1. I can stand in front of the class, holding a copy of the paper that I want them to hand in to me, describe the paper verbally, and say the words, "please pass this paper down your row to the middle so I can collect it from you," and they won't do it. They can be looking at me the entire time, have their folder open, and I can see their completed homework sheet in that folder, and SOMEHOW, it doesn't get done! The most ridiculous example of this had the student with the piece of completed homework IN HIS HAND, then he set it down to sharpen his pencil, came back, looked at the homework with a blank look on his face, and he put it back in his folder. I could hardly believe it.
2. They hand in completely blank copies of their homework. But hey, at least they put their name on it, so I know who to give the zero to.
3. They put their entire head underneath the sink faucet in my classroom to "cool off" on hot days.
4. They throw each others' shoes on top of the light fixtures.
5. They wear shorts and t-shirts on 40 degree days and sweatshirts and long pants on 80 degree days.
6. The boys wear black socks to mid-calf with slide-on flip flops. It's one of the weirder fashion statements I've seen out of them.
7. They leave behind all manner of things in my classroom: books, binders, calculators, cell phones, SHOES, tennis balls, sweatshirts, bracelets, glasses...one student once left behind a shoulder bag. Inside: a laptop and an iPad.
8. Even though they know that I will be deducting points for things they turn in late, they still fail to turn in their major assignments on time. HALF of my 2nd hour students haven't yet turned in their papers that were due a week ago.
9.They ask me if they can borrow a calculator so that they can finish their math homework in the middle of my Spanish class.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Things That Are Awkward: Wedding Edition
New series! "Things That are Awkward!" I'm sure I'll be able to get a LOT of mileage out of this one. :) Plus, it was time to get a light-hearted and funny post.
Disclaimer: These are GENERAL things that I have found awkward about weddings. These observations in no way belong to any particular wedding that I have attended in the last few years.
1. Pastors that deliver a sermon specifically tailored to the two people that are getting married. I find that awkward because then it's like this pastor is talking directly to these two people (who, most of the time, have their back to the congregation), and the rest of the people in attendance are just kind of...eavesdropping.
2. Greeting/thanking someone in the receiving line by the wrong name because you have no idea how they are now related to you.
3. Couples that dance ON each other instead of WITH each other. I don't CARE if you are married. Keep it classy. Don't subject us to that. At least act like you have some control over yourselves.
4. Guests that a) under-dress, b) over-dress, or c) slut-dress. Let me spell it out for you: if your outfit is jeans+wife-beater, fancier than the bride's dress, or a negligee, you will be forcibly ejected from my wedding. By me. And/or my bouncer.
5. This is not characteristic of any weddings that I personally have attended, but it's pretty awkward when the bride wears white when EVERYONE knows that she shouldn't be. But rules were made to be broken, right?
6. When the ceremony takes place at a church with steps up to the pulpit, you have to stagger your attendants. Not just one per step, but make sure that they don't stand in a straight line. Otherwise, a short attendant on a lower step will end up have the next person's back and/or butt at their eye-level, and that's pretty awkward.
7. Stuffing cake in your new husband or wife's face and smearing it everywhere upon cutting the cake. Men especially should not do this. You have just ruined about three hours worth of meticulously applied makeup. Again, keep it classy.
8. Couples in attendance at the reception that stand way too close to each other. Yeah, we get it, you are a couple. You don't need to stand so close together, especially when talking in a group. It's just as bad as having sex in front of us, in my opinion. And for heaven's sake, STOP "stealing kisses" from each other. "Stealing kisses" by nature is done in SECRET. Kissing constantly in front of all of us is called exhibitionism.
Stay tuned for more Things That Are Awkward. :)
Disclaimer: These are GENERAL things that I have found awkward about weddings. These observations in no way belong to any particular wedding that I have attended in the last few years.
