Or the lack thereof, as the case may be. Clearly, I'm struggling with productivity...I'm actually using my long-ignored blog as a way of avoiding lesson plans.
Day-plans might be a more accurate description, as I find that most of the time I'm studying up just enough to be ready for the next day's class. I have lesson plans that stretch a bit more long-distance, but I almost feel like it's counter-productive to do all of this detailed planning when I'm not even sure how much information I'll get through tomorrow. Ultimately, there's a voice in the back of my mind telling me: Laura, you're an idiot.
Plan the dumb lesson.
Which, I then procede to ignore. But at least I tried. Here's a run-down of this week's topics:
US History: Andrew Jackson and the national bank crisis
European History: The Enlightenment - Political theory (Hobbes and Locke)
Eastern Civ: Imperial Japan (just finished the destruction of the samurai at the end of the Tokugawa Period)
Logic: Fallacies of Induction, including Hasty Generalization, Sweeping Generalization, False Cause, False Analogy, and Fake Precision
It's all fascinating stuff, but by the time I get home every afternoon, the last thing I want to do is read more about it. And that, unfortunately, is not because I'm Johnny-on-the-spot about it during the day.
*sigh*
I'm working on my productivity this week.
I'm also working on my LIFE PLAN. I like to think that I have lofty aspirations, when really, I'm pretty passive about my situation. So, I'm working on Doing Smart People Things. Like possibly taking the LSAT with an attitude of, who knows? I was toying with nursing school. Probably because I've somehow found myself watching too much Gray's Anatomy, and I think that if I were a medical professional, I could wear scrubs and yell "STAT!" and not have to do the whole "Never-sleep-work-all-the-time-especially-weekends-and-oh-yeah-clean-up-poop."
Hawaii update: it's still here. It's so much easier to bask in tropical paradise when there's not a full-time job in the way. But I would never want to complain...having to suffer through a strenuous week of working until *gasp* 3pm is even more cushy when you can lounge on the beach all weekend. Well, not all weekend.
I'm going to dive back into Jacksonian democracy. I'm also going to try to work my lesson plans so that a viewing of "Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier" is somewhere in there.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
We will not go quietly into the night!
Within the last two days I've heard from at least three people about my blog. Mostly it amounted to: "We've stopped reading it."
I myself have stopped reading it and taken up Grace H's, which is one of the most entertaining things I've ever read. Be jealous: she flies in on Monday. But the fact remains that I am not reliable. But let me tell you other things that are not reliable:
1) Internet
2) Camera cords that say they're going to upload your pictures but in-the-end-just-don't
But I have decided to get past these obstacles and strike a blow for freedom. And blogging. And mostly for Fall Break, which just started, so don't hold your breath, this sudden burst of literary inspiration will be short-lived.
Ah, Fall Break. I am shuper-duper-exshited. Teaching has been going well. Great. Awesome - I've come up with lots of one-word answers that do the job quite nicely. In all honesty, I'm getting more and more attached to the students and exponentially more concerned about making them hate history forever. I mean, I get one shot at the Reformation with these guys and I have the sinking feeling I forgot something, or they still don't get it. I want to rush right out of the gate teaching like my highschool teachers, who had been in the game for 20+ years. Not gonna happen. My biggest problem I think is organization. I'm still a mess of papers and assignments and pseudo-lesson-plans. I need to kick my productivity into high gear.
To sum up: I'm still learning. Still doing 2 or more hours of prep a night, mostly because I'm not good at using my time during the day. It's a work in progress. And randomly a couple weeks back, I decided that I was going to be a nurse.
Yeah, I'll get back to you on that.
The last week and a half were spent watching 3 kids from school while their parents were out of town (well, out of country). These kids were freakishly well behaved: we would get back from school and they'd all eat a snack and then calmly sit down at the table to do their homework. And they basically erected a monument to my name because I made them hamburgers and fries one night. The tough part came with the shuttling to and from practices and school and church events, the overseeing them instead of lesson planning, and the dealing with an unexpected flat tire. To sum up: Mommy, you are amazing. Also, I was reminded how amazing the leadership at our school is: the Vice Head of School took off the flat tire, took the van to the shop and got a new tire, all while I was blissfully teaching classes. Better service than AAA, let me tell you.
We picked up the parents today, to much rejoicing. I'm back home, with two legs full of insect bites and this, which the parents kindly brought back for me:
Tonight, Jessica and I are going to the girl's volleyball championship game. We are excited because starting tomorrow, we have approximately 10 cars at our disposal. After many car-less weeks, we are grateful. When it rains it pours.
