Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans

When I began this blog, my initial intention was to detail what my student teaching experiences were like, what I learned, etc.

I failed miserably.

But like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I made plans, and life happened. So let me sum up what did happen:

- Ended my first student teaching in January. Passed my work sample (a devil of a chore) with flying colors. Came out with two awesome recommendation letters from my cooperating teacher and my supervisor.

- Began my second student teaching experience in February. Co-taught with another student teacher for a few weeks who has become a really good friend and confidant. Learned a lot about flexibility, copy machines, time management, and how to keep 24 kinders and first graders under control. Passed my second work sample with flying colors. This time, I got three recommendation letters because I convinced the principal to observe me. Yessssss.

- Graduated in May. One of the happiest and proudest moments of my life. Celebrated with family at McMenamin's (one of my favorite places and a Northwest staple).

- Got a job in June. Not teaching, but enough to keep me busy and in my bills. Car payments, insurance, and the like do not wait until the school year starts and sub jobs start pouring in.

- Registered to substitute with almost any school district within a 30 mile radius.

- Hoping to be BUSY this school year.

I think that about sums it up. It's amazing how much can happen in the span of a few months... I look forward to seeing what happens in the next few! And hopefully I'll remember to update this thing more often.

First full week

Way back when, I used to be a night owl. I would come home from work at either 10 or 11 at night (depending) and then stay up until 1 in the morning because it took me a long time to wind down. Because of this odd schedule, it wasn't unusual for me to be in bed until 9 or 10am and get up just in time to watch The View. Now? I'm in bed at 10 (10:30 at the latest) and get up at 6 in the morning (at the latest).

It's amazing how things change.

And just today, from out of the blue, as I was e-mailing a few different people, an errant thought popped into my head: I am really happy. This thought popped into my head and it wasn't a normal, conscious thought. It was almost as if it just was and it wanted me to know that it existed.

Yesterday wasn't the best day I have had student teaching. It actually was probably the second worst day. My lesson tanked and I learned a lot about why it tanked and what I could (and should) have done differently. In the moment that it exploded, I became the kind of teacher I never wanted to be--and I didn't like it the least bit.

It was my first full week of student teaching. I didn't teach a whole lot, but I did teach more than I had and overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I woke up early every morning, drank my coffee, made copies, helped my kiddos, working on my classroom management, and yes, got supremely frustrated.

And I'm happy.

This sure beats waiting tables.

The end of classes

And I made it. Two terms of classes, not particularly hard ones, but ones that required a bountiful amount of work are under my belt--the only things I need to complete now are my practicum and my student teaching! Oy. It feels like I just got my acceptance letter from Concordia, telling me to get ready for the year ahead of me.

Let's see, since June I have: started classes, renewed my love of daily planners, had a job, quit a job, stressed about money, spent more money for gas than I have in my life, had mini-cry-fests, spent more hours on my butt doing homework than I have in my life, done art projects that would make any first grader envious, minded my tongue (and my manners), become an expert at driving on freeways, felt like time just keeps going by faster and faster, made connections, gained 10 pounds, eaten my weight in Hot Pockets (which partly explains the 10 pounds), worn my hair down to work (when you've been in food service, this is a major happening), gotten compliments from students, gotten many hugs from students, felt like I have found my calling, bought new glasses, made a website, created a blog, volunteered at a camp for kids with Asperger's or high-functioning autism (which literally changed my life and my view of other people and myself), and probably some other things that just have not entered my head at this moment.

Honestly, these past few months have been a whirlwind--and some of the best of my life. I feel like I have a direction, a goal, and this is where I am meant to be. Hooray for the end of classes and actually getting on to  doing what I am meant to be doing!

Giving thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (albeit, a bit late), I have to say that I am eternally thankful for...everything. My family is well, we're all upright and breathing, we all have work (well, school is work for me at the moment), we have a roof over our heads, I have three beautiful little fur-babies (puggies!), and I am doing something I enjoy while making a difference in others' lives.

Honestly, how much better can it get? At the moment, not much. I'll just keep plugging along, doing my best, and being optimistic that come graduation, I won't find myself unemployed too long.

Yes, life is pretty good. If anyone is reading this, I hope you're well too.

Rough week

In the spirit of November and Thanksgiving, I will start with this: I am thankful for the opportunity to go to school and the opportunity to be doing what I love to do. With that said, this week has been rough and I am thankful that it is Friday and have a week off.

The kiddos are wonderful and have taken a liking to me, even when I bomb a lesson...which happened on Wednesday. They helped me through it, laughing at me and pushing me through those painful moments when I couldn't get my barrings. It was mortifying but my cooperating teacher and supervisor were wonderful, assuring me that it will get better with time and practice. I think the saying, "You're your own worst critic" is correct--I'm always harder on myself than others are of me.

And to think, I was nervous going back there today. I wondered if the kids would think less of me or my presence there and there was nothing of the sort--in fact, I got a hug first thing in the morning and a "Hi, Ms. Breuier!"

Those are the moments that make everything worthwhile.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! Currently, I'm an MAT student at Concordia University and thought that starting a blog about my journey into the world of teaching would be fun. Honestly, this will serve a couple of purposes: 1) I can blog what is going on and then look back on everything that has happened and is happening, which will be easy since my computer is pretty much attached to me nowadays; and 2) Others can see what the life of an MAT student is like and live vicariously through the possibility of a torturous job-hunt upon my graduation.

So yes, welcome to my little foray into the web-regions. Enjoy. :)