Got my placement!

I am student teaching in the 3rd grade at Andersen Elementary home of the astronauts ;-)
Now student teaching feels real. And I am feeling very exciting to start.

Back in the fall of 2004 I took my first class - intro to education. That was the first class I ever really liked. I remember thinking how scary and intimidating student teaching seemed. I tried not to worry about it but I did wonder how will I be able to do it. I am so glad that I no longer feel that way. I guess if I did then teaching is not something I should be doing.

Knowing that I am going to be teaching 3rd grade brings back some memories.

My own 3rd grade experience was the worst. I had Mrs. Swanson who i dubbed "Mrs. Swanson the Wicked Witch of the West". She was simply awful. I remember she would grab the back of my neck and my wrist and dig in with her finger nails (which hurt!) while dragging me to some room near the front office. She would make me sit in their for hours (unsupervised). It was this empty room about the size of a large walk in closet with a long table and a chair. At the time I didn't know that this was wrong. But, looking back it totally infuriates me and makes me want to cry. Was I a difficult student, probably. I certainly did not deserve to be abused - no child does. I hate the fact that I didn't get her into trouble. I hate that I was lead to feel that "I was the problem". 3rd grade sucked for me. At least with my own personal experience it gives me empathy for those students who other teachers will dub "good luck with him/her" and I can find the good in them and help them be the best they can. Everyone has good in them.

Student Teaching Part Deux

I still haven't found out my student teaching placement and never received a response to my casual 'have you heard anything, yet' e-mail. This better be a great placement since it's taken over a month and still nothing. Below is the message I sent today - hopefully i hear something soon.


Hi ______,

I have not yet received my student teaching placement and was informed that I would have it by May 13th I contacted you a week ago and have not received any sort of response. Perhaps my message did not go through. I am becoming increasingly concerned about not yet having a placement for a number of reasons. The calendar on the Chandler District website indicates that teachers begin reporting in less than 60 days. I was instructed that student teaching begins the same day that they return for the new school year and there are many time sensitive issues to be resolved prior to this. For example, Chandler is a district that spans over a wide area. Thus far I have not been able to coordinate with my employer to work Friday evenings because I do not know my commute time, which factors into my ability to determine what time and the length of time I will be able to work. I have yet to get this approved by upper management as they are going out of their way to make a special concession for me to work a few hours a week during student teaching. I have been asked by management repeatedly in the last few weeks to provide a proposed schedule and I have unable to provide them with this critical information.

Additionally, I endeavor to be proactive for student teaching. I pride myself on being prepared ahead of time and had planned on familiarizing myself with the standards for the first and second quarter. I would like to have grade level appropriate resources and tools that I can pull from, if my cooperative teacher allows, but I do not even know the grade I am going to be placed in. This is hindering my ability to prepare in any way, shape, or form.

I am certain that you can appreciate the apprehension and sense of frustration I feel by not yet having my placement communicated to me. I would like to make an appointment with you to have this situation resolved as soon as possible. Please let me know when you are available. Any assistance you can provide to expedite a resolution would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Angela _______
(xxx) xxx-xxxx

ME.ME.ME.

Currently my life is all about ME. I think it's time I find my soul mate who will flip the "M" upside down to become a WE.

Right now I am on eharmony. I think I am going to take this more seriously. I have to start not thinking about myself and put others first (and still remaining Angela). Maybe I am naive to think that there is someone out there, in the first few minute I meet them I will just know they are the one. I thought I had that once.

With almost being done with school (I might have some different plans with that - but that's a blog for another day). It's about time to start focusing on finding the right person out there for me. I hope he is on eharmony. ;-)

Puppies and feet

Puppies are so cute. And I should know because I'm puppy sitting, for the next week, a tiny brindle pit bull. She is so cute and doesn't look like a pit. I'll have to take a picture of her.

