65 Days..

until graduation. OO RAH

That is all.

Freedom of Speech? Where did that go?

Well, it has been brought to my attention that I probably shouldn't write BAD things about my students because a teacher in Pennsylvania got fired for it! So enjoy that last post, I think I will be taking it down tomorrow. I'm kind of sad about it though. These kids are so funny. I know I was just like them in high school... CRAZY.

Story time:
I was leaving West Lake yesterday and as I walking down the stairs I saw my old Spanish teacher, Mr. C (baseball coach) from Mountain View! I just stared at him and:

Him:

"Hi..."

(Kind of in the way of "Why are you staring at me you stranger." )

Me:

"Do you remember me?"

(He looked at me for a second...)

Him:

"How could I forget!"

(Bad or good? you will find out soon enough.)

Me:

Oh good! How have you been?! What are you up to?

Him:

So.. What are you doing here?

Me:

Oh I'm student teaching. (Thinking I'm so cool.)

Him:

Oh. Welcome to poverty.

Me:

(A bit disheartened)

Well, I'm loving it so far.

Him:

Do you go over the attendance policy with your students?

Me:

No..

(I didn't understand)

Him:

Oh, you probably still don't understand it.

Me:

(Finally understanding)

Ohhh.... What do you mean? I had impeccable attendance.. Okay, maybe I didn't.

Him:

Don't worry I won't tell your students.

It was so funny! He was my favorite teacher in all of high school... I even sent him a wedding invite. (He didn't get it because I sent it to Mountain View) It made me kind of sad to see that he had lost his spark. It looked like he didn't really enjoy teaching anymore. I had him all 3 years of high school for Spanish and I was his assistant for one his classes... He failed me for the TA class because I only showed up 2 times. I was such a bad students! I hated high school until my senior year.. and even then I only went for lunch and my nursing internship! I guess it gives me a little bit of sympathy for my students. They're just livin the life. Why should I stop them?

Sometimes I wish I could tell these students how important grades are in high school. Trust me. I would know! I had to work so hard to raise my GPA in college. (I took Concurrent Enrollment in high school and... didn't do so well.) But I think I needed that experience to do so well in college... I'm the youngest person in my major (that is graduating this year) by 4 years. Boo ya.

Anyways. I will no longer be writing about my students. My freedom of speech has been crushed and is now submissive to the higher power of a superintendent. (Ironically enough... It is freedom week at West Lake.)

To read the article about the fired teacher click HERE. Enjoy.

Don't forget to smile!

Babies, Twilight, Facebook, Cars, and so much more

Well, I am home from school today. I think I have strep throat.. TERRIBLE. That means I have to add one more day to student teaching. (You have to have 65 teaching days.) Good thing both of my classes were wrapping up a unit and doing "catch up" day.

Anyways.. onto the first topic. Babies.

I am NOT pregnant. I want babies, but it would be a struggle if we had one right now. I am not working so Anthony has to bring in all the money plus go to school full time. That would just be too hard. But if it did happen then I can't say I would be disappointed in the least. But let's just map this out... 9 months from now would be November. Which means that when I go to find a teaching job I would most likely be showing. I know they say there isn't discrimination against pregnant women, but really.. what principal would hire me for 4 months? Not a very smart one. So babies are being subliminally suppressed at the moment.

But I have made progress... I am fine with having a baby boy. A while ago I told my visiting teacher that I didn't want a boy and now my ward thinks I hate baby boys. I LOVE baby boys. I just think I would enjoy playing dress up rather than making mud pies. But I am officially okay with doing either...

#2

Because I have been sick all day, I watched 3 twilight movies. So I got really excited to see the new one thinking it would come out in July. Doesn't July make sense? I mean one year from the last one? NO.... it comes out NOVEMBER 18, 2011. That is so far away. It broke my heart a little bit. One more thing... still team Jacob.

#3

I have deleted my Facebook account. I was spending way too much time on it. I have too many lesson plans and books to read. I also decided I want REAL human relationships. I was feeling so addicted to freaking WEBSITE. I obviously don't have enough self control, so I needed quite cold turkey. My goal is to go a month without it.... so, I will be updating my blog as much as I can and I ask you to do the same..