Speaking of pouring, it's been rainy rainy rainy here. Hoping it clears up for Grace, but we can always go to the other side of the island.
This us from way back when. So happy. Well, we're still happy. We're also happy it's break. These pics are from my iTouch and I'll try to add more soon. Dumb camera cord.
Also, I finally had poke - raw tuna in shoyu or some other sauce. To die for. Also, I had a malasada - Portuguese fried donut. Also to die for. For reals. I think my arteries aged like 20 yrs.
Thank for you patience. Or not. If you stopped reading, fine. That's ok. I have other friends. Like the gecko on the wall. We really close right now.
Mahalo.
LW
I myself have stopped reading it and taken up Grace H's, which is one of the most entertaining things I've ever read. Be jealous: she flies in on Monday. But the fact remains that I am not reliable. But let me tell you other things that are not reliable:
1) Internet
2) Camera cords that say they're going to upload your pictures but in-the-end-just-don't
But I have decided to get past these obstacles and strike a blow for freedom. And blogging. And mostly for Fall Break, which just started, so don't hold your breath, this sudden burst of literary inspiration will be short-lived.
Ah, Fall Break. I am shuper-duper-exshited. Teaching has been going well. Great. Awesome - I've come up with lots of one-word answers that do the job quite nicely. In all honesty, I'm getting more and more attached to the students and exponentially more concerned about making them hate history forever. I mean, I get one shot at the Reformation with these guys and I have the sinking feeling I forgot something, or they still don't get it. I want to rush right out of the gate teaching like my highschool teachers, who had been in the game for 20+ years. Not gonna happen. My biggest problem I think is organization. I'm still a mess of papers and assignments and pseudo-lesson-plans. I need to kick my productivity into high gear.
To sum up: I'm still learning. Still doing 2 or more hours of prep a night, mostly because I'm not good at using my time during the day. It's a work in progress. And randomly a couple weeks back, I decided that I was going to be a nurse.
Yeah, I'll get back to you on that.
The last week and a half were spent watching 3 kids from school while their parents were out of town (well, out of country). These kids were freakishly well behaved: we would get back from school and they'd all eat a snack and then calmly sit down at the table to do their homework. And they basically erected a monument to my name because I made them hamburgers and fries one night. The tough part came with the shuttling to and from practices and school and church events, the overseeing them instead of lesson planning, and the dealing with an unexpected flat tire. To sum up: Mommy, you are amazing. Also, I was reminded how amazing the leadership at our school is: the Vice Head of School took off the flat tire, took the van to the shop and got a new tire, all while I was blissfully teaching classes. Better service than AAA, let me tell you.
We picked up the parents today, to much rejoicing. I'm back home, with two legs full of insect bites and this, which the parents kindly brought back for me:
Tonight, Jessica and I are going to the girl's volleyball championship game. We are excited because starting tomorrow, we have approximately 10 cars at our disposal. After many car-less weeks, we are grateful. When it rains it pours.
Speaking of pouring, it's been rainy rainy rainy here. Hoping it clears up for Grace, but we can always go to the other side of the island.
This us from way back when. So happy. Well, we're still happy. We're also happy it's break. These pics are from my iTouch and I'll try to add more soon. Dumb camera cord.
Also, I finally had poke - raw tuna in shoyu or some other sauce. To die for. Also, I had a malasada - Portuguese fried donut. Also to die for. For reals. I think my arteries aged like 20 yrs.
Thank for you patience. Or not. If you stopped reading, fine. That's ok. I have other friends. Like the gecko on the wall. We really close right now.
Mahalo.
LW
Monday, August 22, 2011
Already but Not Yet
Sorry guys. Still no pictures. I ordered a cord, it came, I packed it, and now I can't find it again. We're all still in a state of limbo: Jessica and I got into the apartment, but the previous tenants haven't moved their stuff out yet. Technically, they're being nice and letting us move in early, but it's easy to get grumpy when you feel like you're in someone else's house. Only one of the three original girls is still here, but that means that Jessica is without a room. She's been hanging out with me in my room and come Wednesday, this place will be ours and we can start to clean out some of the accumulated stuff. So much stuff needs to go out so our stuff can come in, it's not even funny.
We made massive Costco and Target runs, buying everything from bed sheets to trash cans to bookshelves, shower curtains, lamps, and Altoids. It was exhausting. That plus all-day teacher training left me pretty pooped this whole week.
Jess and I even had to run to Honolulu to get fingerprinted for the school. Craaaaaazy. We eventually found the building...it's planted in the middle of the upper story parking garage for the huuuge Ala Moana Mall. Seriously stressful stuff.
