It's here!

Practicum started today... I am one step closer to having my own classroom. This is my second time joining another teachers classroom and I am psyched!!! For those of you who are wondering what practicum is let me explain. For a month I get to go into a classroom and observe/teach/learn it is a great way to prepare for student teaching or an internship. Last semester I was able to spend some time with some amazing first graders and this semester I get the chance to meet some fifth graders.

Today I didn't actually get to meet my kids, that will happen tomorrow. Today, for half the day, I met my teacher and got to talk to her about things. It was great! She seems awesome and very organized (She already gave me a list of what I am going to teach next week). I am so excited I can't wait to meet the kids and let them meet me tomorrow. The other half of the day I was able to sub in another teachers classroom as she met her practicum student. It was great. I think my favorite part was when one of the students came up to me and said, "Those boy's over there talking are called the five, they cause problems for us". Is it bad that I wanted to laugh at that? (Don't worry I kept it inside)

After I got home I went shopping... I was able to find a new dress and a few other teacher outfits. I love having an excuse to go shopping and I feel justified in counting new teacher outfits as a reason to go to the store... Also tonight was Dinner with a Principal it was amazing to have the chance to talk to potential employers, very enlightening. Well I think that's it for now.

My Excitement for today...

My new dress

My kids from last semester... (They are hiding in their costumes so hopefully this picture is okay?)

Ramblings...

It has been a while but tonight I felt like sharing what has been on my mind:

1) PRACTICUM starts THURSDAY!!!!! I am so stinkin' excited! This semester I will be working in a fifth grade classroom out in Mapleton. I can't wait to meet my students!

2)This snow needs to go... Don't get me wrong I love the snow as much as any other kind of weather but last Saturday at 11:00 I was laying by the window in the sun, this Saturday at 11:00 I was sitting across from the window watching the snow fall. Also I almost got in a crash due to the ice on the road but that is a story for another time...

3) My grandma Fiso has been in the hospital since Wednesday and has everyone worried. Everyone has been coming to visit her. So many people were coming that she was moved to a bigger room to accommodate everyone. Before she switched rooms one of my cousins came to visit (at a time when a lot of people were visiting) when she got to the room she said "This room is so small, why are they not prepared for Polynesian families?" It was soon after that grandma moved rooms.
       For a while she was not herself but I keep seeing her personality come out and that makes me so happy! At the hospital they have her on a BiPAP machine which helps to keep her oxygen levels up but she hates having the mask on her face and continuously rips it off, recently they have tied down her hands to ensure that she does not take of the BiPAP. Before they taped down her hands she pulled of the mask while her family was in the room we all tried to get it back on her but she wouldn't let us. One of the nurses came in to put it on her. While the nurse was trying to get it back on my parents were holding down grandmas hands and grandma was yelling (as well as she could) "No, I said no and I meant no!" The nurse finally got the mask on grandma's face and before securing it said "Pat, this is to help you. I know you don't like it but it is important for your health." It was then that grandma stated, "If you don't take your hand off of me there is going to be a war in here!" As sad as the situation was I couldn't help but laugh inside. It made me happy to see that my grandma still had her personality about her. Things are looking up but there is still no expected release date for her.

4) Lu'au tickets go on sale Friday!!! Everyone should come!

5) Psych comes back Wednesday!

6) I am rereading one of my favorite books and I found this quote inside of it that I love... "You don't love someone because they are perfect... You love them in spite of the fact that they're not" I love this because it helps me to keep a perspective. I know that it is hard to recognize that everyone has their faults but once you realize that it is not only you with faults you realize that you can work through the faults and grow from them. When you love someone no matter what you are not only loving them for who they are but who they may become.

Teachers

This semester I have some of the most amazing and most confusing teachers I have ever had in school. Right now I am going to focus on one of those amazing teachers... This teacher's main focus is us. She wants to prepare us for a future of teaching and she wants to tailor her teaching to our needs. At the beginning of the semester she asked us what we wanted to learn so we made lists. She took those lists and created our schedule for the semester. She has many connections and has used those connections to  provide us with special guest speakers to inform us. The thing I like the most about this teacher is... She is real. She understands that time is a limit and recognizes that what we are taught is not always the most practical but she tries to make it so.

Anyway to the point of this blogpost... The other day this teacher started a discussion, realized it was going nowhere and changed the objective of her lesson all in the space of 5 minutes! I want to be that type of teacher... I want to be the teacher that understands what her students need and can recognize when the plan isn't working. I want to be the kind of teacher that can change my direction without a second thought because that is what is best for my students.


By the way I am taking the PRAXIS today. I'm past the point of studying... In case this blog post didn't tip you off but I figure whatever happens happens, right?

By the way I love this version of the song!!!!

Wisdom

I read a great article this morning before going to school... I love the point that Elder Anderson shares through this article. In the article he talks about wisdom in the world today and then relates it to the Gospel. Here are a few of my favorite parts along with my thoughts (Because let's face it I always have an opinion):

"The wisdom of the world, while in many cases very valuable, is most valuable when it humbly bows to the wisdom of God"  I love that Elder Anderson recognizes that the wisdom of the world can be valuable. I think that often we are taught that the things of this world are horrible and that isn't the case. This things of this world have their place and their purpose but we benefit from having a knowledge of God's plan and His wisdom. The main thing to remember is to keep perspective and I love the way Elder Anderson reminds us to keep this perspective.

"We can pole-vault over many of the sad experiences that come in life by obtaining wisdom early..." Here he is talking of the wisdom that we gain through others. Yes we remember a lesson better when we learn from experience but if we can observe what happens to others and learn from that we will be able to 'pole-vault' those experiences and continue our growth. Elder Anderson tells us to be reflective and obtain wisdom early which helps us in the long run.

Although we can learn wisdom we do not know everything "we should realize the limitations of this wisdom" Elder Anderson talks of different professions and the importance of professional wisdom. You would not want a teacher performing surgery on you and you would not want a surgeon teaching your children. Both careers mentioned have a set of knowledge that correlate with them and neither is more important. They are both important and they both deserve respect.

These are just a few of my favorite parts of the talk but if you do have a few minutes I would suggest that you read it. I love the connections that Elder Anderson makes between wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God.


Knowledge comes in many ways... when we turn to the Lord we are welcoming knowledge from Him and he will help us 'pole-vault' to where we need to be.