#4

Cars. I have been drooling over the 2011 Camaro ever since it hit the pavement. I love it. I want a white one. I am not generally into sport cars.. my old love was a Range Rover. But I just think this car is so SWEET. And it isn't a luxury car so it is possible. ha ha.

Oh So Nauseous....

Well.. Just thought I should tell you guys...Lucy Jeanne Slaugh was born January 17! She is so cute and has so much dark hair! She is gorgeous. I need to make my way back up to Salt Lake to see her. ((Lucy is my new baby sista))

Anyways, I have had a really bad case of nausia lately. I have been really sick in the mornings for some reason. On Friday I was driving to West Lake and I had to pull over on the side of the road to puke my guts out. THEN I got to the parking lot and started walking to the building and when I finally got to the door I threw up again! (There were kids getting off the buses ... BLAH) and then I walked up the stairs and threw up in my mouth(Pink because it was grapefruit... side note: If i could puke anything, it would be grapefruit.. kind of tasted the same HAHA. Gross. sorry... keep going.) and ran over to a garbage can in the hallway and spit it out. It was DISGUSTING. And again, there were kids in the hallway. It was terrible. I was like that for almost 2 weeks, but Friday was the only day I actually threw up. But it would go away by 9 am. So weird. The worst part is that I get emotional when I puke..weird, right? So I started crying and my teacher (the person who observes me occasionally) was freaking out too! I have no idea why I cry everytime I throw up, I just always have. Enough about the gross.

As for student teaching... It is getting so much better. I don't feel nearly as stressed out. I think that the main problem was that I was teaching Chinese/ Japanese poetry and I have never studied that before. I was literally one chapter ahead of my students. Now my 12th graders are onto greater things... RESEARCH PAPERS! Boo ya. And my 11th graders are finishing up The Importance of Being Earnest. It is hilarious. If you don't enjoy reading plays, watch the movie starring Reese Witherspoon. She is phenomenal and the story is awesome. Oscar Wilde-- Genius? YES.

Ooh.. And my best friend, Brittany, came and visited Utah last week. It was so fun to see her. I miss her a lot. I really hope she moves back to Utah with her husband, Kyle. They live in Canada. So far way. We went out to dinner with everyone from our old singles ward and it was awesome. We have all changed so much in the last 2 1/2 years. Some are married, some have kids, some are just living the high life. It's all so fun.

BTW... I registered for graduation. I graduate in 89 days. ANNNND... I only have about 40 days of student teaching left (This doesn't include weekends.) SOOO READY.

And... A- BOY (Anthony, not somebody random... awkward.) and I are going to St. Geezy for Valentines again. This is our 4th time going down on Valentines. I say we should keep it going.. I love it down there.

That is all folks.

I'm Alive.. really.

Well, the new year is HERE. Crazy. I have never been so busy in my entire life and I am exhausted! I wake up at 5:45 in the AM!!! I have never done that in my life. My classes are.. okay. I can't say that I am a fan of 12th graders, but I think it would be a lot more challenging to teach the junior high school kiddos. I just can't get them to speak up! Granted, a lot of them really don't understand to analyze poetry and that is all I have been doing for the past 2 years. It just amazes me how much they DON'T care about their grades and how much they really don't participate in school/class.
I have done some fun lessons though. In my 12th grade class, I am teaching Chinese & Japanese poetry and showed some clips from The Karate Kid (the original and best one.) I just feel burned out already and it has only been 2 weeks.
I am not working right now.. I can't decide if it good. I feel like I work, but I don't get a paycheck. Student teaching is really legal slavery.

Anthony is super busy too. He is working at FedEx and getting all of his requirements done for medical school. He has to shadow a physician for about 120 hours and get 40 hours of clinical hours (being around sick people) before June. And these hours can't be combined! During the next 6 weeks he will be shadowing an orthopedic surgeon at Timpanogos Hospital. He loves it so far. He learns all this cool stuff and gets advice from the 'inside.' We learned that doctors don't start making money until about the 22nd day of the month because they have so many bills. (Lab fees, payroll, insurance, equipment payments... etc.) This insight gave me a little more compassion to the fees that doctors charge. They have to make some monies! He is also doing mentoring for 4H. This goes to his volunteering category. He mentors a 10 year old Mexican boy named Oscar. Apparently he is the BOMB. haha. Anthony likes him a lot. Each week they go and do something fun like play tennis, basketball, go to the rec. center, go to Nicklecade... Just fun stuff. Anthony is going to be very well-rounded on his application to med school!

