Hard to Write!

I hate answering questions for applications. However, the application process will be worth it in the end. Here are my answers to the application I completed today, as I'm looking to teach in the Dominican Republic in the fall.

1.       What is the most important thing a teacher does?

The most important thing a teacher does is show love to the children. Everything I do as a teacher is a result of love: teach, encourage, discipline, set an example, and share the Gospel. A teacher who loves will do all of these things with passion. Love motivates me to reach each child’s needs. I want each child to learn, to grow, and to love Christ.

2.       What do you consider the proper classroom atmosphere for learning?

Children need to feel comfortable and accepted in a classroom for learning to take place. If a student is insecure, he is more likely to react by shutting down or acting out. As the teacher, I have to set that tone by exemplifying kindness and patience with every student. I also have the responsibility of guiding the students to create the same atmosphere for their classmates.

3.       Describe assessment of academic achievement and how this is best done.

Academic achievement can be assessed in multiple ways. Any time a student improves or learns a new skill, there is achievement. This progress can be assessed by written assignments, verbal explanations, presentations, drawing, and other projects. The topic and the level of learning expected will determine the best assessment. In all learning though, students should be assessed as they are learning so the teacher can monitor progress.

4.       How would someone who knows you professionally describe you as a teacher?

People tell me that I love my students, that I am passionate about what I do, and that I am good at it. I have a hard time writing this because although I know God has gifted me, I always feel like I could do more, or do better, or that I am not as good as people say I am. My former students tell me they love my class because I made it fun for them. Parents have told me their children look forward to being in my class.

5.       How will the students benefit from having you as a teacher?

As I stated in the previous response, this is the type of question I find difficult to answer. I know that God has blessed me with the gift of teaching, and I also believe He has given me the gift of building relationships with the students. I like to view myself as “real” with my students. I do not pretend to be perfect, nor do I expect perfection from them. I expect effort and respect, and my students should expect the same from me. I also think students will benefit from having me as a teacher because my goal is for them to learn how to learn. I can easily teach facts, but my desire is that my students can think, process, create, and solve problems.  I want my students to be independent learners as a result of being in my class. 

Summer Vacation Comes to a Close

After I finished my professional project for my master's degree, I went to NYC to visit my friends, Joe and Kristina. We had a lot of fun just chillin in Manhattan. I have another friend who lives in Queens, and he works for Tracy Morgan. That friend hooked us up with passes to see Tracy Morgan do stand up at Caroline's in Times Square. THAT was a lot of fun! I also went to Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan, where Tim Keller is the pastor. He didn't speak, but it was still cool to go.

After my trip to NYC, I went to Illinois to visit family. The day I arrived in Illinois, we went to a tiny zoo in Racine. That trip afforded me the opportunity to meet my internet friend, Matt, who I've been online friends with for seven years! He lives in Racine, so we met up for lunch. I forgot to get a picture with him! What is wrong with me?!

Then I went with my siblings and nieces to the U.P. to visit my uncle at his cabin. That was a really fun 4 day trip. Campfires, cards, the lake, and 4-wheeling!

To finish the trip, my younger brother and I went to Chicago for the day, to go to a Cubs game. I got to see Wrigley Field! Then we walked around Chicago for a while.

And now, I begin my final week of summer vacation. Then, it's back to the classroom. I would love to have some more summertime, but at the same time--I'm excited to get back to working with the kids.

I don't know which is coolest ? ? ?

Coolest - I won $112 at poker last weekend.

or is this the coolest - I did a 5k the weekend before.

or perhaps this may be the coolest - I am almost done with grad school!


Choose whichever. But perhaps I'll choose this: School's out for summer!

In January, I started going to the gym. Donald Miller inspired me to try to get fit... or at least lose some weight, or do something to gain some endurance. He did biking. I decided to try running. I still can't run too far or too fast. However, when I began in January, I could hardly complete a mile in 18 minutes. Today, I did 2 miles in 25:01. And, I've officially lost 15 pounds. I have 15 more to go to my goal. I'd hoped to be much closer by this point, but I'm just excited that there is progress. Could this be the coolest?

For the love of love!

Easter was delightful. I met Phil Stacy. I meditated on the resurrection of my Savior. I had wonderful fun with friends I hadn't been able to spend time with.


Last week, my car died, so I bought a new one. She's a 2009 Kia Spectra.

My phone had been acting up, so I also bought a new phone --- the Droid. It is my new best friend.

Today I started back to the gym. I did 2 miles on the treadmill while listening to Pandora radio on my Droid.

Nothing much else is new in my life.