1. Pastors that deliver a sermon specifically tailored to the two people that are getting married. I find that awkward because then it's like this pastor is talking directly to these two people (who, most of the time, have their back to the congregation), and the rest of the people in attendance are just kind of...eavesdropping.
2. Greeting/thanking someone in the receiving line by the wrong name because you have no idea how they are now related to you.
3. Couples that dance ON each other instead of WITH each other. I don't CARE if you are married. Keep it classy. Don't subject us to that. At least act like you have some control over yourselves.
4. Guests that a) under-dress, b) over-dress, or c) slut-dress. Let me spell it out for you: if your outfit is jeans+wife-beater, fancier than the bride's dress, or a negligee, you will be forcibly ejected from my wedding. By me. And/or my bouncer.
5. This is not characteristic of any weddings that I personally have attended, but it's pretty awkward when the bride wears white when EVERYONE knows that she shouldn't be. But rules were made to be broken, right?
6. When the ceremony takes place at a church with steps up to the pulpit, you have to stagger your attendants. Not just one per step, but make sure that they don't stand in a straight line. Otherwise, a short attendant on a lower step will end up have the next person's back and/or butt at their eye-level, and that's pretty awkward.
7. Stuffing cake in your new husband or wife's face and smearing it everywhere upon cutting the cake. Men especially should not do this. You have just ruined about three hours worth of meticulously applied makeup. Again, keep it classy.
8. Couples in attendance at the reception that stand way too close to each other. Yeah, we get it, you are a couple. You don't need to stand so close together, especially when talking in a group. It's just as bad as having sex in front of us, in my opinion. And for heaven's sake, STOP "stealing kisses" from each other. "Stealing kisses" by nature is done in SECRET. Kissing constantly in front of all of us is called exhibitionism.
Stay tuned for more Things That Are Awkward. :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
A Refreshed Heart
Today was rough. I'll just state it simply and bluntly. ROUGH.
For some reason, I was unreasonably stressed about school today. It was like it was the first day of the semester all over again. I had prepared this great lesson as part of my culture unit for today and I had mapped out the last two weeks of my full-time teaching lessons. Unfortunately, I had to run these plans by my CT for her approval, and this was stressing me out big-time.
There's just something about student teaching that has broken down my confidence in myself when it comes to teaching. I can't really point to any one event in particular. Just a bunch of little every day occurrences that make me feel like I'm not good enough to do this.
Over Spring Break I had wayyyy too much time on my hands for idle thinking and over-thinking. I actually seriously considered giving up on teaching altogether after this semester and heading straight into a Masters' program after I finish my undergrad next winter. And I still haven't ruled that out. I have days where I think, "What on EARTH am I doing? Am I even any good at this?"
Unfortunately, I still don't have an answer to those questions. But give it time.
The theme of devotions at class tonight was Philemon 1:7, which is one of my FAVORITE verses:
"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother (or sister!), have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people." The people in my class refresh my heart every week. We had such a good prayer sesh after devotions, sharing and crying and praying for each other and carrying each other's burdens. That refreshes my heart.
"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother (or sister!), have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people." The people in my class refresh my heart every week. We had such a good prayer sesh after devotions, sharing and crying and praying for each other and carrying each other's burdens. That refreshes my heart.
Here's another thing that refreshes my heart: Being able to call someone at midnight when I can't sleep and having that someone understand without me even having to explain. It was a particularly horrible night and I still didn't end up sleeping very much. But this friend refreshed my heart with her love and encouragement.
In fact, a lot of you refresh my heart every day with your love, encouragement, and prayers. I thank God for all of you. He uses you to get me through my days and nights.
I hope that my writing can be a source of refreshment for your hearts as well. Sometimes I write just to get my thoughts and frustrations out, but other times I write because I know I can't be the only one with the thoughts and questions that I have. I pray that everyone who comes across this blog sees a testament to God's faithfulness and the work He accomplishes through His people. I also pray that I have been a source of encouragement for you, even if I have never met you.
Until we meet, either again or for the first time, God bless you.
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