Feet can be cute...or at least mine use to be. That is until this week. My feet are swollen. It totally looks like i have huge fat lady feet. Beyond looking not cute they also hurt a bit on the top. I'm thinking I've had such an excess of sodium. I need to drink to start drinking lots of water and get rid of this. Don't worry I won't be taking any pictures of the feet.

Not a good sister

Mom, Dad, Heather, and James went to Kim's graduation last night. It was raining and graduation was outside. I asked Kim if i could stay home and she told me yes. If she had told me she wanted me to go I would have went. When I got home my mom was all pissy. I don't know if she was mad that I wasn't going (again they could have told me to go). When mom is mad at something she takes it on pretty much only me and will be nice to everyone else. So, it's hard to tell if I did something or is she just stressed about something else. But, it sucks!

61

It is currently a lovely 61 degrees out right now. A few days ago it was 106ish. I am loving this cold front and hope it lasts all summer long. ;-)
This weekend I was planing on laying out by the pool and getting a little bit of a tan for my trip next week. Now I have no idea what I'll do instead.

I should clean my room. I need to have it organized and cleaned BEFORE student teaching. Hurricane Angela went through there about a year ago and it hasn't been the same since.

Venting always makes a girl feel better

For the most part I do not let things bother me. Nothing is worth (me) getting upset and angry over something I cannot control. But, not knowing where I am student teaching is starting to irritate me. I have been trying to find out for the past month.

I start in 2 months, which is still plenty of time BUT I need to figure out my schedule (school and work) for student teaching. Plus it doesn't really make it feel real. And probably the fact that I don't feel in-control about the 2nd half of this year.

Over a month ago I emailed my instructor, when we had class she always responded to my emails. Now that we don't have her anymore, my 3 emails went unanswered. So, i decided to contact ASU. I keep getting the run around.

From ASU:

1st e-mail: you should know by Tuesday.
Next e-mail: I gave her a deadline (my instructor) to e-mail me by Friday May 9th you should get an e-mail that Tuesday after.
Next e-mail: I am going to meet with her (my instructor) on Monday you should know on Tuesday.

That was yesterday. Are you kidding me. I am almost tempted to call my instructor.
Then I wonder am I making a bigger fuss about this than I should. I don't want to be difficult. BUT GEESH PEOPLE!!!!

Family pictures

What do you do when you only work 6 hours a day? You waste time and try to be as unproductive as possible. One of the ways I passed the time was this. I downloaded some family pictures from the past month...
And feel special i posted some umm "adorable" pictures of myself. I never post pictures unless I look amazing. So enjoy!


CAR:

Here is how big that hole was in Kim's windshield.



KIM'S GRAD PARTY:

Dad and Grandpa @ Kim's graduation. They look happy to be there, don't they?


Signing the guest book (that's Kim in the white)


Kim and Katie (yellow dress) have been friends for about 10 years. This girl has such a cute personality. It's always great to see her.


See me (at the back table)? I am sitting at the old people table (not sure why Shaunna was sitting at the old people table). Mom told me my hair looked funny, thanks mom! Guess I needed to use the iron a bit more.


PROM:

Dad and Kim.


Guess this is how you would pose for prom pictures - if your gf made you go to two proms after you graduated from H.S. ;-)


Kim told me there was dog hair all over my shirt. Guess someone thought it made a cute picture...um yea, thanks!


Every prom Kim wants pictures with the family. I don't know why i agree. She is making me look sooo short. For the record she is only about 4 or 5 inches taller.


Mom and Kim

It's official (x 2)

#1 - can no longer say that i never pay more than thirty-something dollars to fill up my tank. I am now in the forty's. Records are meant to be broken but hopefully this one takes awhile to break. ;-)
#2 - it's hot! what happened to the nice weather? It was great last week not too hot. This week omfg! Is it fall yet?

Loving all this free time

Tomorrow is Kim's grad party. I am looking forward to it. It's hard to believe that it's already time for her to be graduating from high school. I can remember when she was born. It doesn't make me feel old it thought just makes me feel like she's catching up to my age...lol
We're having tacos, taquitos, nachos, brownies, rice crispy treats, and sundaes in waffle bowls. Yum, i can hardly wait.

