classes, which I thought were really doable. Now they are in a block schedule which means 75 to 90 minute classes. HOW in hells bells am I supposed to keep teenagers working on assignments for 90 minutes in a computer class?! UGG!
I'm so freaking out about all this that I'm not sleeping well, which is making me a bit more snappy than usual. Coupled with the fact that I can't communicate with the previous teacher (or at least she won't communicate with me) so I'm not seeing a light at the end of this tunnel and I can hear the train whistle rapidly approaching.
Hopefully there is a way for me to jump off the tracks before that train reaches the tunnel.
I was hired really late in the hiring process, by teacher's standards. I didn't get my keys until a few days ago, and when I walked into my lab, it was a disaster. They received new computers for my lab but they can't open them until the 13th and even then they aren't sure if they will be keeping them because of budget problems in the district. If that happens, it will be a scramble to get usable computers into my lab before the first few days of school.
The teacher that I am taking over for didn't exactly leave her office in the best of standings either. It is a complete mess and I can't find anything. She left a few of the assignments that she's used in the past but nothing that I can really figure out and use. Meaning, I have no idea how in the world I'm going to teach a couple of my classes. For the past few days since I saw my lab, I've been trying to collect as much information/resources as I possibly can (thanks Trent!) but I'm still stressing out about all this. I'm such a visual learner that I think I wouldn't be stressing out as much if there was a way for me to see the classes being taught before I taught them. But since it is the summer, there is no way to do that. I'm at such a loss over all this. I'm not worried about the film class (well, not as worried as I am about the other classes). But it is really different since the last time I took a class like this. My senior year in high school I TA'd for one of the classes, but things have changed. When I was in school, we had a 7 period day of 52 minute classes, which I thought were really doable. Now they are in a block schedule which means 75 to 90 minute classes. HOW in hells bells am I supposed to keep teenagers working on assignments for 90 minutes in a computer class?! UGG!
I'm so freaking out about all this that I'm not sleeping well, which is making me a bit more snappy than usual. Coupled with the fact that I can't communicate with the previous teacher (or at least she won't communicate with me) so I'm not seeing a light at the end of this tunnel and I can hear the train whistle rapidly approaching.
Hopefully there is a way for me to jump off the tracks before that train reaches the tunnel.
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