Lesson plans for week 1 are in and all of my class syllabi are printed and waiting on my desk for 7:15 tomorrow morning. My Eastern Civ (10th grade) class got switched up at the very last minute and me and the Lit teacher Emily had to do some serious scrambling to sort out books and subject matter. Some long afternoons and some early mornings, but I feel good about tomorrow...the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
In high school and college, I always loved the first day of school because all I had to do was sit back and read the syllabus and hear the teacher talk about the glorious subject matter we would cover, but not today. Now that I'm on this side of things, I hope I'm beginning to appreciate the work that goes into the most innocent-looking of syllabi.
Today, Jess and I went on a drive, partly to look at a bike I thought I might buy, partly to not be in the cluttered house anymore. It was lovely. It's been cloudy in Kailua the last couple of days, and so going south was a welcome dose of sunshine. We went by Hawaii Kai, and after a drive-by, we're definitely going back soon. With boogie boards.
We went up to the Pali Lookout, above Kailua and Kaneohe. Here is not my picture of it. Believe me, my pictures are much worse.
Mmmkay. Almost bed time. Gotta rest up to be all bright and shiny tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and well-wishes. Pictures coming soon, I promise. Also, special thanks to my Mommy for sending me my French press. Jessica and I thank you profusely.
I just finished this book:
At first I thought, "Oh man, it's one of those it books that all the people in Moscow read and then rave about but that really aren't that good." And actually, at first I though it was a dorky Christian Inspirational Novel. It was none of those things, though many smart people in Moscow did indeed read it. It was inspiring and gripping. The story unfolds in almost maddening meandering, which makes sense because it's more than a story. It's reflection and meditation and story and speculation and confession. And it's written from the perspective of a preacher, written by a woman author, who, clearly, knows what she's about.
I hate to spoil it, but this quote doesn't give anything away, except a great part to read:
We made massive Costco and Target runs, buying everything from bed sheets to trash cans to bookshelves, shower curtains, lamps, and Altoids. It was exhausting. That plus all-day teacher training left me pretty pooped this whole week.
Jess and I even had to run to Honolulu to get fingerprinted for the school. Craaaaaazy. We eventually found the building...it's planted in the middle of the upper story parking garage for the huuuge Ala Moana Mall. Seriously stressful stuff.
Lesson plans for week 1 are in and all of my class syllabi are printed and waiting on my desk for 7:15 tomorrow morning. My Eastern Civ (10th grade) class got switched up at the very last minute and me and the Lit teacher Emily had to do some serious scrambling to sort out books and subject matter. Some long afternoons and some early mornings, but I feel good about tomorrow...the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
In high school and college, I always loved the first day of school because all I had to do was sit back and read the syllabus and hear the teacher talk about the glorious subject matter we would cover, but not today. Now that I'm on this side of things, I hope I'm beginning to appreciate the work that goes into the most innocent-looking of syllabi.
Today, Jess and I went on a drive, partly to look at a bike I thought I might buy, partly to not be in the cluttered house anymore. It was lovely. It's been cloudy in Kailua the last couple of days, and so going south was a welcome dose of sunshine. We went by Hawaii Kai, and after a drive-by, we're definitely going back soon. With boogie boards.
We went up to the Pali Lookout, above Kailua and Kaneohe. Here is not my picture of it. Believe me, my pictures are much worse.
Mmmkay. Almost bed time. Gotta rest up to be all bright and shiny tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and well-wishes. Pictures coming soon, I promise. Also, special thanks to my Mommy for sending me my French press. Jessica and I thank you profusely.
I just finished this book:
At first I thought, "Oh man, it's one of those it books that all the people in Moscow read and then rave about but that really aren't that good." And actually, at first I though it was a dorky Christian Inspirational Novel. It was none of those things, though many smart people in Moscow did indeed read it. It was inspiring and gripping. The story unfolds in almost maddening meandering, which makes sense because it's more than a story. It's reflection and meditation and story and speculation and confession. And it's written from the perspective of a preacher, written by a woman author, who, clearly, knows what she's about.
