homesick.

Missing Seattle, so what do I do?

Buy "10 Thing I Hate About You."


[Oh yes. That just happened.]

another look.

Okay, I'm officially done with everything.

18 days, 23 hours, 8 minutes to go
455 hours
27308 minutes

That is all.

19 days.

Coming down to the wire!
Countdowns:
1. Leave for HOME = 19 days
2. Christmas = 26 days

Big Assignments Due:
1. Teach a Class for Cal TPA credit, Nov 30 = 2 days
2. Teacher Performance Assessment (Cal TPA), due Dec 6 = 8 days
3. Unit 2, due ?? = ?? days (finals week)

Okay, as if that's not enough ... I have soooo much more due. The Cal TPA aside, all of the above require at least six hours of writing time a piece. I'm not sure how to determine the amount of time spent on that one. It's going to be intense. That's all I know!

Overview of "Smaller" but no less trivial Assignments Due:

ED400 (Foundations of Education)
1. Essay on Hour 12 of "Classroom Observation Project"
2. Final / Wrap up Essay for "Classroom Observation Project"
3. Lesson Simulation, due Dec 7 = 9 days

ED500 (Practicum)
1. Quiz, Dec 3 on Credential Manual and "backward design"
2. TPE checklist (standards for California teachers, basically)

ED520 / ED540 (Classroom Strategies)
1. Reading, 15 hours = write one page per hour
2. Observations, all 80+ must be accounted for = write one page per week and one page per teacher (if you see several teachers in a week, one page per teacher)
3. Website Reviews for Content Area Literacy
4. Presentation of Unit 2

Okay. This is exhausting. Good night :)

continued practice.

Here's what I have observed about incompetent teachers:

- Some classes are more quiet than others. This is not a bad thing. Teachers who are incompetent link "quietness" to "ineptitude" or lack of intellect. Teachers should never make reference to hopes of a "better gene pool" in next years' classes.

- Students enjoy classes when the content can be linked to things that interest them or are useful to them; if the actual benefit of the assignment is not clearly and explicitly stated, you will lose them to daydreams.

- Incompetent teachers cannot read body language correctly.

- Teachers who demonstrate incompetence forget that they don't know everything but are quick to tell you they do.

- Assignments should always be explained to the Nth degree, even when students are in college. By explained, I mean - if you, as a teacher, want to see certain information and formulas used in the production of a piece, don't assume the students know what's in your mind. Type it out, print it, distribute it.

- Competent teachers make sure to alert students to when they will be picking up assignments, in specific terms.

** To be added to in the future.

what i'm learning ... part 3.

You do a lot of self evaluation as a teacher. This is something I'm learning to do more often. It's kind of neat to see what kind of progress has occurred between postings. Although ... sometimes I cannot see the cloud through the rain.

I feel like I just crawled out from under a rock.

This week just felt really off, you know?

Despite all that happened, however, I cannot complain. God got me through. He always does! I have had worse weeks.

There are times when I get kind of sad, thinking about what I'm missing at home while I'm here. But I am then reminded of all the amazing opportunities that God has opened up for me here -- especially learning curves: new ways to communicate with others and how to love those who make themselves unlovable.

My conclusion is thus: when God breaks you, it's always for your benefit.