48

Well, not that anyone really reads this, but I thought I would let the world know I have

48 days

until I start student teaching for realz!

I know it kind of sounds like a lot, but when you compare it to 18 years of waiting to be a teacher, it sounds pretty darn close.

 

How does it feel?

Nerve-wracking.

Thrilling.

Full of opportunity and creativity.

Like a heart attack.

Where is my closet to hide in.

Butterflies.

Joy.

It feels like finally.

 

It's hard to believe fall term is wrapping up...two short weeks left with a gajillion things to do in that amount of time.

 

I have NO idea how I could smoothly start student teaching where I'm at without this last term...I am still getting to know my 60 students and getting a grip on things. I suppose that never ends though.

 

Honestly, I feel like everything will be so much easier when I have my classroom all to myself...so I know if I can get through this year, I can get through anything.

 

Some days have been really hard... like the days when you're leading your reading group and all six of them are wandering out of their seats, stealing things from your lap, asking to go to the bathroom, screaming, laying their head on the table, crawling under the table, crying because it's too loud in the room, etc.

 

But then there are the days where you think of a brilliant idea and all of them are having fun and paying attention at the same time. 

Or when you read a book aloud and all 30 of them are quietly listening.

Or when a student comes up and gives you a hug.

Or when a girl hands you drawing she made for you.

Or when one of them calls you "Ms. Omundson".

Or when one of them says "I want to sit by the teacher!"

Or when one of them asks "Do you work here yet?"

Or when one of them compliments my earrings (which is about every day ;)

Or when you're picking them up from music and you look back and see a line of quiet children looking back at you.

 

Teaching is definitely for me!....I hope :-)

I doubt I'll have a lot of time to post these next two terms, but I'll try to drop in as much as possible. Even if it's just a funny story :-)

 

The lady that will be my supervisor/advisor is super nice and I'm looking forward to getting to know my cohort better. Looking through the list I know most of them and I feel we are already pretty close.

 

Next term, in addition to student teaching and my three other classes, I am attempting to start running again because it's kind of go big or go home with me....and with my busy lifestyle I have to remember to take care of myself too. I will also be working at Baskin Robbins on the weekends still and maybe nannying a day or two a week. I have also still been involved with my church's college group, playing in the worship team and such.  

 

I am already thinking/praying about what to do for next year. If is teaching, which it most likely is, there are so many options of where I could go--virtually anywhere, and that overwhelms me. I would love to stay in the house I'm at now with my roomies, but I also have also been bitten by the travel bug again and I think I would love teaching abroad (Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.) or at least somewhere WARM!! Seriously, though, I think I've had enough of Oregon weather to last me the rest of my life. If I got to teach out of state, I'd love to go to: California, Arizona, New Mexico or Florida.

But there's a slight chance I could get hired in Oregon :)

 

Well, enough rambling. I shall update you when I start student teaching!!!

 

Ms. Omundson

 



the fun begins

Well, in case you haven't heard, I found out the good news, and I am placed at South Shore Elementary in Albany, in a 1st grade room that is dual immersion!!

Long story short, I had to add a 3 credit class in order to receive financial aid this term. I decided to do another practicum (basically just volunteering, observing, etc.) to get some extra practice. Since I added the class late, I met with the teacher a week ago individually to go over what I missed and get placed. Well, little did I know that Amy (the placement specialist) was on top of it and placed my practicum in the same room that I'll be student teaching the rest of the year....meaning I'll be in there the whole year!! Which is rare...and a great opportunity to get to already know my kids BEFORE I start student teaching.

I have already gone in once in the classroom and have gotten to know the kids a little. It is a little crazy: since it is dual immersion, there are 2 classes that rotate back and forth every week (elephants and giraffes). They are learning in Spanish with another teacher the other week. So I met the elephants this week and next week I'll get to meet the giraffes. There are 30 kids in each class, with exactly half being Latino/ELL.

I LOVE THEM!! I have to say I'm pretty proud that I remember 26/30 of their names with faces ;). It is a bit crazy though. I got to lead two different reading level groups, with about 6 in each. I got to use the smart board and go over phonemes and words and did some creative activities that I think they liked. Later I walked around and talked with different table groups and got to know some of them. There are a few severe ADHD kids, which will hopefully help me prepare to be a more well-rounded teacher :-) I was talking to a few more extraverted kids who kept talking to me in the lunch line and one was saying I wasn't a real teacher because I didn't have a picture of myself on my nametag, LOL, and then another said he wished I worked there! :) Anyways, needless to say I am very excited to be there.