Overall, we are busy little B's. (Browns.) And I can't wait to graduate and go from there. I may not even teach. I may want a change of pace and go in a different direction. Scuba instructor? Who knows. Whatever gets my mind off West Lake High School works for me. (Yes, I had a bad week.)

My Dove Chocolate Said so..

i was eating a dove chocolate... And it said to count my many blessings. I thought it was a good idea---
Here it goes:
Anthony, seriously. Where would I be without him? Not in school that is for sure. Now I love school!
Education.. I can't get enough of it. I think I get that from my dad.
My family. Love you guys!
Friends... They put up with me through high school. Congrats you guys.
The LDS Church and Prophets
People willing to work in sewage.
Sewage. Period.
The inventor of the portable car jack. What did they do before?!
Whoever thought to put air conditioning in a car! THANK YOU.
Flowers... they just make me happy.
Books... I can't get enough of you guys.
Cookbooks... I would be lost.
Digital Cameras... Although it has given vain a whole new meaning.
Married Student Relief Society- It is so nice to be around people who share the same values as I do.
Credit Card Limits ... and a husband who checks it.
Nap time.
Snowboarding.. I would be a hermit otherwise.
Babies... I don't think anything can bring a bigger smile to my face... well, puppies are close.
Puppies. (I have talked A into giving me a Yorkie!!!)... in 2 years.
Creative people. Thanks for making my life interesting. I couldn't do it with out you.
Lights that come on when you unlock your car. It makes me feel a lot safer knowing there isn't a creeper in there waiting.
Deoderant. I wish people used it more though. Same with toothepaste.
Autumn.

It's OVER!! (Don't worry, it's a good thing.)

I have officially finished my last semester as the student behind the desk! I am soooo excited that I never have to go to class again. However, this doesn't mean that my life is getting easier. Quite opposite in fact.

I got my student teaching assignment! Are you ready.... (Can I have a drum roll?) I am going to West Lake High School in Saratoga Springs. It has only been open for 2 years and is super nice. We drove out to see it on Sunday and it only took about 30 minutes. I was thinking it would be 45 because of the freeway traffic, so it wasn't that bad.

I am working with a teacher who is head of the English Department. She is super busy, but I have heard amazing things about her. I am teaching two 11th grade English Honors classes and two 12th grade English classes. Can I just tell you how nervous I am? I meet with my cooperating teacher this Wednesday to hammer out the details, but she told me about a week ago what books I should have read by January 4. We are reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White (11th grade) and Wives and Daughters by ... somebody. (12th grade). So, by January 4 I need to read 1400 pages to catch up. Are you kidding! I am going to die. I started the the T.H book, and it is pretty good. Okay, it is really good. I can barely put it down at night. That is a very good thing since I need to have finished it soon. It's about Kind Arthur. I have not started Wives and Daughters because it is Victorian Lit and looks incredibly boring. (It's around the time of Charlotte Bronte... YUCK).

She told me that the 11th grade class will be very challenging because they function on higher levels of thinking. I am super excited, but feel extremely overwhelmed.

On a good note: I practically put in my 2 weeks at Park's! I have worked there for 6 years! That is cRAzY! I can't work and student teach, so I will go in when I feel like I have time, but I am basically a full time teacher that doesn't get paid. (Bummer.)

Anthony is almost done with his finals. I don't know if I mentioned that he got a job at FedEx, but he did. He likes it a lot because he gets to do most of his homework which is sooo nice! This upcoming semester, he is going full time, but only has one real class: microbiology. The rest he is shadowing physicians and has research release where he gets to work more on his cancer research. It will be nice because he gets to work full time while I am student teaching.

And that is all.