Saturday, November 19, 2016

It has been too long

It has been too long since my last post.

I have spent the last 3 months working in a 1st grade class completing a mini-internship. Yesterday I received the news that I will be moving to 4th grade in January and I am so excited. I love all children - my heart, however, is drawn to the upper elementary curriculum. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I have had in first grade - my partnership teacher is a wonderful person and I am disappointed that I do not get to stay with her.

I am extremely excited about the new adventures that lie ahead. 4th grade has always been one of my favorites and I am thrilled that I have this chance to experience upper elementary.

I would like to get back into posting more often and I am hopeful that the next few months allow me to do so. I am anxiously awaiting a response from my new partnership teacher and I am hoping I will get some pacing guides that I can review prior to January.

Wish me luck!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Busy Bee

Junior year is no joke. I'm thrilled that I'm this close to graduating, but I'm also extremely busy! Spring Break starts next week and I feel like I am going to sleep for days. Maybe then I can finally update the blog layout and possibly move everything over to Wordpress. As user friendly as blogger is, I did read that Google can decide at any time to end the Blogger service and delete all of my blog history (not like I'd lose much, but. I really want to get back into blogging more often). Maybe a clean slate is a good idea? Getting used to Wordpress will take some time - it's very different. I'm still trying to figure out the layout for my blog and get everything exactly how I want it. When I do, I'll link it here. Regarding my junior year, I'm doing great. I'm excited that by this time next year I'll be in my final internship. At the suggestion of my Field Experience classroom teacher I am going to read up on Kagan's small group principles. Next week, I'm reading A Boy and a Jaguar to a group of second graders. We're going to talk about stuttering and write about what our favorite part of the story (or our favorite thing about the author) is. The students are also putting on a "wax museum" to dress up like a person they read a biography about. I love these kids!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Fall Semester Began

My fall semester began on the 19th of August. I now get to walk all over campus where my classes this summer were entirely online. I've been clocking around 2 miles a day on my FitBit which is exciting. By the time our Hawaii trip comes around I'll be in better shape than I am now. 
I haven't had time to really think of any lesson plans but I am really enjoying my classes. Today I met a girl from my MWF French Class who is also going to be an elementary teacher. She's in the same boat I'm in, in that she has to take another semester before she can graduate as well. It was refershing to run into someone who is experiencing the same thing that I am. 
The next class I have is Elementary Programs and Practices. The classroom layout is similar to an elementary school and it's fueling my desire to be a teacher. Every time I go to that class I am reminded of how much fun teaching will be. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

5 for Funday: Ms. Dion was missing


So.... I've been missing for a few weeks. I'm sorry! I'll fill you in on everything, I promise.



My summer semester was broken down into two components, a Summer I and a Summer II. In order to complete my last three semesters of the Education program at UNCW, I had to be accepted into the Watson College of Education. The courses I took this summer, while a part of the education program, included a course that was mandatory for acceptance into the final three semesters. My application was dependant on my final grade in EDN 200 and the accompanying lab course grade (a C or better was mandatory).
Also, to be accepted, applicants must have obtained a GPA of 2.70 or better in 9 hours or more at UNCW. My current GPA is a 3.845. The instant grades were posted I submitted I sent my application to Watson for review. 


On Monday, August 10, I received the decision for my application into Watson...
I GOT IN! Andrew said that of course I got in, there was no doubt in his mind that I would be accepted. Still, when you've been working so hard toward something that you want more than anything, there's always the question in the back of your mind as to whether or not you're good enough. Immediately when I received my acceptance, I went to my bosses office and asked her how my schedule would work. She told me to provide her with the breakdown of the schedule I would need and she approved it immediately. I cannot begin to describe how relieved and lucky I feel having such a wonderful manager.

We moved! Andrew and I found a newer, larger apartment in a nicer community earlier this Summer. On July 18th, we moved into the new apartment. It's lovely. We are on the second floor, we now have a home alarm system, and the apartment is a 3 bedroom 3 bath. Our two other roommates are very sweet, and this is going to save us money for Hawaii (in January) and for our House fund. 

