Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Subbing
Right now I'm in a 4 week elementary sub job in a severe needs class. I love it, and the staff/kids are great.
Thoughts on writing for class
This class (Reading Writing Connections) has been quite a learning experience. I've learned much about how to connect reading and writing in the classroom for both general ed and SPED. Some of the assignments have been more challenging than others.
The descriptive writing piece were were assigned is likely the hardest writing assignment I'd ever done. Being descriptive of visual and emotional experiences is nigh unto impossible for me, and not at all my preferred mode of thinking (to say the very very least).
I enjoyed many of the assignments. What was often most challenging was to take our assignments which were to have lesson plans/learning centers and work with my preferred grade level, which is moderate to severe needs SPED and still fit the assigned lesson plan to the theoretical SPED students). Then again that's what SPED teachers do daily and this taught me not only to modify, which I do fairly easily, but to be able to state *why* those modifications are appropriate to the lesson assigned, which is a very good job skill to have indeed.
The descriptive writing piece were were assigned is likely the hardest writing assignment I'd ever done. Being descriptive of visual and emotional experiences is nigh unto impossible for me, and not at all my preferred mode of thinking (to say the very very least).
I enjoyed many of the assignments. What was often most challenging was to take our assignments which were to have lesson plans/learning centers and work with my preferred grade level, which is moderate to severe needs SPED and still fit the assigned lesson plan to the theoretical SPED students). Then again that's what SPED teachers do daily and this taught me not only to modify, which I do fairly easily, but to be able to state *why* those modifications are appropriate to the lesson assigned, which is a very good job skill to have indeed.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Day to Revise aka Snow Day
Today is a snow day (YAY) today is also halfway through week 7 of an 8 week class. A class in which I have to submit two writing pieces for a portfolio - these are due next week.
We were assigned 1 narrative, 1 persuasive and 1 descriptive piece to write. My narrative is done. My descriptive is in shambles and my persuasive needs to be rewritten.
So on today, a snow day, I will write.
We were assigned 1 narrative, 1 persuasive and 1 descriptive piece to write. My narrative is done. My descriptive is in shambles and my persuasive needs to be rewritten.
So on today, a snow day, I will write.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
School and writing
I've been in school with a week or two off here and there since Summer 2009. I've written dozens of papers and dozens of lesson plans. Writing has become easier but it's also seeming never ending.
In May 2011 I graduated Pikes Peak Community College with an AA. Mostly I got that degree just because I could. I was in concurrent enrollment with Pike's Peak (PPCC) and Regis University. Lower Division classes were taken at PPCC and transferred up to Regis every semester. I then transferred some of my Regis classes back down to PPCC so i coudl have the Associates of General studies. In spring 1980, I'd "taken a semester off" college (a mere 30 year long semester), and when going back in 2009, I found that credits over 15 years old aren't accepted to many colleges without jumping through a lot of hoops. However, degrees don't expire. It seemed prudent to get the degree at the community college to tie up those credits into a degree so that they could never expire.
In May 2012 I graduated Regis University with my BA/Teaching Licensure program.
And now I'm in grad school/getting a M.Ed. in Reading. This is a 2 year program, but given the way the classes are set up I won't complete the program till Fall 2014. Sometimes that seems close and other times it seems forever from now.
In May 2011 I graduated Pikes Peak Community College with an AA. Mostly I got that degree just because I could. I was in concurrent enrollment with Pike's Peak (PPCC) and Regis University. Lower Division classes were taken at PPCC and transferred up to Regis every semester. I then transferred some of my Regis classes back down to PPCC so i coudl have the Associates of General studies. In spring 1980, I'd "taken a semester off" college (a mere 30 year long semester), and when going back in 2009, I found that credits over 15 years old aren't accepted to many colleges without jumping through a lot of hoops. However, degrees don't expire. It seemed prudent to get the degree at the community college to tie up those credits into a degree so that they could never expire.
In May 2012 I graduated Regis University with my BA/Teaching Licensure program.
And now I'm in grad school/getting a M.Ed. in Reading. This is a 2 year program, but given the way the classes are set up I won't complete the program till Fall 2014. Sometimes that seems close and other times it seems forever from now.
Monday, February 18, 2013
I'm supposed to be doing what?
Ok, today I've broken through writers's block in that I'm writing.
I've revised a narrative piece, read some assigned reading and am about to read some more assigned reading and work on a lesson plan.
Amazing how it feels good to be over that dratted writers block that has been near paralyzing with my school work lately.
I've revised a narrative piece, read some assigned reading and am about to read some more assigned reading and work on a lesson plan.
Amazing how it feels good to be over that dratted writers block that has been near paralyzing with my school work lately.
Thoughts about teaching writing
Subjects I would like to write on eventually
How subbing work a week differs from subbing for a day - a teacher's perspective
Second grade and night school (science) on the same day - compare and contrast
Writers Block - how to work with it
Fruit, chocolate or ice cream - which to eat when
Office organization
Office organization when the office is in the living room
Using the living room couch as an office for Pampered Chef business, school room for my Masters Program, dining room, social spot and relaxation zone
When stress gets to be a bit much, go to a conference and set up meetings all week the following week, the prior week's stress will seem a piece of cake. Try it and see!
kitties, living with 4 who are all bio-related, having a kitty pride in my own home
How subbing work a week differs from subbing for a day - a teacher's perspective
Second grade and night school (science) on the same day - compare and contrast
Writers Block - how to work with it
Fruit, chocolate or ice cream - which to eat when
Office organization
Office organization when the office is in the living room
Using the living room couch as an office for Pampered Chef business, school room for my Masters Program, dining room, social spot and relaxation zone
When stress gets to be a bit much, go to a conference and set up meetings all week the following week, the prior week's stress will seem a piece of cake. Try it and see!
kitties, living with 4 who are all bio-related, having a kitty pride in my own home
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Interesting Article on Formulaic Writing (and why we need to resist)
http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/Academic_Resources/Composition/Form/wiley%20resisting%20formulaic%20writing.pdf
Interesting article on formulaic writing (and why we need to rest) I thought readers of this blog might enjoy. It's part of my evening's assigned reading for "Reading Writing Connections" class
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)