WHEW! It's been a while!

WHEW! It's been a while!  A lot has happened since I last posted, and I'm sad to be behind!

-I passed all of my entrance exams!  So I'm IN now that I've taken and passed the General Science, Civil Rights, ORELA Multiple Subjects and CBEST exams!

-I started and finished my first term as a Master's Student this summer!  It was honestly relatively easy, but the days were LONG!  I had difficulty concentrating, but it was so so so fun to be with my cohort! I absolutely love every single person in my program, and they all have so much to give.  They are by far the reason I'm so excited to start master's classes again in less than two weeks.

-I finally met my Fall term student teaching mentor teacher.  I was getting SO nervous that I wasn't going to get to meet him until the first day of school!  The Friday before student teaching started (so 3 days...) I got an email back from him giving me some info.  He teaches 7th/8th grade science, which seemed so broad to me at first.  After meeting him, going through staff in-service days, and being in the classroom, I don't know what it the world I was so worried about!  It's all very relaxed and at this age, it is more about teaching students life skills rather than content.  Being with students this age actually is way more awesome than I anticipated! EEK! I thought I was all dead-set on being a high school teacher...now...not so much!

-One day last week I got to meet my Physics students that I will teach this Spring at the local high school.  The majority of the students were very frightened and nervous; they were afraid to be wrong.  I'm excited to work with them and hopefully give them the confidence to TRY a problem, and even come up with MULTIPLE solutions.  I think that's one thing that engineering has helped me with...knowing that in some instances, there isn't just one right answer.  It's more about being innovative, problem solving, and working collaboratively.

-I think I now have a perma-smile on my face.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching!  I understand that there are going to be problem kids, annoying bureaucracy, and that it's going to take a lot of time and energy...but I seriously cannot wait!  I already feel a connection to the students that I've spent only a few hours with.

-I need to thank my husband big time for getting a job where we currently live so I had the opportunity to leave my occupation as an engineer and follow this new path to become a teacher.  If it weren't for him, I'd never have had the guts to make the change.  Now I'm living it and I couldn't be happier!

Who has two thumbs?

SO EXCITED! I don't have to take the National Physics Exam for my Master's Program! It was supposed to be my most difficult exam, but it turns out I don't have to take it! WOO HOO!!!! 


AND I got an email from the program administrator stating how excited she is that I'm applying and that she thinks I'll be a "great candidate"!  How awesome is that? I feel so blessed right now!  


Who has two thumbs and can't wait to be a teacher? THIS GIRL!

Keep them doggies rollin'!

I'm excited to announce that the Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Integrated Science program FINALLY got accredited! My application is due at the end of the week, and I have pretty much all of the paperwork completed.  Whew....

What's next??

-The results from the Multiple Subject Exams I took this morning (I think I did well) should be in my inbox in 30 days (sheesh).  I still have to take at least 2 more exams.  The program administrator sent an email out late on Friday stating that I might not have to take the Physics exam that I'd originally thought was required. WHOOPIE!  It'd be such a relief with all of the work I have ahead of me this term.

-I still have to complete one online Biology class, one Chemistry class at the local Community College, and two graduate level teaching classes to prepare for the Master's Program.  I should be done with all of these classes at the end of Spring term.

-I have to GET IN to the program! I'm extremely nervous about this aspect because of my unconventional Civil Engineering undergraduate degree vs. a B.S. in Education.  (Prayers for God's will here, please!)

-I still must perform classroom viewings at the local high school.  I really enjoy this part of the application process because I get to interact with area students and teachers.  Often, I ask the students questions about their learning experiences and about high school life.  I love learning about what makes them eager to learn and what makes high school enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to the student teaching aspect of the program to continue this type of interaction AND get teaching practice.

-SEARCH for SCHOLARSHIPS! The cost of this program is starting to cause a lot of stress.  While we're so extremely excited, we hope to pay for the tuition and fees without taking out student loans.  We're trusting that God will provide, and hope to make good use of the resources available to us.  If you have any good scholarship sites or any information worth sharing, please send it our way! We'd greatly appreciate it!


For now, we wait.... :)

Tutoring Breakthrough

I had a breakthrough yesterday when I was tutoring my elementary student in math.  We've been working on multiplication/division and large number addition/subtraction for months, but it just didn't seem to "stick".  I've known all this time about his love for literature, WWII, Italy, and history in general.

Yesterday, I decided to use real facts and figures from WWII to create addition/subtraction/multiplication/division problems for our tutoring session.  And......(drum roll)......IT WORKED!  He had a blast because it was all centered around his love for WWII AND he was thinking critically about what multiplication REALLY means and how it can be applied in real life! (YAY!)

Why didn't I do this before?  DUH! I've tried all sorts of other games (computer games, card games, games I made up myself) to practice these concepts, and they were all fun in the moment, but didn't really become a long term solution.  I'm so excited about this new teaching method and can't wait to have him over for his math tutoring session next week so we can keep practicing.

He's SO smart and such a unique and fun kid, I really hope that I can make a difference in his life (even if it's just tricks to help him learn his times tables), and make learning math more fun in the future! :)

Here's to a new breakthrough and to more fun and exciting tutoring time!

Real Life Application

I got my Physics for Dummies (at the recommendation of my advisor) books in the mail yesterday....I'm nervous for the exam!  It's supposed to be very difficult and considering I only had one year of true Physics courses then 3 of applied Physics, this could be interesting!  I'm actually looking forward to studying, though, so that's a bonus, right??

