End of the Week!!!

I am way excited that it's Thursday and thus almost Friday!! I found out earlier this week that I passed both of my Praxis exams!!!!!! I'm pretty excited. :) Now all I have to do is make it through this semester with at least a C- in every class and I am on my way to graduation! Now I realize that a C- is a very low score. But I am not aiming that low in most of my classes, just one: Math 290-Mathematical Proofs. Lets just say I took this once already in my college career, didn't get a C- and am thus retaking it; proofs and I don't get along very well..... I took a test in that class today so hopefully I do good. I'm really nervous because, like I said, Ineed to do well in the class. Lets see....this past week, my hometown of Amarillo, TX, got 19 inches of snow in one day with drifts up to 8 feet!! News reports said that the snow plows were parked because they weren't doing anything. They called in the National Guard to help but I'm not sure with what. My mom said it was crazy how much it was snowing, but luckily the pipes didn't freeze in the house. I guess that's the most snow in February in over 100 years there, and the second most amount of snow on record in Amarillo. I'm very happy I was here in Utah where there was a lot less snow. Hopefully it will provide the area with some much needed moisture. If it melts slow enough the ground will absorb it. If not though, it will be another dry year. There's this girl in my math class who I really want to ask out. It's just hard since there's a total of 15 people in the class. It's kinda hard to ask her since it would be obvious if I sat in a different place than normal. That's one of the down sides to small classes. You can't change routine really without throwing everyone else off as well. Then again, I do hate it when people in my bigger classes do it because it throws me off as well. I am now off to class. I got here later than normal because (a) I had to take my math test and (b) my room mate didn't come to his class today. Hopefully my group and I can make a lot of progress on our group project.

Crazy few weeks

In the past few weeks I have taken two Praxis exams, two tests for classes, 3 quizzes, and turned in multiple homework assignments. I spent the majority of my time the last two weeks staying on top of the most important homework assignments, and studying for the Praxis exams. I had to take each one so that I could be certified to teach both physical education and math in the public schools. I am still awaiting my test results. Now that I have finished with my Praxis exams, I have slowly been trying to get back on track and even ahead in my classes. I have been trying to finish my homework ahead of class and even the assignments that are due for the next class period. It doesn't always happen but I'm getting back on track at least. For a while I was feeling really overwhelmed with school, work, and my two Praxis exams. This past weekend and week were the first times in over a month that I have felt relaxed. It is nice since I know that the semester will only get harder, especially with a few very big and important assignments due in the next 2 weeks. I feel more prepared tp handle them and am staying in control of my life. By no means do I think I am out of the woods though. This is my last semester of classes and as such, it will be a huge challenge for me to stay focused and motivated. I'm excited to be looking into graduate schools and also to start preparing for coaching football next season. Since this will be my second year coaching, I am more excited to start and get my players ready for the next season.

Crazy Week 2

This week has been ultra stressful. I have had to complete 3 lesson plans, work in three different groups, one test, my Praxis exam is tomorrow!!!!! and my regular homework load. Oh, and my other Praxis exam is next Friday as well. Lets just say this week has left me feeling overwhelmed. And to top it all off, I started having a mental breakdown last night. Not the kind of I can't handle this, but the "what if I can't get a job after college blah blah blah..." breakdown. I guess it just hit me yesterday that, while I knew a teacher and football coach don't make much money, I won't actually make very much money. And since I'm in my 8th semester of college, I can't really back out now. I just started thinking that maybe I should've gone into either business or accounting. Guaranteed I was going to make a lot more money, but when I took those classes I knew that I wouldn't be happy in them. Now I'm just second guessing myself and my life. It isn't the best thing to do, especially in the middle of two crazy weeks. Well that's been my life. Now I just have two more days to finish a lesson plan and to prepare to teach it on Monday in front of my peers. Talk about stressful. My partner taught our other lesson on Wednesday and did a great job. I just don't feel near as confident about this next lesson. It's on the slope-intercept formula and is gonna be rough. My group met today with my teacher and I learned a lot about what we should've already known. This weekend is gonna be long...