Life Update

I don't have much going on which is why I don't post much. I play a lot of Ms. Pacman on PS2. My current high score is 66,540. I remember in 1999 or 2000, I scored 99,something on an arcade version at Disneyquest. I almost hit 100,000. I don't know if that's possible for me on PS2. My goal is 70,000 right now.

Because I only work when the baseball team is home, I've had a lot of free time with nothing to do. The more time I spend doing nothing, the lazier I become. Today, I woke up early---like 7:30---feeling anxious and stressed. I couldn't go back to sleep. I finally got out of bed around 8:30. I felt the urgent need to do something! I planned to go to the driving range, but then my friend, Julie, called. She needed to use my electricity to dry her hair because hers was out. So, she came over. I played Ms. Pacman while she did her hair. After she left, I did end up going to the driving range. I need to take a picture of this shady place. It really looks like a scene out of Vacancy or Deliverance, or some other scary movie. It's just creepy.

After that, Krystle came over. We were going to swim, but it really wasn't hot enough, so we just sat around talking. It was nice to just chill with a friend. She said she wanted to go to Starbucks, and had a check to deposit, so we did that, and then we went to NY&Co. The store is new to the outdoor mall that's close to my house, and it's my favorite store, so I was pretty happy. The clearance was 60% off, so I picked out 3 tops and a skirt. The 3 clearance tops ended up being 70% off, and the skirt was $9.99, so I got all 4 items for less than $36. Woo hoo! My receipt says, "You saved a total of $82.26." Not bad!

I think tonight I might edit my 4th grade class syllabus because I still feel the need to do something productive today. I've done really well with my eating today. I kept myself from getting a drink at Starbucks, even though I really wanted a strawberries & creme. Today, I've had:

2 eggs for breakfast w/ 5 calorie lemonade
tuna casserole for lunch
fiber granola bar
subway club for dinner w/ diet coke
baked lays chips (worst thing I've had today)

That's it!

So, that's my day.

Life Update

Today finalizes the school year w/ children. We are having our awards chapel this morning, and then this afternoon is our school party at the water park. It's supposed to be 78 degrees and sunny, so I'm looking forward to that! We finish out our week cleaning our rooms and working through a check out list. Friday we have a luncheon at the other campus, and then... yes, I'm done!

On Saturday, a friend of mine is coming to visit, so we'll be doing the D.C. stuff for a few days. I get one full week of rest before I begin teaching summer school. This was kind of a last minute decision, but I need the cash! I have this goal of paying off my school loan by the end of summer, and I'm just not making enough at the stadium to do it. So, 2nd job, here I come! It's only for 2 hours a day: 8 - 10 a.m. On normal summer days, I probably wouldn't be up that early, so I'm only losing sleep, not summer-time.

A few other random life things:

• My niece turns 5 tomorrow.
• I'm slowly losing some weight.
• I found some tea tree shampoo for my scalp.
• I'm semi-bored since my tv shows had their finales.
• I miss Emily.
• I hope the Wings seal the deal in Game 5!
• Seems like I should have way more interesting things to say.

A Life Update Post

I don't really post too much about my present life on here, but I guess I will today. Tomorrow begins the final quarter of the school year. I can't believe how quickly this school year has flown. Last year was horrific, while this year has been amazing. It most certainly hasn't been perfect, but overall I'm pleased. This final quarter, the kids will have to log 2 hours of reading per week along with writing two book reports. I think I should probably hold myself to the same rule. I'm reading 3 books simultaneously right now. It's not going too well. We'll see how it all plays out in the end.

I am going to have to put together some kind of Maryland history lessons for the end of the year. For the first time since I've been here, I'll be finishing my social studies book! Pretty exciting stuff. Five of my students have already accomplished their Memory Challenge -- Reciting all their states and capitals. We haven't learned the Western states as a class, so they went above and beyond to do it early. Good for them.

This summer, I'll be working at the minor league baseball stadium again. I'm going to be a server in the suites/boxes/restaurant. I did this two years ago, and it bought me a new television, a few plane tickets, and a big chunk off my school loan. My goal this summer is to pay off my entire school loan, which I should be able to do by August. How sweet is that? Maybe I'll even have enough extra money to take a few trips back to the midwest to see my friends and family. I say midwest because I'd like to get over to Indiana to see ... my brother, Michael.

I think that's about it for my life right now. God has blessed me with a great job, great coworkers, some cool friends here in MD, the best friends ever back in Michigan, a great relationship with my brothers, and even the continuing healing of my dad's addiction problems. I have all I need and more. I am so thankful for where God has me. I tend to complain a lot, but it's definitely wrong of me. I have no place to complain. I am blessed.