Today I sat in on a class that had a guest speaker.  This month is National Engineering Month, and the guest lecturer was an engineer that gave a presentation then had a progressive activity for the students to do.  The presentation and activity kept the students' attention and was fun.  The activity applied some of the information from the presentation and was a real life simulated activity.  The whole time I assisted the presenter and the students, I couldn't help but think...."This is how I want my class to be!"....I hope that somehow I can make every topic, every lecture, every activity applicable to real life in the present day.  I know there might be some times that it seems impossible, but has that stopped me before? :)  I figure my background will help in this category, but I'll definitely need some creative juices flowing as I make lesson plans.  

What resources can I pull from?  Friends, family?  Books, websites?  I'll definitely need to keep my eyes peeled for applicable math/science resources!

Routine and Lecture

UPDATED:

This morning I sent all the information to my last two people for letters of recommendation for the MAT program! Whoopie! One more step down! It's always awkward to ask someone for a recommendation...  I always feel like, "Hey, will you please write a letter to the University telling them how great I am??"...  :-/




Is routine bad?  And if it is, how do I not get in a routine when I become a teacher?? Each year brings new students, who bring new skill sets and problems.  I feel like I should adapt to my classes...really get to know them and what makes them tick.  But, is there a way to create lesson plans that can adapt easily?  How will I be as a teacher?  Will I take the time to truly get to know my students?  I'm sure it will be easy to fall in to routine, but how do I keep that from happening?  How far am I willing to go to get over any "ruts" or "slumps"?




A teacher lectured to his students yesterday for the whole 50 minute class time.  He prefaced his lecture with a speech telling them that college professors lecture for the whole 50-90 minutes, and they need to practice paying attention.  The funny thing is I was thinking the same thing yesterday before I visited the school.  There are all of these new fandangled ways of teaching, but when these kids ultimately go to college/university (hopefully), they'll be faced with a LOT of lectures and possibly feel unprepared.  Is there a disconnect between some of the new ways of teaching in high school and the type of teaching used in college/university settings?  How do I prepare my students for college/university yet still make learning fun and interactive?

How in the world did I pay attention in all of those lectures when I was at university?  I mean, I brought food for when I was tired, but at the same time I knew I HAD to pay attention because I needed good grades.  I needed the scholarship $$ and the grades on my transcript so companies would want to hire me.  In high school there are those incentives, but they don't seem to be reinforced much.  In talking with the high schoolers that I interact with often, the idea of a good grade is passing.  How did they decided that passing should be their goal?  Was it parents or teachers or media?

Are good grades enough?  I definitely do not think so.  I agree that a person should be well rounded.

Inspire

Today, as I was sitting in a classroom full of high schoolers listening to the teacher, I couldn't help but let my mind wander... "If I were that teacher, what would I do differently?" and "how do I inspire the kids to strive for excellence?" A lot of the kids in the class I viewed have IEPs (Individualized Education Program) and the teacher mentioned to me that it's extremely difficult to motivate them.  That they just don't seem to care.  "Hmmmm...", I thought, "why is that?" What is their home life like?  Did some teacher disappoint them along the way?  Were they "forgotten" or "left behind" in some way?

These questions have boggled my mind since I was in those students' shoes.  What motivates youth, especially the youth of today?

Does anyone out there have any suggestions or ideas?  I have some of my own, but am curious of other people's thoughts and opinions.

BS to MA...the crazy adventure begins!

It all started in high school when my Dad asked "E, what do you want to do when you grow up?" .  My immediate and fully serious response was, "Dad, I want to change the world"...

And so it begins..........

In 2009 I graduated from University with a degree in Civil Engineering.  I had thought that I wanted to become an engineer since high school.  My father is an engineer, my brother is an engineer...it seemed like the right path, especially since I'd always loved math and science.   I was so blessed to have two job offers upon graduating, especially since the economy was so down that hiring had dropped significantly for Civil Engineers in the Pacific Northwest.  I followed the job and moved to another state.  While the area was beautiful and I loved where I lived, I never felt fulfilled in my career.  I had so many responsibilities above and beyond my title, but the spark wasn't there...I didn't feel like I was making an impact on the world.  I quit my job and moved to Oregon when I got married so that my husband could focus on his career and its development.  I searched and searched and had numerous opportunities in Civil Engineering that came my way, but for some reason every door closed (relatively abruptly).

I decided to take a hiatus from job searching and soon after the youth pastor at my church asked for female volunteers to chaperone an upcoming mission trip.  I decided "Welp, I have nothing else to do...might as well!".... One thing lead to another and I am now a full time volunteer with the youth group and I LOVE IT!

I then found that the local satellite University campus in my city was starting a Masters of Arts in Teaching Secondary Math and Science program.  I KNEW right away that teaching middle/high schoolers was what I was meant to do.  I realized I've worked with high schoolers in some capacity for the past 5-6 years and it has always been the highlight of my day and the one career that sparked my heart.  I realized I want to mentor and inspire them.   I want to give them all that I have to offer so they have the most options and opportunities in life.  I want to be their friend and their mentor through teaching them math and science...AND I'M SO EXCITED!!

I've just started the application process for the MAT program and I know it's going to be a long road to haul.  I'm excited to share the process and my PRAYER TO HAVE GOD MAKE ME IMMOVABLE through the process.  I want to be immovable in my work as a wife, an eventual mother, as a leader, and as a teacher.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.