Orientation to Student Teaching!

This evening, my Orientation to Student Teaching class met for the first time! I filled out all of my paperwork and applications, and I will be receiving my placement this April. I'll begin student teaching in the fall. Wow!

I requested a K-12 school. I think I'll either be placed in a private school in Fargo-Moorhead, or in a little rural school. How neat! My second choice was high school, since I haven't had much experience with high school choir since starting college. My third choice was elementary school, since I just love everything about those kiddos. I almost wanted to put middle school for one of my choices, just for a challenge. I figured this isn't necessarily the best time to completely challenge myself - I think I will be challenged enough already. :)

Successful Teachers

Mr. Baker posted an article on Facebook from February/March issue of The Atlantic Online. It discusses positive traits of successful teachers from several viewpoints, eventually focusing on Teach For America. I won't go into detail, but here is one section I thought was particular interesting:

"Teachers who scored high in "life satisfaction"--reporting that they were very content with their lives--were 43 percent more likely to perform well in the classroom than their less satisfied colleagues. These teachers "may be more adept at engaging their pupils, and their zest and enthusiasm may spread to their students," the study suggested."

I think these findings are relevant in any occupation - be passionate, be enthusiastic, be zesty, and you will meet success!

Lunch

This afternoon, I had the hardest time figuring out how to make sure that my tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich would be warm and ready to eat at the exact same time, without burning either.

Growing up is complicated!

Lucy is Wearing Her Sad Face Today!

Yours truly has been participating in a series of unfortunate events this week.

I went to sleep at ten forty-five last night and woke up at nine-thirty this morning, constituting nearly eleven hours of sleep (a world record here at college).

I was thinking "Yeah! I'm going to wake up feeling stellar, ready to conquer the world!"

Nope. I have a fever, sore throat, stomach ache, and that darn crick in my neck. At least my 8:30 AM class was cancelled today, so the only things on my docket are going toConducting class, meeting with the choir manager briefly, attending choir, accompanying at Grace UMC, and tutoring for an hour.

Here's to a better day?

10 Special Moments from the Last Two Days

1. Yesterday night, I had terrible nightmares all night and consequently, only slept five hours.

2. I woke up with a crick in my neck and couldn't turn my head to the right.

3. Upon waking up, I put away dishes and broke a glass in the middle of my kitchen floor at 7:30 AM. Ugh.

4. While walking to class, I saw a friend wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It was seventeen degrees outside. He said it was balmy.

5. I waited for my first tutoring session at 9:00 PM, but my tutee didn't show up. She called at 10:15 PM asking where I was. The Academic Enhancement and Writing Center had told her the wrong time. Ugh.

6. I left my room at 7:30 AM and returned at 11:30 PM. Long day! Yikes.

7. I had a big bowl of Lucky Charms and read a memoir about Aspergers Syndrom until midnight. Good use of time.

8. I couldn't fall asleep last night until 2:00 AM because of the crick in my neck. I woke up at 6:45 AM this morning and felt like I couldn't move a limb.

9. I made brownies for my ACDA meeting, and they should have been done by 7:15 AM. However, as I was scurrying off to class at 7:45 AM, they were still in the oven looking weird and not quite done. I took them out anyways, and figured college students will eat anything.

10. After returning from my organ lesson, I read the back of the brownie box and realized that in the wee hours this morning, I forgot to add the oil. At tonight's meeting, I am looking forward to playing a game called "What ingredient did Lucy forget to put in the brownies?"

Long lost...payday?

I checked my PO box this morning, eagerly awaiting the arrival of several textbooks (classes started last week, and I hate getting behind on reading!). Unfortunately, my books had not yet arrived.

However, in the back of my box I found this sketchy looking envelope with my name scrawled on it. The return address was from this guy who was in a couple classes with me freshman year but transferred halfway through sophomore year.

I opened it up, and lo and behold, I found a check for twenty dollars! Attached was a note saying, "Thanks for accompanying me Fall, '08! Sorry I waited so long to pay you, but I really appreciate it."

Today is a great day!

Semester Five!

Oh my, this week sure is flying by. I cannot believe that it is Thursday already! My classes are off to such a great start.

Vocal Methods: This class is really great! I had no idea how quickly a 100-minute class period could pass. We've been playing recorder, and it's so much easier than clarinet or oboe! Yes! I am really looking forward to the rest of the semester.

Brass Techniques: Uh oh. This is going to be a lot of work. :/

Percussion Techniques: I've always wanted to play the marimba! Seriously. Percussion has always interested me, especially after so much experience on handbells. I am pumped for this course.

Film Musics: Our homework on Tuesday was to watch a movie, any movie, and think about the music in it. I watched "Mean Girls" with Heidi. The course has already got me thinking quite a bit, and I've never been so reflective while watching such a silly film. Great things will be happening through the semester in Film Musics.

Art & Science of Teaching: My prof sounds like a lunatic--her voice is higher than I could ever imagine, her laugh is piercing. However, she's really terrific.

Choral Conducting II: Dr. Clausen has high hopes, expectations, and plans for the semester. I suppose we'll see how it turns out! He had a lot of really great things planned last fall that we just didn't get around to because our class has so many students (28, down to 24 this sem.). Regardless, I know I'll learn a bit from his tangents and story-telling! He and Doug Nelson should get together and talk about college roommates. :P

My textbooks haven't come in yet (oops)...so I'm hoping not to start off the semester too far behind! Thankfully, I have wonderful friends who will lend me their texts. :)

This is the corner of my room...MY ROOM! It's all mine, have I mentioned that? Living in a quad with only other roommate is such a blessing. Check out my two beds. :)