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!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, December 3, 2010
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! :))
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Entry 14: Change in Me
This vacation has been fantastic! I needed this very much, and I am very thankful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving in Texas with my family! It was wonderful, but completely strange not doing any homework while I was there. It was difficult because I knew I was supposed to be doing something because I have so much to do, but I wanted to cherish my time with my family and my friends. I had a wonderful time, but I still haven't mastered the whole opportunity cost mentality. It's hard to decipher between two great options.
I am preparing my new lessons for this week (which I am very excited about). We're going to work on more scene building/improvisation exercises because I think they are ready to jump into some performing skills.
I have been talking to Mrs. Zion, and I have decided I want to continue teaching my classes until the Spring. I understand I have to work on the addendum by Christmas break, but I still have to talk to my mentor about this decision. I would like to add a little more onto my lessons and if I would extend the lessons, I would definitely end the year with a short skit that they could prepare. I have to start looking now, but I am very excited about the task ahead of me. I love teaching Drama, and that's what I would want to stick with for my Senior Project!
I am preparing my new lessons for this week (which I am very excited about). We're going to work on more scene building/improvisation exercises because I think they are ready to jump into some performing skills.
I have been talking to Mrs. Zion, and I have decided I want to continue teaching my classes until the Spring. I understand I have to work on the addendum by Christmas break, but I still have to talk to my mentor about this decision. I would like to add a little more onto my lessons and if I would extend the lessons, I would definitely end the year with a short skit that they could prepare. I have to start looking now, but I am very excited about the task ahead of me. I love teaching Drama, and that's what I would want to stick with for my Senior Project!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Entry 13: I'm late, I'm late...for a very important date!
What a night! We just had our last, first home basket-ball game, I have to write an essay, and I'm going to the midnight premire of Harry Potter! I am very excited, so I just wanted to share that with everyone. :)
Now, in regards to Senior Project, I had a fantastic week this week! The kids explored props again today by making up scenes in which they had to incorporate their props! We have some work to do in some areas...but overall I was impressed! They were all so excited about it and kept on asking if they could do it again! They loved it! It really makes a teacher proud when the students are fully engaged in a subject and come up with things you didn't come up with yourself. I had a lot of good laughs this week! Also, I was so encouraged this morning because one of the moms of one of my students came up to me and told me how much her child was enjoying drama and how she really thought that he had found his passion! She also told me that she was looking into drama classes he would take part in the spring! I was stoked! My desire of my whole Senior Project was to share my passion with others and hopefully help kids discover their own passion. God is so good!
I have done several corrections on my Research Paper, but I still have to find a lot of statistics to support my subject. However, it is ironic because I am taking AP Statistics this year and the whole class enforces the idea not to trust statistics. It makes me laugh, but I know I just have to look in the right place! I have a lot to do, but I know God never gives us more than what we can handle...I just have to remind myself of that every day!
Now, in regards to Senior Project, I had a fantastic week this week! The kids explored props again today by making up scenes in which they had to incorporate their props! We have some work to do in some areas...but overall I was impressed! They were all so excited about it and kept on asking if they could do it again! They loved it! It really makes a teacher proud when the students are fully engaged in a subject and come up with things you didn't come up with yourself. I had a lot of good laughs this week! Also, I was so encouraged this morning because one of the moms of one of my students came up to me and told me how much her child was enjoying drama and how she really thought that he had found his passion! She also told me that she was looking into drama classes he would take part in the spring! I was stoked! My desire of my whole Senior Project was to share my passion with others and hopefully help kids discover their own passion. God is so good!
I have done several corrections on my Research Paper, but I still have to find a lot of statistics to support my subject. However, it is ironic because I am taking AP Statistics this year and the whole class enforces the idea not to trust statistics. It makes me laugh, but I know I just have to look in the right place! I have a lot to do, but I know God never gives us more than what we can handle...I just have to remind myself of that every day!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Entry 12: There are Giants in the Sky
This week we all received our Research papers (giants) back. To be honest, I was frightened when I saw the pencil grade in the corner of the paper. However, it just proves that I have a lot of room for improvement. I thoroughly enjoy my research topic and I would like to go visit a college library soon. Ms. Autenzio was giving us tips about research and she strongly encouraged a visit to the college library. I need to get on that (and everything else). It blows my mind that nothing ever stops. Every single minute of every single day I can be doing something, and if I'm not doing anything productive I feel horrible and can't thoroughly enjoy myself. My solution: Keep pressing on until you can't press on anymore.
Even though it does not seem pleasant now...I know this whole pile-everything-in-one-week strategy will help me become a stronger individual as I learn how to respond correctly to overwhelming situations. I understand it's beneficial...but it is not a fun process.
In order to revise my research paper, I plan to take 2 or 3 hours every weekend to work on it. I could say 2/3 pages revised...but we'll have to see about that later. I have some statistics I have to find and terms I have to define. I look forward to the end product of this experience...it's just going to be grueling getting there!
By the way: my title is a reference to the musical Into The Woods. :)
Even though it does not seem pleasant now...I know this whole pile-everything-in-one-week strategy will help me become a stronger individual as I learn how to respond correctly to overwhelming situations. I understand it's beneficial...but it is not a fun process.
In order to revise my research paper, I plan to take 2 or 3 hours every weekend to work on it. I could say 2/3 pages revised...but we'll have to see about that later. I have some statistics I have to find and terms I have to define. I look forward to the end product of this experience...it's just going to be grueling getting there!
By the way: my title is a reference to the musical Into The Woods. :)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Entry 11: Put on a Happy Face!
Well another week is gone and another weekend is approaching! I can't express how much I love the weekends! :)
This week has been a good week with my senior project. I was able to go down and teach the kids about using their imagination and the whole concept of props! I had three different objects for them in which they had to take and use in a different way each time. For example, I had a roll of tape and someone pretended like it was a frisbee, or a doughnut. They were all very creative! It was easier for some students than others, but every class enjoyed it! I was encouraged watching them stretch their imagination while truly enjoying themselves.
Today, when I was reviewing with the class I asked them, "Who remembers what we did last week?" It was so cute because one of the boys in the class answered, "We had fun!" Needless to say, that made me very, very happy! It seems like the kids are enjoying my classes as mich as I'm enoying teaching them! I hope that's the case!! :))
This week has been a good week with my senior project. I was able to go down and teach the kids about using their imagination and the whole concept of props! I had three different objects for them in which they had to take and use in a different way each time. For example, I had a roll of tape and someone pretended like it was a frisbee, or a doughnut. They were all very creative! It was easier for some students than others, but every class enjoyed it! I was encouraged watching them stretch their imagination while truly enjoying themselves.
Today, when I was reviewing with the class I asked them, "Who remembers what we did last week?" It was so cute because one of the boys in the class answered, "We had fun!" Needless to say, that made me very, very happy! It seems like the kids are enjoying my classes as mich as I'm enoying teaching them! I hope that's the case!! :))
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