The History Quilter: Student Teaching

Showing posts with label Student Teaching. Show all posts

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Signing In High School Yearbooks

My Student Teaching semester is nearly over: all that is left is a final to be given to my 10th grade World History class on Wednesday and the last day of school on Thursday. No more lesson planning, research and waking up before any sane person chooses too in the morning. For a sense of closure I've volunteered to work graduation so I can have the opportunity to say goodbye to the many seniors whom I've truly enjoyed throughout the semester. I guess it's my final thank you to them for all that they have taught me.

As I walked into school on Friday I thought about what I would write in student's yearbooks that day as I assumed I would at least be asked by a few. I knew it would not be the "Have a bitch'n summer" that is sprinkled throughout most of my middle school yearbooks or the "Have a great life!" that is ubiquitous in the graduating senior yearbook. I chose to individualize each one, careful to change things up for every student as I know that they share everything with each other. (They even take pictures of what people write and Instragram, etc., them - yes really they do!) What an enjoyable day that was to spend both periods signing yearbooks, sharing summer plans and assuring them I would be a graduation.

When lunch arrived and the seniors dispersed to other parts of campus or further, I had a thought of wishing that I had my own yearbook which the students could have signed in. The thought moved on and minutes later when it was time to close up the room I looked toward the board and found these:

Six of my lovely seniors had written on my board - what a huge treat! In a way it was my own personal yearbook. I couldn't help but take photos to add to the wonderful positive memories that my Student Teaching semester has given me. Funny I've just realized that by taking a photo and now blogging about it, I've done exactly what some of my seniors have done. If they only knew - hehe.

My own high school yearbooks sit just above me on a shelf where I am now, folded into my favorite chair at my computer. I have not looked at them in a long time but perhaps I'll get them out tonight and flip through my senior year yearbook to look back at how my fellow students viewed me and the world when we were 18. Maybe...

Summer is almost here - lots of cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, quilting, reading, spending time with friends, blogging, and recording are on my list. What is on yours?

Enjoy your Sunday~

Susan

Monday, March 4, 2013

History Quilter Podcast Episode 37 Five Weeks

Hello Readers & Listeners,

Hope all is well out in blog land! I'm five weeks in to the semester (fifteen to go) and am feeling pretty good about Student Teaching. Actually I'm feeling pretty great - it's hard but I'm very happy.

I had a window of opportunity to record a new podcast episode yesterday so please one of the usual spots to take a listen. Podbean, iTunes, or Stitcher Radio - or even directly here on my blog.

That's all for now - I must finish up a Power Point presentation about the global effects of World War 1 for today's lesson. Just for fun here is one map that I will be showing my students. Pretty colors eh?

Happy Monday!
Susan

Friday, January 25, 2013

It's Almost Here

If you are looking for my post about my History Quilter Podcast Episode 35 Indigo Quilts & A Podcast Anniversary Giveaway, please go here.

Student teaching begins for me next Tuesday It's real now - I've met my mentor teachers, seen the students I will be teaching, got my staff ID/parking pass/schedule, and have a teaching plan for my first week all set.

Now for freaking out Susan....
In four days everything changes.
Not an 10.0 on the Richter Scale (Southern California Earthquake talk) but maybe a 7.0 - enough to shake things up quite a bit but not cause serious permanent damage, but it will cause changes. Big changes.

Believe me when I say that I do not think that for one minute what I am going through right now is that big of a deal in the big scheme of things, but it is real to me and because this is my own personal journal and wish to help others, I've decided to share with you what I'm feeling.

I'll be going to work every week day and I will have a schedule like a vast majority of the people around me.
I have to make my own lunch in the morning! I'll be interacting with other adults on a daily basis in a work environment and not just in a store!
Exciting, scary, nervous, anxious and sad. Those are the feelings I harbor right now.
I want this so bad and need it with every cell in my body.
I want to teach.

Exciting to be finally embarking on this new chapter of my life. This is going to change me. My world is going to open up to something new, something that I think will change the course of my life.
Scary because I'm finally embarking on this new chapter of my life. Will I be good enough?
Nervous about classroom management - Thinking fast on my feet when anyone comes at me with a snarky comment is not a attribute I have. Will have to learn smart, respectful and correct responses fast.
Anxious to begin - wish it was today to finally get the first day over with.
Sad to be ending a chapter of my life which I've loved. The memories are unforgettable and precious.
I know I'll do good. I know I'll be fine.
Just freaking out a bit.

Now back to quilting/food/history Susan...
I'm looking forward to Saturday as I'll be attending the Road to California Quilt Show with my friend Zina. I should have photos and a recap here on Sunday. Quilty goodness will be good for my soul. Yay!

Enjoy your Friday,
Susan

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

WIP Wednesday: Stars and an Anniversary

With so much swirling around on this WIP Wednesday I've made a list:

1. Lucky Stars BOM: December Practice Block - happy with my first attempt at paper piecing.

2. Second Year Podcast Anniversary on Friday, January 18th, 2013. I'll be recording a podcast that day and will be embedding a special giveaway clue in the recording.

3. QST Pinwheel Label and binding fabric for Sea Glass Quilt - must get basting to keep on track with my January 2013 January Lovely Year of Finishes goal.

4. Parisian Star Block for my month of Modern Blocks Bee: Now there are seven.

5. Student Teaching Prep: Writing syllabi, lesson plans and unit plans to get ready for start on 1/29/13.

I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday.

Don't forget to listen to my next podcast, Episode 35 (!) where I'll be talking about Indigo and the amazing range of blues created by dying fabric with it.

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Susan

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Life & A Thread Color Question

The last five days have been so consumed with life and school that zero crafting has occurred in my house. Actually I haven't even felt like crafting which is surprising but thankfully the Creative Grids 60 degree ruler I purchased online to use with the Varsity pattern by Jaybird Quilts arrived late yesterday afternoon. I'm looking forward to start the work on this quilt with my younger son very soon.

Curious as to what I'm doing in school now? (Even if you are not I'll share it anyway for my own future self when I come back someday to read what I was up to.) Studying the historiography of World History, writing lesson plans about Ancient Rome, Curriculum Mapping for the entire 6th grade year, and working to get my Student Teaching application all ready to turn in by Monday, October 1st. A very important deadline filled with stress as I am supposed to choose where I want to student teach in the Spring. The best possible outcome would be to student teach at a school where the possibility of getting hired for Fall 2013 is very high but unfortunately there is no way to predict that. The thought of working all of these years on my degree, making it through the credential program and student teaching and ultimately not being able to find a job is almost horrifying to me right now.

Wow - didn't expect to go there. Bear with me reader - a lot of emotions are swirling right now.

OK switching back to crafting now.... I want to start quilting the Sea Glass Quilt but I'm having trouble figuring out which color thread to use. The solid sashing around the blocks is Kona Celery and I want to use Aurifil thread but when I put the Aurifil thread chart up to the quilt top nothing jumps out at me. Have any suggestions? Just for clarification - I do not expect you to be able to color match this from a photo - if you have used Kona Celery and have Aurifil thread suggestions, please let me know.

Last thing I'll share today is last night my younger son ran in his first track meet for his high school. So proud of him as in the 95+ degree heat (It is our turn to melt right now in Southern California) at 5:30pm last night he ran his best 5K time ever.

Loved cheering him on down the stretch to the finish line.

Thank you for reading and enjoy your Saturday,

Susan