Saturday, August 30th, 2008Where the Teacher Becomes the Student Oh, crazy days. I don't feel like I've had a moment to myself for the past two weeks. Not only do I have to be back in teacher mode again, but I also have to re-teach myself how to be a student. Mr. Shoo is sending me back to school to get my Master's in Reading from Illinois State University. Basically, I'm learning how to help students who struggle with reading learn how to read and how to teach teachers to teach students who struggle with reading. (Does that make any sense? My brain is beyond fried.) I feel this degree will be invaluable to me, as I love working with my remedial kids (think sixth gradish reading level for a freshman in high school--and that's one of my higher achievers). My first class didn't go so well. Grad classes are so much different from undergrad, and I didn't begin in an introductory class. Because I registered late, I'm in one of the later courses. But now that I'm getting into the reading, I'm finding it fascinating, but very, very challenging.
So far, knock on wood, all my classes I'm teaching are pretty great. I have a few kids who are going to be challenging, and my basic freshman are always a bit of work, but overall, I've got a great bunch of students this year. I have a Romanian exchange student who is adorable and so sweet. She calls me "teacher" in this very deferential tone. I feel like she could be bowing every time she says it.
I've already got grading to do. I'm going to work on that today, as I'm not feeling terribly well and it's brainless grading...no real essays yet. I'm going to read my coursework tomorrow when I'm functioning a bit better. I think I've got my first student-germ cold of the year. Since having my tonsils out, I haven't been ill. But of course with the influx of papers--and germs--I've got some kind of bug.
I'm sure it didn't help that I spent all last night outside in the pollen-and-just-cut-grass-filled air. I went to our second football game of the season (really the first actual game). It started out very exciting...one of our running backs (a sophomore and one of my kids from last year) intercepted a pass an ran over half the field for a touchdown within the first thirty seconds of the game. It was great. We won. By a lot. Good opening game.
Anyway, off to my grading. If I get it finished, I can nap.
Sally, I'm all about it!! Let me know when and where.
Thanks, Dannie!!
Leslie, I almost had him again, but I let guidance know it would be in his best interest to be in another teacher's class. It's only the second week, and I'm already feeling the strain. I haven't seen Mr. Shoo in two weeks, so I'm making him spend the day with me today. We're going to the zoo in St. Louis.
And the program should take me about three years. I need 36 hours to finish, and I think if I take one class both Fall and Spring semesters and two over the summer, I can finish. But we all know what happens to the best-laid plans.