I hate to spoil it, but this quote doesn't give anything away, except a great part to read:
"It has seemed to me sometimes as though the Lord breathes on this poor gray ember of Creation and turns in to radiance - for a moment or a year or the span of a life. And then it sinks back into itself again, and to look at it no one would know it had anything to do with fire, or light. That is what I said in the Pentecost sermon. I have reflected on that sermon and there is some truth in it. But the Lord is more constant and far more extravagant than it seems to imply. Wherever you turn your eyes the world can shine like transfiguration. You don't have to bring a thing to it except a little willingness to see. Only, who could have the courage to see it?" (245)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Suspended Animation
I promise that I'm not really that bad at this whole blogging thing. Really. I have good reasons for not posting very much. 1) My computer refuses to connect to the internet, and 2) I haven't had the cord to connect to my camera and download pictures. But, I'm on another computer. No pictures, but, you know, baby steps.
Whenever I read blogs, all I usually care about are interesting pictures, so I totally understand if you skip this post. I've been able to upload some pictures via my iTouch and Instagram. Oh boy, has that little guy been useful. Most of the time I turn it on and am all bummed out because it doesn't have a built-in network and you're basically dependent on Wi-Fi. But it connects to the internet where I'm staying, so I get to keep up on all of the important, world-shattering Facebook updates. Definitely my top priority. It also takes pictures and Instagram does all sorts of artsy things to them to make you look like an edgy, indie low-budget, high-art film maker or something. I love it. Lovelovelove it.
See? It has given you THIS. A picture mostly featuring my nose and a giant plant. Enjoy.
I arrived on Tuesday at 10:30 in the morning. My new roomate-to-be Laurie picked me up and we only got a little bit lost on the way from Honolulu to Kailua. And speaking of LOST, this whole island looks like Jurassic Park. I keep expecting the Others, or a Veloceraptor to jump out of the bushes. The freeway goes through the mountains (they run length-wise down the middle of the island), and gives you a spectacular view. Which none of you get to see because I did not take a picture. Sorry.
We stopped at the house where I'm staying for a couple weeks. I get a nice room off of the house and get to hang out with Tim and Karen and their little kids. It's great. The plan is to move into the condo on MONDAY and, believe me, we cannot wait.
Nancy, the Head of School, graciously lent us girls her car for several weeks, and in the few days before teacher training started, I got to explore (Laurie was busy and couldn't come)
This is the beach at Waimanalo, and, with the exception of the funky island, it looks very similar to Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach, both of which are about a mile from our condo. It's a rough life.
I went up to the North Shore, and spent most of the time in the car, but it was a beautiful drive along the coast. Us girls have already decided we're going back in the winter, when the North Shore hosts Triple Crown surfing events. I don't think I'll really believe there are such things as 30-ft waves until I see them.
We've had a busy week of teacher training. Up at 6am and busy until around 4pm. It's been a great time. For me, it's been a time of chilling out because I keep having waves of panic over curriculum and lesson planning. Slowly but surely, things are coming together, by the grace of God. I'm going to stop there and get back to work.
I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive (if my incessant Facebook posting hadn't told you already). One more week of teacher training and then it's the real deal. Yipes.
Hope you all have a blessed week.
Your Hawaiian Word of the Week is: Pau. It's almost as common as aloha or mahalo. It means "done." For example, at the ATM today, as I took my receipt, the guy behind me asked, "Are you pau?"
LW
Whenever I read blogs, all I usually care about are interesting pictures, so I totally understand if you skip this post. I've been able to upload some pictures via my iTouch and Instagram. Oh boy, has that little guy been useful. Most of the time I turn it on and am all bummed out because it doesn't have a built-in network and you're basically dependent on Wi-Fi. But it connects to the internet where I'm staying, so I get to keep up on all of the important, world-shattering Facebook updates. Definitely my top priority. It also takes pictures and Instagram does all sorts of artsy things to them to make you look like an edgy, indie low-budget, high-art film maker or something. I love it. Lovelovelove it.
See? It has given you THIS. A picture mostly featuring my nose and a giant plant. Enjoy.
I arrived on Tuesday at 10:30 in the morning. My new roomate-to-be Laurie picked me up and we only got a little bit lost on the way from Honolulu to Kailua. And speaking of LOST, this whole island looks like Jurassic Park. I keep expecting the Others, or a Veloceraptor to jump out of the bushes. The freeway goes through the mountains (they run length-wise down the middle of the island), and gives you a spectacular view. Which none of you get to see because I did not take a picture. Sorry.
We stopped at the house where I'm staying for a couple weeks. I get a nice room off of the house and get to hang out with Tim and Karen and their little kids. It's great. The plan is to move into the condo on MONDAY and, believe me, we cannot wait.
Nancy, the Head of School, graciously lent us girls her car for several weeks, and in the few days before teacher training started, I got to explore (Laurie was busy and couldn't come)
This is the beach at Waimanalo, and, with the exception of the funky island, it looks very similar to Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach, both of which are about a mile from our condo. It's a rough life.
