AMLE Conference

First of all, what is AMLE?  Answer:  the Association of Middle Level Educators.  As a member of the Student Association of Middle Level Educators (SAMLE) I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the conference - both to enjoy the learning and also to be a part of the team that presented two different workshops.

The conference was an interesting blend of an overwhelming amount of amazing information, fun times with students, frustration at student attitudes and the kind of learning that only an intense conference experience can bring.

I learned about better ways to assess, and how to use assessment to improve teaching and learning instead of as a dead-end judgement.  I heard great tales about handling middle level students, as well better ways to engage learning and increase interest.  Workshops were offered with intensity and humor, and the impact that we teachers (or future teachers) have on students was cited throughout the different classes.  I took endless notes, bought books, and scavenged the exhibit hall for anything free (lots of good and plenty of pointless stuff).

My three student room mates were fun.  As their adopted Mom, I enjoyed the experience despite my trepidation leading up to the 4-day event.  We ate together, visited the sights of Minneapolis and enjoyed some nightlife (only one of the group of 14 was underage).  Some of the group were just a little too 'young' for me to handle for too long, but the group that I attached myself to seemed to enjoy me as much as I enjoyed them; I certainly hope so!  They introduced me to the world of SnapChat, I perhaps influenced them to attend a couple more workshops than they might have otherwise.  A win-win.

As I look over the tools that I gathered and contemplate the new learning, it adds to my desire to finally get out to the real world and be in my classroom!  If nothing else, now that my semester schedule has freed up a little with my two 8-week classes ending, I connected with New Hartford once again and will be teaching there every Wednesday afternoon, helping with Language Arts.  I can't wait!

All this time and effort is about the students that will one day motivate me to be the best teacher that I can be - no doubt at the very same time that they stymie and frustrate me along the way!

I can't wait :)

Starting over....again!

My energy and excitement is back after a hiatus.  Time to adjust my attitude.  Another beginning, as symbolized by my beginning to blog once again.

The first semester back at school was exciting.  I was finally doing what I wanted with my life; I had focus.  Being a learner once more was invigorating, and knowing my goal exciting.

The second and third semesters were a joy.  Time with the wonderful cohort at Lincoln Elementary kept the goal alive.  Living literacy learning and being around children was a daily reminder of what I was striving for.  Volunteering in New Hartford kept me around middle schoolers.  The personal side of things wasn't easy, with Steph (our oldest) realizing that she needed to get away, far away, to figure herself out, and then, a little later, Paul losing his job.  We are lucky though, with a fabulous support system that kept us moving forward.

Things worked out.  Steph fell in love with New Zealand.  Paul got a much better job.  

School, however, was not quite the same.

My sojourn at Lincoln ended.  No more 'real' learning; it was back to the classroom.  Not only was it back to lectures and no children to work with, it was a semester filled with 'gen eds'.   World Geography was a nightmare.  Humanities was well taught and enjoyable, but those exams...,,,,,there were some highlights of course, but my fourth semester was one where I almost forgot that I was going to be a teacher....time continued to get away from me.  The semester started with long hours in the barn as my horse recovered from surgery, and I never quite caught up.

My two summer classes were a perfect example of the extremities of what I face.  Math methods with Matt Webb was an awesome class.  All about teaching.  Anecdotes, stories, even a couple of field experiences!  On the other end of the spectrum was 'East Asian Cultures' to fulfill my non-Western culture requirement.....let's just sum that class up as, 'painful'.

So now I am in semester 5.  The first semester of my third year.  After this one, I will have just two semesters left before I student teach.  It is time to readdress & re-motivate.

Last week I was fortunate enough to go to the Association of Middle Educators' (AMLE) national conference.  3 days of workshops and seminars.  I am invigorated again.  My mind is filled with ideas and concepts.  I go from 4 classes on a Thursday to 2 after Thanksgiving, which reduces the homework burden on Wednesdays, meaning I can go back into the classroom every week, and remind myself why I am doing this!

So, a long journal entry to basically say this, my blogging stopped when my excitement waned.  I had no time, nor desire to find those extra minutes to write something that only a handful of folk might glance at.   Now, re energized and with the end in sight, I am ready to log my journey once again.

Life is good.