Entry 21: Gettin' Ready for the Show!

It's already February and in regards to my Senior Project, everything is coming along smoothly! I sent out my letters to the parents in Thursday folders, I met with Mr. Tinkler, the kids are learning their parts, and now we're moving to costuming and set design! Well, we still have to work on character analysis, but I think they are really catching on! Some kids already have their lines memorized and whenever they see me, they run up and start reciting them! :) It makes me very happy! Each child has one line (because they all wanted one!) and I am doing two different shows, "Rumble in the Jungle" and Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo!" They are both so much fun and the kids are really enjoying it! "Rumble in the Jungle" is set in the jungle and incoroporates the famous jungle animals such as chimpanzees, elephants, snakes, gorillas, tigers, lions, and leopards, etc. The kids are really enjoying it! :)
"Barnyard Hullabaloo" incorporates farm animals such as a cow, a rooster, chickens, geese, a donkey, a horse, a sheep, a goat, etc. It is so much fun watching them learn their parts, and actually enjoy them! They alll are working diligently on their lines and are very excited about getting into costumes. Some of them have bombarded me with suggestions for the set and even blocking! It is wonderful! :) I am looking forward to March 7-11 and I know it will creep up a lot faster than I can ever imagine! As a result, I am enjoying each and every moment of this process! : D

Entry 20: There's No Business Like Show Business!

This week has been for exciting in regards to my senior project! I was nervous that the snow week would miss everything up, but, Lord willing, everything will be able to work out! :) This week I introduced the performance pieces to the kids. My first class was more excited than I had anticipated--which was awesome! There were some kids I was nervous about, but they wanted to say their own lines and were all very excited about their parts! On Tuesday (my second class) the kids, again, were all very excited, but one of my students was not happy with his part, and broke down to tears! I was surprised, but I explained to the kids about casting a show and playing their role to the best of their ability while being respectful to the director because the actor cannot control which part he/she plays. I emailed his mom and she explained to me that there were underlying factors for his behavior, which I had expected, and it should be smooth sailing from here on out. As I was giving the other parts out while I read the story, of course all the children would openly voice their excitement and claim which part they wanted etc. One of my students asked one of the kids if he received the part he wanted. His answer made my heart melt because he sweetly responded: "I wanted to be any part that Nicole gave me." :) Aw man, I wanted to hug him right then and there. All the kids are excited about the shows and are giving me ideas about make-up, costumes, sets, and even blocking! I am so excited about the process and it is obvious the students are excited about it as well! :D

Entry 19: Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow, SNOOWWW

What a week! It has been quite relaxing frolicking in our beautiful winter wonderland. I hadn't expected a break from school this early in the year, so close to our Christmas break, but it has been wonderful! I feel sorry for teachers though...I am beginning to learn how they feel! It seems like I will never finish everything that I want to finish, but I know that God is in control. I am not, and I just have to be prepared for whatever comes my way! Resort to plan B! :) For me, plan B is to cut out this lesson weak of somewhat review and just review as we begin working on the performances! I have written my addendum during our 4 day vacation, and I am going to inform all the teachers with my Senior Project aspirations via email before Friday. It's been a lovely vacation, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have found that with my Senior year, I have to enjoy every minute because I cannot afford to lose an opportunity to make memories. Time is so precious and I am trying to make the best of it by glorifying God through my relationship with Him and my relationships with other people. :)
p.s.- My blog title is a song from "White Christmas." :)

Entry 18: I Gotta Lot of Livin' To do!

Well, Christmas vacation is long gone and we are beginning to get back into the school groove. Last half of Senior year...already! As I completed my timeline, I quickly came to realize just exactly how fast this half of the year is going to pass. To be honest, I am a little nervous about my timeline because I have very important dates to complete in a very short amount of time! 2 months may seem like a lot of time...but it really isn't! I still have to write my addendum for my project because I have decided to pursue teaching Drama instead of performing my own show. I met with my mentor this Wednesday and we brainstormed about alternatives and he encouraged me to pursue the drama teaching. For this last 2 months of lessons, the students will be preparing their own performances that will be performed for the parents the week of March 7. I am very, very, very excited about the rest of the year, and I am excited about the challenge of directing that lies before me. In some ways I may not know what I am getting into...but I am very excited about te adventure! I love meeting with the kids, and have defintiely missed them over this Christmas break! However, next week I will begin meeting with them again and I will have their plays picked out in which I will play the role as the narrator as they act out the story. The whole month of February I plan on meeting with the classes every week instead of alternating weeks because this performance will take more than just a couple of weeks. I am very excited about the future, although I know it will be very busy, and I am ready to teach my kids!

Entry 17: God Bless us, every one.

As each month goes I am astounded at how fast my Senior Year is passing. I believe that Oakbrook teachers have created a strategy in which they fill our lives with different assignments so that we are so focused on completing them we don't have time to start feeling sad it is our last year here! At least, that is what it feels like! At time this seems very. very stressful, but as I step back I realize that we are being refined by fire so that in the end our faith will be of greater worth than gold. This year has challenged me to learn how to balance my spiritual life with my social life, my social life with my academic life, and everything else in between. I cannot say that I have succeeded in this task, but as the year progresses I am beginning to have a better grasp on where my priorities should lie. Christmas break is approaching, and I am so excited about enjoying some R&R with my family and friends. During the vacation I will be organzing my Senior Project timeline, preparing lessons, finding skits, and determining my vision for my Senior Project. I look forward to Christmas break and I look forward to completing my Senior Project.
I am going to miss my students during the break, and I can only hope that they remember what we've talked about...but we have time to review with my extension of my drama lessons and I am excited about that! :)
Merry Christmas!

Entry 16: Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is Dead!!!!

:) If you did not know, I am alluding to the Wizard Of Oz in my blog title. In this case, the Wicked Witch is indeed, the Research Paper. Looking back, it wasn't the worst thing in the world, but this blog title fits perfectly what it could be in some people's eyes, so I couldn't ignore it!
This week has been full of tears, not only relating to school assignments, but also because of the departure of some of my new closest friends. I have never been good with good-byes, but this one has got to be one of the hardest I've had to say in a long time...I really don't even want to imagine graduation.
On a lighter note, Christmas is coming and I have talked to Mrs. Locke about extending my drama lessons! I am SO excited because I think I have discovered my passion and I want to do with the rest of my life. I think I have been inspired to become a teacher! I do not know what type of teacher, but I still have time and lots of detials to iron out before I make that decision. Senior Project has been beneficial to me and I am very happy to have chosen the project that I have been doing! :) I love being a part of the kids' lives!

Blog 14: Spectacular, Spectacular!

This week was another spectacular week with my Senior Project! :)) This week we worked on Scene Building. I was nervous at first because these classes were not as interactive because I was utilizing the board and teaching them of the components of a successful scene. I told them that every scene needs a Beginning, Middle, and and End. This means that every scene must have an initial situation, a complication in the situation, and a conclusion. They were very excited about learning new, big words. They told me they felt smart! :) I then assigned them each a scene in a group and they collaborated and will perform their scenes next lesson. I am very excited about watching their performances! It is encouraging to see the children's excitement with the drama lessons. I still need to speak with Mrs. Locke because I want to extend my teaching time. I love teaching. I love spending time with the kids and I love sharing my passion with them. It really is the greatest feeling in the world, and I think I might become a teacher when I grow up! :)) My senior project has been very beneficial for me and I look forward to the rest of the year! :))