Annnnd my cooperating teacher, Mrs. F, is great! She is pretty chill and funny and nice. I'm very grateful that she wants my input and ideas, and when I student teach she said she wants me to be able to "do my thing" and not feel I have to do everything her way. I feel reassured as she said it will go successfully :-) It was funny because one kid, with spiked blonde hair and glasses, had a shirt on with Justin Bieber on the front and "future Justin Bieber" on the back. He had gone to the concert the night before. She had him stand in front of the class and took some pictures. Everyone starting blurting out, getting really excited about J. Biebs. It was really funny.

It's gonna be a hectic term and year, but I am prepared. In addition to the 10 hours I'll be spending at South Shore each week, I have 4 other pretty demanding classes. I am also grateful to have a nannying job to a 18 mo old boy (who I speak only Spanish to), which takes up another 12 ish hours each week. It is also super nice having a car now! The house and roomies have been really awesome too.

Well, that's all the time I have for now, but will update more within the upcoming weeks!
Thanks for reading!

***NEWS***NEWS***NEWS

Now, try not to have a heart attack, but we've got some news, folks.

So this morning I woke up and thought to myself, "Why don't I give Amy a nice lil' message somehow getting her to spill some details."
This email mentioned something about trying to figure out housing and it would be very helpful to know if my pending request was in Corvallis or not (which IS true).

About three minutes, later, Amy responds, and just like that, tells me I have a pending request in

ALBANY!!

Which means that it is most likely, but they don't want to say anything until it is confirmed.
I was a little bummed at first, as Corvallis was my first choice, of course, but I am getting more and more excited! It is only a 15-20 minute rural drive away, which I guess is second best. Also, I won't have the problem of running into my students and parents all the time living in Corvallis.

I looked at elementary schools in Albany...and there are about, oh 13. So that doesn't really narrow it down! ;-)


Currently I am studying about 6 hours every day for my ORELA test--my big bad teacher test next Tuesday, Sept. 4th. I basically need to know everything about Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Math, the Arts, Health and Physical Education. Hence the cramming. It is in two subtests, and if I fail one, I can just retake the one. But hoping I won't have to!

Today I was realizing the biggest fear I have of student teaching: SLEEPING IN
It's not that I LOATHE mornings, I can wake up if I [absolutely] have to, but there are those mornings where my alarm clock(s) will just not go off, or I sleep through it. So obv. I'm deathly afraid of sleeping in when I'm supposed to be teaching...especially when I'm getting supervised! But I guess we'll cross that bridge when I come to it, I suppose...and buy several more alarm clocks ;-)

Well, more later, and hopefully with some confirmed news!

"New" Update

Well, I have received the following email from Amy today...

Good afternoon,

You are receiving this email because I have you recorded as planning to student teach during winter/spring terms this academic year. I have heard from a few of you, but wanted to send out a general update message.

I will contact you as soon as I have a confirmed placement for you. Receiving this email means that you are on my radar as student teaching and that I am working to find you a placement. I will plan to check in with each of you individually toward the beginning of fall term, if not sooner. This still gives us plenty of time to get you situated before starting your part-time placement in the winter.

If your plans have changed, please contact me as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.

Thank you,
Amy

First of all: Is this vague and a half or what?! This now SOUNDS like 2 more months of waiting. My impatience level continues to rise!

Second of all: I challenge her "This still gives us plenty of time to get you situated before starting your part-time placement in the winter". Yah, um unless some of us have to find a replacement roommate in two months. But she did say "us", so maybe SHE will help me find a replacement roommate (if I'm not STing in Corv).

I'm sure it's not Amy's fault, but still. dja;klshl;gtjl;khl;wherghql;ehjg;h. Annoying.

The good news is I got an A in Math 211/212 this summer, which I actually loved.

In the meantime, I am working for my dad, and still waiting to find a job/house in Corvallis.

I will update the next time I have remotely exciting news!