This morning I went back to my 6th grade interning class. It was great to see them. I loved seeing all of their projects completed.
I was really looking forward to seeing one boy. He has a learning disability and I helped him a lot with his story web for the book they were making. I loved working with him (he is a little quiet and super sweet). I really wanted to see how his book turned out. Before I left I made sure i got to look at it. It turned out fantastic and he did such a good job!!!
Each child is unique and they each have their own talents and strengths. It's such a good feeling to see a child grow and learn.

Woohoo

My friend, Shaunna and I both are turning 30 ::gasp:: within weeks of each other at the end of the year. Today we decided we are going to end our 20's with a bang. We are also going to go skydiving for turning 30 (tandem of course). We are thinking a themed party and renting a place and inviting all of our friends and family. The details are still sparse. But, we will start the day with a massage and hair and makeup session. I can hardly wait. Who knew turning 30 could be so much fun!

Deep thoughts

I am thankful that I don't have to be to work until 11 am. Okay, that's not the real reason for my post.

I am thankful for all the people who have come into my life one way or another. It's hard for me to let people in, for as long as I can remember I've had a big brick wall covering my heart. Growing up I never noticed it. Although looking back I can see all the things I did to protect myself. Feeling vulnerable is not something I like to feel. I also hate feeling rejection. Even thinking of this makes me a little teary eyed - and for what? I guess I've always just counted on myself (only) and it almost feels like a betrayal to put myself in that situation that might not be good for the heart.

I have always valued quality friends over quantity. I think this way of thinking spills into all aspects of relationships. Each person that comes into my life, if only for a day or a lifetime, i need to see how their essence and presence left a positive impact. Each person has a gift and positive attributes that make life more fulfilled. I need to find comfort in that. And know that just because someone is not in my life forever it's not a negative thing. They left a part of them with me and they have other lives that they need to impact.

In romantic relationships I need to break out of my shell and not wait for them to make their move but to venture on my own and just go with how I am feeling.

All of my life expierences make me who I am today and without the past I am not the present.

I believe Mr. Right is out there. Each day I think I am closer to becoming the Angela that is right for him as he is for me. I find hope in that.

A girl can get use to this...

I have SO much free time now that the semester is over. It's been very nice.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to my sister Heather for graduating from ASU. I am so proud of you. She leaves for Germany, for a year, in two months I am sure going to miss her.

My youngest sister Kim and I decided to do something more personal for her graduation gift. We went on her facebook and printed out a bunch of pictures. We did a scrap book of her college years. It turned out soo cute! But, I think i am over scrap booking for a little while. I wish i thought to take some pictures of it. Kim and I gave Heather her gift tonight and she loved it! :-)

Don't throw rocks!

I am thankful that my car did not get vandalized the other night.
Some kids came around and threw big rocks in the back windows of about 20 cars in our neighborhood. Kim's car was one of them. The rock was soo huge. And somehow went thru the back of her windshield and landed in the passenger seat. At least the oldest car was the one that was hit. I am glad that it wasn't mine because if it had been Dad would not have paid for the repair.

Taking a homework break and...

If you haven't read Twlight yet, you've probably been under a rock. Shaunna told me to go watch the trailer for the movie and it's awesome. So, that's what I just did - the Trailer was amazing. Omg i thought i could wait until the movie came out to watch it (after all i've read all 3-books). Now I am I cannot wait.
I just watched it 5 minutes ago and my heart is still racing.

Uh-oh

I spilled my soda all over the car and drive way. Why? Because I saw a harlequin Great Dane at the end of our cul-de-sac. I just had to stop and gawk and got distracted - so the drink went everywhere. I cannot believe there is another one living in our neighborhood. What are the odds? I took my food back inside minus my drink. I really contemplated getting Deuces leash and trying to catch up with the dog...but that might be too over the top. Even if they are my favorite dogs. Now if only I could be this excited when i see a hot guy. ;-)