Crazy week

So this week has been crazy. I had to meet with three different groups to create three lesson plans. It was great to have Monday off for Martin Luther King Day, but I don't feel any more rested or ready. I just feel more behind. It's pretty hard because I feel like one class is trying way too hard to be difficult. It's my math practicum class which is 4 credits, but I feel like we could use class time more effectively so that meeting in our groups to prepare lesson plans could happen more in class and less outside of class. I understand it will be more difficult since it's 4 credits, but I feel like that class is running my life. I'm also in a technology class which is to help encourage me to use technology in math teaching. Problem is though that I feel that the teacher/department is trying to hard to make it more than it needs to be. Right now we're just reading articles and talking about why we need it. I would rather see the class take a turn and let us talk about the why briefly and then show us how technology can enhance the learning of our students. I think showing us how and why is a better approach than reiterating the same idea for 2 weeks straight. It's also hard to stay focused and motivated since this is my last semester of classes. I really just want to be done and student teach. It would be so much easier and more fun. I just  hate jumping through all the hoops that the math department and some of my professors want. It feels like the last 1-2 transfers of the mission. I knew I was going home soon, but I had to stay focused so that I didn't get lazy. This is even harder though. Hopefully I can get through this.

Back to it

Well the first week of school is over. Too bad there are 15 more weeks to go.... haha. I'm back on here for another class. Who knows, maybe this time I'll blog more. My last blog posts were for my technology class, this time it's for my advanced english class. I'm in my last semester of classes at BYU and it feels GREAT!!!! I'm so excited and happy to be done with my classes. Next semester, Fall 2013, I will be student teaching. I am hoping to do it at P.G. High so that I can get paid for coaching there. We'll have to see what happens though. Hopefully the district, school and teacher will all approve me. This semester I'm taking Teaching with Technology, Math Teaching in Public Schools, Math Practicum, Athletic Training and the accompanying lab, Communication in Organizational Settings, and Fundamentals of Mathematics (proofs).  It's 7 classes for the grand amount of 16 credits. I'm trying to just be done and not have to take any classes over the summer. I just want to be able to work and relax. I haven't been able to do that in awhile. Now that I think of it, I need to go finish my student teaching application. it's due Tuesday the 15th. I'm kind of a procrastinator...... Except on this assignment. Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll start posting right before my 5pm english class on Thursdays. :)

FINAL REFLECTION

I was surprised by how interesting and fun this class really was. The class was simply organized and actually had me use and learn technologies that will be useful to me in the future. One thing I learned was how to build a website. This was interesting to me because I had always viewed it as a way complex thing. But instead, I found it to be one of the easier things I've learned to do on a computer. Another thing I will take from this class are some of the best ways to create and present a PowerPoint and also how to make a video.

Now that I know how to use these tools, I will definitely use technology in the classroom. The biggest one I will do is to create a website for all my classes. I will include calenders, videos, and other cool apps for my students. I will give it a professional look though for parents. Another tool I am going to use is the video maker. I found it so interesting and awesome that it wasn't too difficult to make. I will use this ability to promote physical education throughout the school year and to colleagues and parents.

Because of this class and these skills I have learned, I have changed my view of teaching more. I have always thought that teaching was already good. But now that I can do more and know how to integrate teaching with technology and improve my teaching, I can make classes more interesting. Another way my view of teaching has changed is that if used properly, technology can enhance the learning experience so much more than teaching without it. My view of technology has definitely changed. I think that technology isn't this big scary beast anymore. Its still complicated i think, but its not a huge obstacle to overcome. I also think tat technology is teaching friendly and anyone can learn some of the basics if I could. All in all, I have really l.earned a lot and feel that using technology in my classes will only make me a better teacher.

Mobile Apps

I wouldnt use mobile apps in the classroom because it would be difficult to keep students on task if theyre all using their cell phones. I wouldnt mind doing a powerpoint or some other presentation on them and showing them some that would be useful or even kind of cool.