We also bought a new couch (with our roommates) and its awesome. I feel like a real adult!
We were robbed :(
We moved all of our big and important things out of our old apartment on July 18th. Thankfully. We went back over the course of the following few days to finish cleaning, get the remaining items, and to meet the Habitat for Humanity Restore people so that they could pick up our donations. On our final day cleaning, Andrew and I arrived to see that our kitchen window had been shattered in, and a few of the smaller items had been removed. We suspect teenagers because my KitchenAid mixer, Sewing Machine, and our Ninja Blender were all left behind. The thieves ended up taking a bottle of Bacardi that I had bought as a present for Andrew, and a few older video games. 
This is the second time we were robbed in that neighborhood. So glad we're done.




To close on a happy note... yesterday we watched the sunrise. It was gorgeous. I don't think I could ever live somewhere that I can't make drive a couple hours to the beach.






Sunday, June 21, 2015

5 For Funday! : Planners, and presents, and patients, OH MY!

My 2015-2016 Erin Condren Planner arrived! I ordered on June 9th, and my planner printed that day, and shipped the next. It arrived on June 12th, just 3 days later! This year EC has an option to create your own cover which I might try as an interchangeable cover option. In the back of the planner, there are some pre-printed stickers with things like vacation, birthday, and appointment reminders. There are also blank stickers that you can use for your own purposes.

I love this planner. This year I opted for the horizontal planner layout which is a new option. The planner itself is 18 months, and starts the first week of July so I haven't had a real chance to use it yet. Once I have a chance to use the planner for a little while, I'll post a better review.
I might have went a little crazy with accessories for the EC planner... just a little.
This was my first purchase of stickers and a gold glitter snap in bookmark from PlannerKate on Etsy. She's super sweet. I placed an order for 2 sheets and a bookmark on Tuesday and then went back on Wednesday and ordered more. I sent her a quick message to see if I could combine them into one shipping and she wrote back saying that it wasn't a problem. Once I start really using the planner I'll probably order more from her. The hydration stickers also came from her, but there's only 8 to a sheet and I've already put them into my planner.
My best friend in the entire world, Angela, lives in Florida. She has always been there for me and is the most loving person I know. She ordered me a Tervis as a present for all of my accomplishments these past few weeks.
When I opened the package she sent I almost started crying. Angela is one of the few people in my life who I can always count on. She tells me the truth even when it's not what I want to hear. She's not afraid to tell me her honest feelings and she helps me analyze hard situations. We've been best friends since middle school and I cannot imagine my life without her in it. Also, that's not alcohol in my Tervis, it's an Apple Fizze.
I know I've already posted about this, but I finally got my Praxis scores back! Which means that UNCW has my Praxis scores! Now, there's only one thing left that I need to complete before I submit my applicant to Watson College of Education and that is to complete the course EDN200 and it's corequisite lab of EDN200L with a grade of C or better. I start that class tomorrow. In order to be accepted into my final 3 semesters at Watson, I need to have a GPA of at least 2.70 in 9 credit hours at UNCW. Just last week I completed 6 credit hours. 5 weeks and I'll be ready to submit my application! It's due August 1st at the latest. I'm planning to submit my application on the July 23rd, the last day of my second summer semester. The 23rd also happens to be the day we move.
I used to work in a nursing home. For 3 years, I worked with a man that was a quadriplegic. About 12 years ago he suffered a heart attack and a stroke that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Edsel was my favorite resident. We would laugh at inappropriate things, make jokes, and speak in French with one another when we wanted to say something without other people understanding it. He would always make me laugh and he taught me to persevere when things were looking rough. He was 74 years old. Each year I would bring him a decadent cake on his birthday as a surprise. Edsel was like a grandfather to me. He and his wife Mary showed me unconditional love and support from the day I met them. I will always miss Edsel, he was a wonderful man.