Dear Amy

Dear Amy,
I know you have a lot on your plate and that this is a time-intensive process as you mentioned, but I'd kindly like to remind you that you said you would update us by the end of the month on our placement statuses. I would like to kindly remind you that it is June 30, therefore, the end of the month. If it's going to take until the beginning of September, please tell us that it will take until the beginning of September. There is only so long that a person can wait in anticipation with timelines being delayed. I would like to know NOW, preferably, but I would understand if it takes a day or two more.
Sincerely,
an anxious teacher

Not the email I had hoped for...

But still informative, so I guess I can't complain....I'll just let you read it yourself!

"Good afternoon,

You are receiving this email because I have you marked as student teaching during winter/spring of next year.

A few weeks ago I said I would send an update on the status of placements by June 8th (today). I know this is a very exciting time for all of you. I have been working hard to keep the placement request process moving forward so you will have time to touch base with your cooperating teacher(s) before the start of the school year.

A few of you are signed up for TCE 409; I am formatting your placement requests in a way that will hopefully allow you to do the September Experience with your part-time cooperating teacher. If you plan to take 409 but have not met with Liz White for approval, please do so as soon as possible. I will not seek a 409 placement for you if you haven’t received the “okay” from her.

I am hoping to have a good idea of the status of the winter/spring placements by the end of this month. In the meantime, please make sure you are moving forward in having all of your pieces in place (fingerprints have been submitted and cleared, you have applied and been accepted into Level 2 of the Double Degree program, and have submitted to me a student teaching application complete with resume, professional goals statement, and content mastery form). I have been contacting students as I come across missing pieces, but you are your own best advocate. Also, if I contact you asking for a missing piece, please respond as soon as possible so I can keep moving forward with your placement request.

I know a few of you plan to be out of the state/country for the summer – if this is the case for you, please make sure that I have accurate summer contact information for you.

This is a time-intensive process, some placements/schools more than others. I will do my best to keep you updated on the status of your placement. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me; although please do be mindful that I can only fit so much into each working day. I want to keep an open communication line between me and you, the students, but also want to be realistic about my work load and keep the process moving forward for you and your classmates, which means I will need to devote a significant amount of my time to contacting schools.

I have had a lot of fun making these connections between our students and partner schools/cooperating teachers. The Education faculty have all been so helpful in making recommendations for each of you; I want to express how fortunate you are to have mentors that are so invested in your success as educators. I hope that the hard work our team has put into getting these placements together will pay off in a profoundly rewarding experience for each of you. I am eager to hear about your teaching adventures next year!

I will soon be in contact with you individually.

Take care,
Amy

Amy Beaderstadt
Licensure and Placement Specialist "

Practicing the virtue of patience! ;-)

Inching Along

Well, the exciting news is that the next time I post (which will hopefully be in like 2 weeks) I will get to announce where I am student teaching!!!! Which is probably not very exciting for you guys, but still. Very excting for me. I have a feeling that no matter where I am placed though, I will be stoked.
You mean you're going to let me into your school, into your classroom and have responsibility for TEACHING these kids?!?! You say I'm old enough for this? That's how I feel. It just makes it so official and makes me feel so grown up.
Anyways, these are my top 2 schools....

#1 Garfield Elementary, Corvallis

#2 Lincoln Elementary, Corvallis

Well, I am just done with week 8 in school, which means I have TWO weeks of school left, then a week of finals (which I think I only have one on Monday?). What I am going to do this summer is still up in the air, between Portland or Corvallis, or both, haha! I have to take 2 math classes :( And work. But I'm still looking forward to some good times....which reminds me, I just registered for a HALF-MARATHON in Canby on August 25th! So it's time to tie up my laces again ;-)

Kinda crazy that my time at Charis is wrapping up too....hopefully I'll get to stay there for at least a while during summer, but I don't think it'll sink in for a while that I'm not living there the rest of my life! Ha....and that I'll actually have to cook on my own! Looking forward to what next year brings though, with living in a house (hopefully!) with two friends, student teaching, working, being more involved in my church and college group, etc.

Yep...good times.

Welp, I'll check in you soon for the big nooz! (aka, news)

S



Ms.O

Today in my favorite class (Teaching with the arts) a fancy actor guy came and talked about incorporating drama in the classroom (although it felt like he was trying to give us all heart attacks with his activites, lol). He had us stand in a line and gave us a prompt and we had to think of things on the spot.
"What are you going to have your students call you when you're a teacher?"

"Ms. O."

