Collegiate Update: September

What a month this has been! The end of August was Teacher Orientation and that was interesting. We heard about the following topics: Interpersonal Relationships, The Time of Biblical Child-rearing, Forgiveness, “Hear Ye the Rod”, The Truth: Understanding and Application, and Training a Child. The one I enjoyed the most was the one on training a child. Mr. Olson (missionary to Zambia, Africa) went over the preparation, plan, procedure, practice, persuasion, and perseverance of training. It was a very insightful lecture.Then we started to observe the class(es) we would be teaching in a matter of a few weeks. The end of that first observation week brought along the college orientation. There were a number of activities that were offered (last minute shopping trip to WalMart for those last minute items that happened to be left behind or just plain forgotten. I think the next activity was a trip to the park to play some softball. I was not able to attend either of these due to work and that my work partner ended up in the hospital for a week due to a flare-up of a childhood disease. She was in there for almost a week and is doing much better now. The actual day of orientation had two activities to choose from in the afternoon: softball at the park or hiking at the dunes. I chose the latter and had a great time. It was a three-mile hike. Labor Day was the first actual college activity at the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, IN. It was this day that I ran in the 5K race. Let me just say, I did not run to win anything, but rather, to finish. And finish I did! I was last in my age bracket, but I did finish the race. I can say I was not the last person to finish the 5K, so I wasn’t the very last person! Check out: http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/gruplus-search.tcl?event_id=11645&sub_event_id=36473&event_name=Blueberry+Stomp&public_name=5K&historic_event_date=2005%2d09%2d05&event_year=2005&chiptime_p=t&chipown_p=t&country_p=f&class_p=t&event_p=t and type either my name or bib# 168.Then I changed and walked around the fair with some friends. Now the teaching adventure begins (and will continue until December 16). The first week wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t the smoothest either. I started teaching 4th grade English and it wasn’t until Friday that I felt I did an OK job. I had a lot of fun that day teaching the kids how to use a thesaurus. I think the kids liked it, too! That’s the best part!Last week was my second week teaching and I took on 4th grade Math (and I still taught English). Last week was rough. Math is not my favorite subject. I ended up with a B- for the week (it was higher than I thought I was going to get). I did do a better job today with it. This week I am taking on Art and Library. I did my sample art project this afternoon and I think the kids will enjoy it. They will be doing leaf rubbings with paper and crayons. I’ve kind of helped with the library responsibilities already, so that won’t be a shock. The academy is getting ready to start their fall Candy Sale. I have been recruited for at least two days. I will only have to teach 3 days a week for 4 weeks and then its back to the regular schedule. I will have to watch the library for one day during the sale as it is a student teacher’s job. There are eight days of the students working on packets during the sale and there are eight student teachers. So that works out well. I’ve got to head off to work and then study my lesson plans, so until the next edition of your favorite email Collegiate Update, I’m signing off!God Bless,Nicole

New Week, New Beginning

This week didn't start well at all...:(
I ended one class early and went late in the other. I don't think I like having to teach two subjects in a row quite yet. This is one big class load.

A bright spot in my day was when the mail arrived. I got a care package from my church and a letter from a church member. That was really nice.

I need to go and prepare for tomorrow...

Week one...end

Today went well... :)

Rounds one and two...

Well, yesterday went ok, I guess. I got a B. I didn't have to teach until 1:35, so I wasn't too nervous at noon. We went over compound sentences.

Today did not go well at all for me. I'm very disappointed in myself. I don't even know all of the material, but I have to teach it. The public school didn't help me very much in the english grammar part of education. :(

The race is on!

I participated in a 5K race a week ago. How did I do? I finished! Check ou this site: http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/gruplus-search.tcl?event_id=11645&sub_event_id=36473&event_name=Blueberry+Stomp&public_name=5K&historic_event_date=2005%2d09%2d05&event_year=2005&chiptime_p=t&chipown_p=t&country_p=f&class_p=t&event_p=t
and type in either my name or bib # 168. Then you can view my results. I DID NOT enter this race to win anything, but to do it to say "I ran a 5K race at least once in my life."

I start teaching tomorrow. Am I shaking in my boots yet. That would still be a "nope". Maybe at noon tomorrow...

On to interesting kids news:
One of our students has been writing another name on his paper and when he was asked about it, he said his dad changed it a couple of days ago (he didn't, but it is a joke in their house and the boy really believes it!)

Fill in the blank....
There are a couple of boys who do not really like each other in the classroom and one of the papers I graded had a fill in the blank (______ fell into the mud). Can you guess what was inserted in that blank by one of the boys?

This is going to be an interesting year for sure...

College Orientation

I made it through orientation on 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I got up at 5am to run the lake, had my devotions, got ready for the college breakfast, went to breakfast (staff introduce themselves, we ate, then the students introduced themselves), had a split session, chapel, then went over the handbook/ministires/academics/finances. Then had to sit through the Americall presentation. We were then dismissed for lunch at the pavillion. Good cheeseburgers! I left after I ate to check my email, pick up my math papers that need to be graded, and plan on taking a nap before I have to go to work. Busy day.