I went up to the North Shore, and spent most of the time in the car, but it was a beautiful drive along the coast. Us girls have already decided we're going back in the winter, when the North Shore hosts Triple Crown surfing events. I don't think I'll really believe there are such things as 30-ft waves until I see them.
We've had a busy week of teacher training. Up at 6am and busy until around 4pm. It's been a great time. For me, it's been a time of chilling out because I keep having waves of panic over curriculum and lesson planning. Slowly but surely, things are coming together, by the grace of God. I'm going to stop there and get back to work.
I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive (if my incessant Facebook posting hadn't told you already). One more week of teacher training and then it's the real deal. Yipes.
Hope you all have a blessed week.
Your Hawaiian Word of the Week is: Pau. It's almost as common as aloha or mahalo. It means "done." For example, at the ATM today, as I took my receipt, the guy behind me asked, "Are you pau?"
LW
Monday, August 1, 2011
In which things are packed
Tomorrow, at approximately 7:30 am, I will be launched across the Pacific Ocean, and land (hopefully) on the island of Oahu. That's the plan. And hopefully, I will also have most of my worldly belongings, minus a closet of wool coats and sweaters and snowboots and scarves and mittens and hats, all of which, I'm told, I won't need on Hawaii.
I will try to post pictures once I get a new USB cable for my camera. The first few weeks over there will be spent in teacher training, but I'm not moving into our condo until around Aug. 15, so I'm not sure how connected I will be for a while.
Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes and prayers. I'm excited about Hawaii - mostly, I'm excited about being there and not just talking about it. My flight leaves early and I hatehatehate packing, so it could be a long night of staring at my suitcases and wishing I could pack my bags like Merlin in The Sword in the Stone.
Barring that, I'm going to get back to work. It's been strange. I catch myself thinking of Hawaii as this foreign country with absolutely NO modern conveniences, and so of course I need to pack absolutely everything for absolutely every occasion. Then I remember that it is indeed part of the United States and a very touristy part at that, with things like Costco and Starbucks. Still, I do want to avoid buying much over there since it's so expensive, but I have to remind myself that amenities like soap with in fact be readily available.
I'm also a little off-kilter because I just got back from a weekend in Moscow, ID. Oh boy. I had such a good time and got to spend time with some of my favorite people, which is what Moscow is all about. It's also one of the last times it's going to feel that way because everyone is leaving at the end of the summer. So, yes, it was good to be back. But, no, I'm not really that sad that I graduated. I thought maybe I would get all weepy and want to return to the warm embrace of higher education, but I'm really ok with not having another year. I'm really ok with being graduated. I still want to go to grad school. I'll keep my undergraduate diploma, though, thank you very much, and be on my way.
I'll try to post things, and if you want, you could read them. No pressure, though.
Hoping I won't end up all Life of Pi.
If you haven't read it, btw, you should.
LW
I will try to post pictures once I get a new USB cable for my camera. The first few weeks over there will be spent in teacher training, but I'm not moving into our condo until around Aug. 15, so I'm not sure how connected I will be for a while.
Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes and prayers. I'm excited about Hawaii - mostly, I'm excited about being there and not just talking about it. My flight leaves early and I hatehatehate packing, so it could be a long night of staring at my suitcases and wishing I could pack my bags like Merlin in The Sword in the Stone.
Barring that, I'm going to get back to work. It's been strange. I catch myself thinking of Hawaii as this foreign country with absolutely NO modern conveniences, and so of course I need to pack absolutely everything for absolutely every occasion. Then I remember that it is indeed part of the United States and a very touristy part at that, with things like Costco and Starbucks. Still, I do want to avoid buying much over there since it's so expensive, but I have to remind myself that amenities like soap with in fact be readily available.
I'm also a little off-kilter because I just got back from a weekend in Moscow, ID. Oh boy. I had such a good time and got to spend time with some of my favorite people, which is what Moscow is all about. It's also one of the last times it's going to feel that way because everyone is leaving at the end of the summer. So, yes, it was good to be back. But, no, I'm not really that sad that I graduated. I thought maybe I would get all weepy and want to return to the warm embrace of higher education, but I'm really ok with not having another year. I'm really ok with being graduated. I still want to go to grad school. I'll keep my undergraduate diploma, though, thank you very much, and be on my way.
I'll try to post things, and if you want, you could read them. No pressure, though.
Hoping I won't end up all Life of Pi.
If you haven't read it, btw, you should.
LW
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