Earlier in the class we had to introduce ourselves and say a few things and after trying to speak up to the best of my abilities, he stopped me...THREE TIMES and told me to project. "Was that ANY louder?" he would say. Haha....well according to him, I'm going to suck as a teacher!

******************************************************

Other "teacher-esque" news is that I dropped my ESOL/bilingual endorsement and am just sticking with the ESOL endorsement. Basically I am teaching the same kids, but in English, not in Spanish. This is the more common endorsement, but it is still more in demand and starting to be required in some areas.
However, I do want to get the bilingual endorsement eventually, probably after I live in another country for a while. It's hard for me to communicate clearly anymore in Spanish, and it would just be too much stress that I don't need next year on top of student teaching (stressful in and of itself!) But I am just as excited for teaching in English....after all, language doesn't matter in the end!

                             ********************************************************
I have SIX weeks left at Charis...ever! Such a weird feeling.......
I feel ready but also have started feeling the sadness of that too...I know it won't really hit me 'till later!
Next year I am moving out with one of my friends Kristin (Tin Tin) and her friend Shannon. We are looking for a little house to rent out....should be fun! A few things I'm looking forward to:
-getting a kitty ;)
-decorating and making art for the walls
-having a room just for music/prayer/art/etc.
-cooking and baking
-quietness for studying
-neighbor kids...Hispanic neighbor kids? :)
-having a garden/yard

There's a slight chance now that I may not get to student teach in Corvallis, but it's still pretty likely.

Well, that's it for now! Constantly busy with this term...ahh...

Susannah

Latest and Greatest

• This last Tuesday I presented a lesson plan I made for one of my ed classes---(my class of 14 girls and 1 boy suddenly turned into 3rd graders! :) It was based off of my research topic, which I also had to present on, which was ELL (English language learner) students. I had them do a fun and interactive activity based on the new food pyramid, "my plate". I think it was a success!
• Today, for the same class, I observed in a 4th/5th Spanish dual immersion classroom for 4 hours. Dang it...now I want to teach 4th and 5th graders!  Haha...I think I would probably love to teach any grade though...except kindergarten......:)
• I keep getting more stoked every time I observe in bilingual rooms, although it just shows me how much Spanish I have yet to learn! :/ However, the teacher I observed for today was pretty encouraging. He is from Mexico and said I had a good accent at least! He also said I should help out in classrooms to get better. I wasn't aware that I could just "help out" in classrooms! But anyways, I'm gonna need to do SOMETHING to boost my Spanish skillz by about a million!
• Oh yah, anyone want to pay for me to go to Latin America this summer? ;-)
• I also felt kind of special because the teacher introduced me to the class and later when we were working in the computer lab, a girl raised her hand and said "Señorita Susana!" to ask me for help. Pretty legit.
• I now have the most stressful part of school behind me--it was crazy week with the big presentation/paper due, plus a recorded interview with a Spanish speaker (my friend Blanca from El Salvador) & write up, and the 4 hour observation plus write ups.
• When I went to Blanca's, she served me homemade pupusas from her country that are so delish--thick tortilla with refried beans & cheese inside, with coleslaw & salsa on the side.
• Ever since I've had my email pal/friend from Brazil in high school, I've wanted to go to Brazil... but after watching this move in Spanish class, all I want to do is learn Portuguese (the coolest sounding language, BTW) and go to Brazil and live in the slums and be with the children. But really, there's more moments I want to leave the country than being here. Lord help.
• On the Charis front, we have been interviewing girls for next year already and are praying about next year's management. It still feels like we just started and yet it's almost time for next year! It's kind of a relief in a way though.
• 27 days until Israel!!!
• Well, my brain is fried so that's it for now! Sorry if this was the blog post from Boringsville.

Happenins

Howdy. Sorry it's been awhile since I've written last.

{16 credits+ Charis+ training for Shamrock+ preparing for Israel+ helping plan for a friend's wedding=  BUSIER THAN I WANT!}

 

It's been a good term, though, busy as it may be. Definitely good in learning time management.

"TEACHER-WISE", here is the scoop....

