First 2 Weeks by Avni

I must say, I'm more scared to teach now than I ever have been. I just don't
want to mess it up and almost feel bad for the first few years students' I have
because they will just end up being my guinea pigs.

There's just soo much to swallow down already and it's only been two weeks. I'm
already looking for a break. But, I have to say I do look forward to coming to
school everyday and at the end of the day there is always a part of me that's
ready to go home and relax (not that I really get to relax) and another part
that's sad to be leaving and another part that's excited for the day ahead.

Honestly, I'm more into theory/listening to lectures and taking notes type of a
person so (although we are constantly doing groupwork and skits and such on
Tuesdays and Thursdays) the perspectives and child development classes are my
favorite even do Mondays and Wednesdays enable us to kick back a little more.

I feel like at this point I've received so many handouts and ideas for great
activities to do with kids that I want to start making portfolios for each
subject right now so that later on when I am teaching I can refer to the proper
portfolio for help.

I should also mention that it really feels good to have people around me working
towards the same thing. It's frustrating sometimes to deal with people who just
don't understand or don't care or whatever. I really feel lucky and happy to
have such a great cohort.

I must say, education has such a messed up history in America. It's getting a
little better but I wouldn't say too much better. Last week I was watching the
news and the second I heard that Kulogowski vetoed a bill that would have
enabled Oregon schools to receive 2 million (don't quote me on that, it may
have been more) I instantly was filled with tears and anger and frustration. I
don't know if that man has any kids but AHHHH!!!!

I remember writing him (or more like his secretary) a letter last year regarding
education in Oregon and with the reply I received I had high hopes and such
respect for that man. It all went down the drain last week! I felt like writing
him a threatening letter last week which of course I won't be doing not that
something like that would make a difference but it's just so daym agitating!!!

Anyways, I did want to mention a great book I read last term which is also
another one of my favorites next to yardsticks, it's called Cultural
Competence. It's by Jean Moule and some guy named Diller. The book and
Professor Moule are both great. I gained such great insight and a new and
better understanding and I feel like I became more knowledgable and she really
opened up but mind. I can only go on about it. Anyways, I do have a question
for you regarding something we studied in that class but I won't post it up
here.

I think the one thing I learned this week that I will treasure is something
that's so obvious and simple yet I never put it together or thought about it
before....you must immerse yourself in the community in which you work. It's
just funny that I didn't think about it because the other program I would have
ended up doing was such a program. The program required us to have classes in
bookstores and coffeeshops and other such places within the community that we
did our student teaching (all the students are within the same vicinity of
schools). But that program portrays the saying I heard in this lewis and clark
program. I guess I never heard the phrase put together, I used to take like 60
words to explain it when this week I was taught 11 words for the same concept.

PS, just a FYI, I skipped a class last term because I didn't want to do an
informative presentation for 3 minutes in front of the class. That was NOTHING
at all compared to what I have had to do the last 2 weeks.

Anyways, I need to shut up and start my homework!

See you tomorrow!