Sidenote

This is just a short sidenote... I love reading comments and followers are always appreciated!!

Lessons from Wall-E

I just finished watching the mostly cartoon movie Wall-E and I was blown away! It's not that it became my favorite movie cuz it's not good enough in that way (great but can't replace Pirates of the Caribbean!), but I was amazed at how much can be learned from it! It's so awesome that there's such an enjoyable movie out there for kids to watch and actually learn something from! We should all take after Wall-E! He tries to be nice and be friends with as many people/robots as possible, he'll do anything for his ladylove, even going so far as to ignore his greatest desire to hold hands with her (aww), and he sacrifices himself to save everyone! Then, there's the other side of the story. It shows a world where people forget about the amount of trash they produce, to the point where they have to head to space and leave some robots to get rid of everything for them. When they get to their space station, they have the luxury of robots coming to them at their every beck and call while they relax in their recliners and move about talking on the "phone." Eventually, it gets so far that everyone is completely obese and can't do anything for themselves. It just goes to show that your possible dream of being able to relax all day and not worry about the environment can have really bad side effects (no, I don't think this story will ever come to pass, but still...).

These are only a few of the things I learned from this first view of Wall-E. If you haven't seen it, DO! It's more than just a cartoon or kid movie!!

Back on Track!

I finally have some good news to report! Nearly 4 weeks into the semester now, I've finally got my full-schedule back! No worry about losing out on loans or insurance, and I've actually found a few silver linings in this whole deal! Over half of my credits are filled with 2 different independent studies under 2 of my PE professors doing things I never would have had the chance to experience otherwise. In one independent study, I'll be doing all kinds of research, and I'll even have my name put on some of it! In the other independent study, I'll be doing lots of marketing and equipment inventory and ordering. All great stuff that I might have to deal with later on in life! While I could certainly feel the vibrations of the many doors of opportunity slamming shut in my face all the way down in my stomach, it seems God opened up just a few others and I want to be happy with the path He's put me on!

:'(

Sad news family and friends. Unfortunately, something has come up between me and the School of Education here at my University, and I'm having to drop out of the student teaching program for the semester. I'd love to rant on and on right now about how unfair and stupid some rules are, but I won't! I'm going to move on and try to get into some classes and make the best of this semester! Hopefully, I'll be back in the program come fall semester! All I ask is that you pray for a happy outcome with my class situation and my anger to leave me!

Pay it Forward... of a Sort

Warning: this blog contains the ever popular topic of the Twilight Saga written by Stephenie Meyer!!

Yes, I'm a HUGE fan of these books and I'm encouraging you to join in! I got started on these books over the summer while I was hanging out with some of my COLLEGE friends, watching the Olympics. One of the girls sat in the corner of the couch, head stuck in a book I knew nothing about. I couldn't help but notice her lack of conversation and attention, and being an avid reader myself, I had to know just what was claiming her so completely. I asked her, visibly dragging her from the pages, and she informed me that it was the final installment of the Twilight books, Breaking Dawn, about a girl and a vampire falling in love. Intrigued, I looked it up the next time I was at the local library, waited a week or two for a copy to become available, and soon devoured the first book, Twilight. Waiting another few weeks, I got a hold of the next two books, New Moon and Eclipse, and again read through them as quickly as I could! Soon after, I found a good deal and ordered the books online and read through all four of the books again. Keep in mind, these books are all around 700 pages! I nearly missed class one time when I got so engrossed in the lives of my friends, Bella and Edward! When suggesting these books to my friends and family, I've had many reasons on why not to read them: they don't like sci-fi, or vampires and werewolves, or it's too girly or won't read a supposed "teen romance" because they're past that stage. All ridiculous! All I have to say is just try it!! There's no swearing or sex, plenty of action and cool cars... all great stuff!

Now, here's where the "pay it forward" part comes in. Every person (mostly 21+ people, by the way) I've told to read these books has loved them! So much so that they pass them on to someone else, and someone else... it goes on and on! It's to the point now where I don't even know where all my books are, except that they're all with different people! I've tried getting them back since the movie came out in November, but it hasn't happened! Very upsetting! J/K, I love how much it's spreading and how I can be a part of that! I'm very proud of my role! In fact, I'd love to have a role in the making of the next movie... I had a few problems with the first. I'd suggest you see the movie first before reading the books because if you read first, you'll likely be disappointed, but I've heard if you watch first you'll love both! I want to support the movie, but I'm having some trouble with it. I wish they'd bring me in for New Moon! How awesome would that be?! Anyways, read the books and spread the goodness. Remember, don't knock it til you've tried it!!

Flashback!!

Today, I was overcome by a great feeling of deja vu. Let me give a bit of back story. In my very first PE class three years ago, fresh off my switch from Engineering to Kinesiology, I was put straight into the classroom- actually the very classroom that I'm teaching in now! I had no experience with anything like the required lesson plans, key words, and discipline with a classroom, and I definitely had to learn by firsthand experience! We had to come up with a lesson for a specific task (running, hopping, throwing, etc.), write it up with key words and transitions and the minute by minute plan, and then teach it to a class of 1st or 4th graders. Then we had to come up with a game to incorporate that skill. May not seem that hard, but when you've never done it before it can be terrifying! Well, at least it was scary for me! Now, fast forward a few years and add a lot of experience, and you'll be back to where I am now. However, now I'm in the student teaching position, near being a teacher out on my own, and this same class with the same teacher is coming once again to visit my school! They'll be coming every Wednesday for the foreseeable future and I can't wait to see how it goes! The deja vu came in the form of these teacher/students being all nervous as they took their first turn out in front of the kids! I had to laugh at them, but also felt so bad for them as I remembered what they were going through! Their time will come where they feel confident and only experience can give them that! Ahh, great memories of my past failures and fears...

Oh, and just a side note here, did anyone know the author of the book series starting with Eragon was only 20 when he published that book?! 20!! How crazy is that! He's only 25ish now and he's already got 3 bestselling novels! Wow! Ok, that's it!

Effects of the Lunar Cycle??

In the last two days, I feel I've experienced the 2 ends of the teaching spectrum. Yesterday (Monday), I got to teach a few classes all by myself. My CT would teach a lesson to one class, and then I would mirror it to another class (just another step in the student teaching experience). Not terribly difficult since I didn't have to plan ahead for it, but still a bit more responsibility! Anyways, the day went great! Yes, there were the few times I had to stare down and sit out the kids so they'd be quiet and even the few kids openly trying to test me, but that actually helped me figure out the boundaries I'd like to set. Overall, I felt great at the end of the day! So, yay for the first day!

Then came today. For the most part, I love many of the classes, but I've become wary of a few of the others. However, that ratio seemed to switch sides today! All my normally great classes were a total pain, and the one "bad" class I had was the best of the day! One of my favorite classes had to sit for nearly twenty minutes- over half their gym time- because they were being so loud and rowdy (thankfully, I wasn't teaching that lesson)! Aside from the one class I mentioned, it was class after class of terribleness! We tried to come up with a reason or excuse for this change and we came up with two things: the temperature dropped low so the kids couldn't do much when they went outside, or the lunar cycle- the largest full moon of the year showed up the other night, possibly causing the craziness to come out... anyone want to take a side or suggest another reason?? Don't worry, I'm not doubting myself after a day like this. I don't see it as a reflection on my teaching skill, but I thought I'd share this phenomenon with you!