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.
No comments:
Post a Comment