• For those of you who don't already know, I turned in all my application stuff for student teaching and I'm good to go!
• And I am oficially going ESOL/BILINGUAL!! This means I will be student teaching both in Spanish and English and doing my work sample in Spanish.
• Ahhhh! To the last bullet. Have I mentioned how freaked out I am because I definitely am losing a lot of my Spanish? Well, that's besides the point....but I just knew deep down that's the choice I was supposed to make and that it would really challenge me but excite me at the same time.
• I'm taking 2 TCE (ed) classes this term and LOVIN them! For one of them, I get to read this textbook....and I literally can't put it down, it's so fun and good! One of those books that just makes you want to teach RIGHT NOW. Here are some bad pics...

 
• Hmm...what else to say? Oh yes, I will most likely get my first choice to ST at Garfield Elementary in Corvallis. ESOL/Bilingual gets first choice, so booyahhh.
• Well, even though it's Friday night, this girl never gets much of a break so it's back to the books for me!
• 33 days until Israel, which is all paid off by the way!!!!
• Next term I will only have to take 12 credits, which will be awesomeeee.

So long for now!
Suz

Soap Creek

This is an old schoolhouse I would drive by often times this last summer on the way to tree flagging, in a rural area on the outskirts of Corvallis.

I decided that once I am a teacher, a photoshoot by this magical place is in order! :-)

Welcome post....informative and slightly boring.

Hello All! I decided to create this blog mainly for myself to process and narrate my adventure of becoming a teacher, but thought I would let you in for entertainment purposes :-). However, this blog probably won't be more exciting than anything else you read or choose to do. It probably won't really start getting entertaining until I have real students to write about ;-) Just kidding...sort of?

**If you came to this blog and you yourself have had experience in this wonderful profession, that is not a coincidence. It's because I will need your input and support! Thank you in advance :-)


The Scoop:
-As most of you know, I have wanted to be a teacher since the ripe age of 4. Seventeen years later, this dream is still very much alive!  I have two terms left this year completing mainly education related classes with a dash of Spanish, and Winter and Spring of 2013 I will finally be student teaching.

THE LATEST [AND GREATEST]:

January 31st I will turn in my Student Teaching "portfolio", if you will. This includes my resume, my content mastery form (i.e. all the important classes I've taken) and my Professional Goals statement (teaching philosophy) as well as a form that indicates some other info.

Some of this "other info" includes WHERE I want to student teach. So far, I am thinking my top three choices will be 1) Corvallis (particularly Lincoln Elementary)  2) Canby   3) Woodburn

Most importantly, I will mark on the sheet which endorsement I will ST for--

ESOL   or   ESOL/Bilingual.

*ESOL doesn't require a second language, works with smaller groups of children with different native languages to learn English. The bilingual option is the "normal" classroom but teaching in Spanish and English equally-proficiency in Spanish required.

Soo..I have always leaned towards the bilingual option, but the last few months I have been slightly freaking out about how much Spanish I do NOT know....especially with my increasing lack of Spanish classes & exposure...not to mention teaching combined, which is scary in and of itself! But I think I'm feeling led towards this option and even though it may be harder, especially at first, I feel it will be so rewarding and fun in the end. And, I have about a year to really push myself and learn as much Spanish as possible!

I would never choose a job because of money or even availability, but it just so happens that there is an increasing need for ESOL and bilingual teachers and Spanish speakers in general--I've been told a lot I won't need to worry about finding a job. This is a huge blessing. (That is, if I pass my ST! :-)

I am overwhelmed by all the places I could teach....in and out of the U.S.:Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico sound especially appealing. However, I have a feeling I'll probably just stay in Corvallis for a while, especially if I end up getting a job here. I do love Corvallis a lot! Though it will be way different without the Charis and college aspect of it. But only God knows! I will go where He says.

I always say, "If teaching doesn't work out, I want to get an alpaca farm and raise alpacas and use and dye their wool to make yarn and knit things and sell them."

Well... there's that! ;-) There's about a billion other dreams floating around in my head. Honestly, I don't think I'll teach (in a classroom, that is) forever. But that's besides the point! I lie awake often dreaming about being a real-live teacher, sometimes my heart races a little. I dream of being that inspiration in a kid's life...(ok I admit it, the fun teacher).... the ways I'll get to set up my classroom, like an open canvas....all the sweet little brown (and white) faces...creative activities.....field trips to my house? haha....and so, so much more.

Well, that is enough for now I imagine. I'll touch bases for sure after I have turned in my ST "portfolio"!

Thanks for reading!

Susannah