Big question! I'm not sure I yet know the full answer to this question.
I found these notes penned by Kristin Hokanson on her blog:
"the real purpose of this exercise is to alleviate
our natural tendency to edit everything---and learn
to flow.
an analogy would be a film camera:
when a film is shot, the camera just rolls and captures
everything---good and bad. when all the shooting is
complete, the raw film is edited into a cohesive piece.
the camera operator doesn't keep stopping the camera and
rewinding and editing on-the-fly-the camera just rolls.
if it were to stop, some of the best performances
and spontaneous moments might be missed.
so:
be the camera. well, that's a stupid saying, but
you get the idea. in writing---just flow. go back later
and edit.
Go write."
And so I'll keep my camera rolling and write. This site is for me. I guess this blog is intended to capture my thoughts as an emerging teacher.
Let me state up front that I am not an English teacher, so I appoligize up front for all the gramatical errors, voice problems,etc. There is a reason that I am not going to teach English. If I spend endless hours worring about editing this blog my camera will stay off. So I like Kristin's idea---I'm just going to let it flow.
Check out Kristin's site, it has a lot of cool ideas for integrating techology into the classroom.
http://knokanson.blogspot.com/2008/06one-word.html
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Things that make you go hm mm.
So tomorrow is another day with another interview at another school. This internship interview process has been tedious at best. For the most part people have been very nice to me, well in a sort of patronizing way.
If I hear one more school administrator tell me that they think I would be an excellent choice for this position, but… I am going to scream! The "but" part is always followed by, "we are looking for a long term solution," "we are looking for someone who can contribute in other ways to our school," "we are looking for someone who will energize this department," etc.
It doesn’t take much for me to read between those lines. “Long term solution” means someone who is much younger who has a long career ahead of them in teaching. I find that a bit ironic when an internship is a one year commitment that the schools are using every year to save money.
“Can contribute in other ways” is code for we really want a coach or dance teacher. Got me there, my days of twirling around in a leotard are certainly behind me.
“We need someone who will energize this department” clearly another reference to my age…OUCH…that one hurts the most! Silly me, my gut instincts told me before I started this process that I would be a logical choice. I have lived in this community for 20 years and have limited distractions at home. (Well there is actually one, but more on that later). My family is raised, so I won’t be taking maternity leave. My husband has had the same job in this community for 15 years, we own our home,I am not going anywhere! Funny, I thought I was a long term solution.
As for my age…nothing I can do about that. I may be an older candidate but it is not like I am applying to be a gym teacher. The fact is I have missed only 2 days of school in the last 4 years. I have a 3.70 GPA and have never once turned in a late assignment. Am I crazy? I want to teach history, you would thinks someone who actually lived a little bit of history would have something to contribute.
Meanwhile I continue to attend half filled classes, take notes and wonder just a bit why the kids that are sleeping in and taking road trips manage to still pass their classes and are getting all the teaching jobs. Crazy me, I thought this was how it was supposed to go down. You work hard in college and hm mm…maybe not so much. So tomorrows another day, another interview, but…
If I hear one more school administrator tell me that they think I would be an excellent choice for this position, but… I am going to scream! The "but" part is always followed by, "we are looking for a long term solution," "we are looking for someone who can contribute in other ways to our school," "we are looking for someone who will energize this department," etc.
It doesn’t take much for me to read between those lines. “Long term solution” means someone who is much younger who has a long career ahead of them in teaching. I find that a bit ironic when an internship is a one year commitment that the schools are using every year to save money.
“Can contribute in other ways” is code for we really want a coach or dance teacher. Got me there, my days of twirling around in a leotard are certainly behind me.
“We need someone who will energize this department” clearly another reference to my age…OUCH…that one hurts the most! Silly me, my gut instincts told me before I started this process that I would be a logical choice. I have lived in this community for 20 years and have limited distractions at home. (Well there is actually one, but more on that later). My family is raised, so I won’t be taking maternity leave. My husband has had the same job in this community for 15 years, we own our home,I am not going anywhere! Funny, I thought I was a long term solution.
As for my age…nothing I can do about that. I may be an older candidate but it is not like I am applying to be a gym teacher. The fact is I have missed only 2 days of school in the last 4 years. I have a 3.70 GPA and have never once turned in a late assignment. Am I crazy? I want to teach history, you would thinks someone who actually lived a little bit of history would have something to contribute.
Meanwhile I continue to attend half filled classes, take notes and wonder just a bit why the kids that are sleeping in and taking road trips manage to still pass their classes and are getting all the teaching jobs. Crazy me, I thought this was how it was supposed to go down. You work hard in college and hm mm…maybe not so much. So tomorrows another day, another interview, but…
Monday, March 30, 2009
My journey begins...
My journey to become a teacher started many years ago when I first began my college education at BYU. I enrolled in several courses that filled the general education requirements and began the process of deciding which career I wanted to pursue. As I took these courses my interests narrowed to teaching and more specifically to teaching history and social science. I had always found history and geography fascinating, and had even spent some time in Switzerland, where I had the opportunity to meed people from all over the world. I was the oldest of five children many of which were significantly younger than myself and had found that I had a natural affinity and interest in working with children. A profession in teaching history and social science seemed the perfect mix of my own natural talents and interests.
Shortly after I began my education my own career aspirations took a slight detour, when I met my husband and we began actively planning our life together. We married the following August and shortly thereafter began our family. My husband and I went on to have another five children and I spent the next 17 years raising them while my husband worked to support our family. Over the years I have remained focused on setting an example of education and determination to my children and grandchilren. I have always wanted to be a teacher and after spending many years working with young people in various capacities I am excited to have the education necessary to fulfill that goal. Although my own path has spaned more time and geography than most other BYU students, I have always had the same desire-to be a history and social science teacher. And so, my journey begins...
Shortly after I began my education my own career aspirations took a slight detour, when I met my husband and we began actively planning our life together. We married the following August and shortly thereafter began our family. My husband and I went on to have another five children and I spent the next 17 years raising them while my husband worked to support our family. Over the years I have remained focused on setting an example of education and determination to my children and grandchilren. I have always wanted to be a teacher and after spending many years working with young people in various capacities I am excited to have the education necessary to fulfill that goal. Although my own path has spaned more time and geography than most other BYU students, I have always had the same desire-to be a history and social science teacher. And so, my journey begins...
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