Monday, February 19, 2007

The weight of tomorrow.

I took an hour-long nap today on a couch in Waterfield for no other reason than I couldn't make it home before I fell asleep. That was a strange experience. It was one of the best naps ever, and I took it while about a hundred people milled around me, getting their homework done.

I got three interlibrary loan books today. One of which I don't need anymore because it relates to research topic number two. I've opted for research topic version 3.5. I am glad practicum is almost over because I am actually quite excited about examining Sandra Cisneros and her book The House on Mango Street within the new American canon. It involves both of my majors and education, even. Hopefully I can stay motivated.

One of my professors is coming to observe me teaching tomorrow. It will be my last day at the school. I am a little stressed -- surprise, surprise -- because today's class got out of control. I am going to have to do an unexpected lesson tomorrow on how to use and to cite sources. Great fun.

This has been a great learning experience for me. I know that I have a long way to go to become an effective teacher (ooh, that phrasing feels like the product of being brainwashed by the teacher preparation program), and I am excited about having my own classroom with my own students to teach. I worry, though, how much I am making an impact on these students' futures while I thrash about, making a trial-and-error process of their educations. I wonder, after a week of making them think about their opinons on immigration, are they still closed minded? Tomorrow is my last chance -- or last cha, if you will -- to see to it that I'll be leaving these students in a better state than I found them.

The weight of tomorrow just got heavier.

Friday, February 16, 2007

I can't believe it, but it is true.

  • I just taught an English II class for four days. Almost successfully.
  • My best friend forever slash is on the road right now, less than two hours from Murray!
  • The same man for whom I've driven over 2,000 miles (total round trip nileage) to see over the past few years, the same man who is on the cover of this week's Rolling Stone named as a Guitar God, the same man who just won 2 Grammy awards on Sunday is in this town right now. Murray. Kentucky.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Hold the apples, at least for a few more minutes.

It's Saturday night, and I'm getting ready to make a Viewing Guide to go along with a ChannelOne video series called "Crossing the Border." I've already make a grade book, a rather detailed assignment sheet explaining how to "picture a poem" using Google Images and PowerPoint, a unit anticipation guide, a unit reflection guide, a scoring guide for the reflection guide... The list goes on. All of this is only a portion of what I've done (and what I've yet to do) in preparation for teaching an English II class for a little over a week. One class. One week. And I haven't even taught yet.

I don't like how this bodes for my future.

But who am I kidding? I actually enjoy all of this, and I think working with the students -- all this planning in action -- will be fun, too. Even if the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Hopefully I can deal.

Last night, I was watching the 10 o'clock news at my sister's house. When the sports segment came on, I found myself engrossed in the report on the Calloway County versus Graves County boys' basketball game. Who knew I cared? But oh, how I did when I saw one of "my" students on the ol' television making a play. I was so proud, and I haven't even taught the kid yet.

Sometimes it makes me wonder if this really is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Not that I've even started yet. And not that I hadn't been planning it all along.