[.must be doing something right.]

Wow- it's been awhile! I apologize, but life has been crazy! As you can see it's Friday at 12:44 and I should be at school, but I'm not - I'm home sick! After being sick for 3 weeks and not getting better, I decided to go to the doctor. My lovely, wonderful mother found me an Indy Urgent Care (kinda like redi-med for you Fort Wayne folk). They were amazing! I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and told that I had to stay home today. So, I have spent my morning sleeping and working on homework. I got my student teaching application sent out today - YIKES!!! I don't like planning this far in advance. 

Anyways, my lessons last week turned out great!!!!!!!! I got great compliments from my professors, teacher, and peer reviewers. [If you want more detail, we can chat in person.] My students really loved both lessons, and they were extremely well behaved - PRAISE THE LORD! I explained to them how important this was to me - so I think that they understood that they needed to be good.

I haven't gotten to see my students since Wednesday and I truly miss them. When the doctor told me I couldn't go to school, I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be able to see them. Hopefully I will be better by Monday and will be able to go back.

I'm headed up to Muncie tomorrow for Homecoming! We're 4-0 this season, so tomorrow's game should be really good! I'm excited to see everyone!! Please keep praying for Dante Love. 

Wow, I think that's it. I can tell my brain isn't fully functioning, because I know there was more I wanted to tell you! Oh well, until next time....

cj.

wait a minute....

holy cow~ time is FLYING by! it's already sunday afternoon - how did that happen?!!?!?

i've been privileged enough to develop this nasty cough from my lovely students, so it's been a rough week and a half for me. finally got some medicine from my doctor in fort wayne on thursday. not quite sure if it's working yet - but only time will tell. let me tell you a funny story about going to the doctor though. so, i knew i wasn't able to make it up to fort wayne due to school being crazy and i was feeling like crap. here in indy we have these things called minute clinics in some of our CVS stores. i have heard nothing but good things about these places so i decided to stop by there and get some meds. i got called into the nurse practitioner's office. she asked me what was wrong. i explained that i had an awful cough, but every time i check my temperature it's normal. i didn't have any cold symptoms. she proceeded to listen to my chest. then turns to me and asks if i could possibly have asthma. OH MY GOSH - i was furious. for anyone who has talked to me in the past week and heard me cough, you KNOW it's not asthma. if anything, i prolly have some form of bronchitis. i told her that i had never been told that before, and she said that she thought that might be the only thing wrong with me. i kindly thanked her for her time, but assured her that i would be fine. i couldn't believe it. i have told everyone this story and they can't help but look at me and laugh. it's become the running joke at school when i start coughing. everyone asks if i need an inhaler. haha. :)  anyways, i've been loading up on cough medicine from my doctor, drinking lots of water, washing my hands like crazy, taking cough drops like it's my job, and getting in lots of naps. so, hopefully i'll get better soon!

this week is going to be a busy one! i have 2 lessons being observed- yikes!!! i am teaching my math lesson monday morning, which is getting observed by my math professor and my classroom managment professor. i'm busting out some manipulatives and hula-hoops so we'll see how this goes. my students hadn't used manipulatives yet this year, so i had a big talk with them on friday about how we act when we get to use special things. i had to explain to them that these things were privileges [i had to explain what privileges were] and could be taken away. it's amazing how excited they are when they get to use new things. they did SO great with them though. honestly, i think they were scared to lose them. my teacher talked to me afterwards and said that i did a really good job explaining my expectations and how they were to act with them. so i guess that's a good thing! :)  anyways, my second lesson is on wednesday. it's a science lesson on how we care for our pets. it should be pretty interesting. i had my lesson all finished - then my professor suggested that i include something more engaging. so, i'm bringing in goldfish. yikes! my kids are going to be CRAZY! this will be the true test of whether they know how to listen to directions though! :) but, i'm really excited! this is the first week where i've actually got to teach MY own lessons in the class. 

so, a few of you have asked what my "normal" day looks like. well, i don't really have one. i have ball state classes everyday but tuesdays, so my schedule is something new everyday. however, i can explain what a tuesday is like for me, because that MIGHT be my favorite day of the week!!! :)

7:30-7:45 ~ arrive at school, sign in, help teacher get classroom ready

7:45-8:10 ~ greet students, do breakfast count/lunch money collection/attendance, get students started with morning work

8:10-8:15 ~ take students to the restroom

8:15-8:40 ~ lead calendar

8:40-9:40 ~ free time [this is the time when my teacher does reading instruction with the students, so i have free time to use for either: a study break (we're supposed to take one hour each day), grading papers, or staying in the room and helping]

9:40-10:10 ~ prep [the kids have their special at this time]

10:10-10:55 ~ more reading [stories, phonics, etc.]

10:55 ~ getting ready for lunch

11:00-11:30 ~ lunch

11:30-12:00 ~ recess duty

12:00-12:15 ~ restroom break and "cool down" break for students

12:15-12:45 ~ one-on-one time [my teacher does large group activities, while i pull students to work on things they need help with]

12:45-1:30 ~ handwriting, writing [i lead the handwriting portion.]

1:30-2:10 ~ math [i've been taking this over lately. i take the kids over to our "math center" where we practice our counting. then we do our lesson for the day.] 

2:10-2:20 ~ get ready to go home

2:20-2:27 ~ reading [i've been reading to them everyday - we're working on a chapter book right now.]

2:27-2:35 ~ dismissal and bus duty

2:35-3:30 ~ prep for the next day

so, days are definitely busy and crammed full. it's amazing how much planning it takes to make sure there is enough material planned for your day. i don't think i realized just how much planning it took. i'm definitely learning though! 

alright, well i suppose i should get busy finishing up my lessons for the week.

keep your fingers crossed that they go well. 

i'm signing off with the greatest thing i've seen all week. we were driving yesterday and my roommate asked me to pull over once we got into apartment complex. she wanted to take a picture of the "ugly duckling." for those of you who don't know, we have the most ANNOYING geese in our complex. well apparently one of them is the ugly duckling. once i pulled over, i realized which one she was talking about and we started talking pictures galore. [it doesn't take much to amuse us! :)] so, enjoy! 

[we've decided to call it a GUCK. half duck/half goose. check out those feet!]

stay tuned next time for....becoming attached, how my lessons turned out, and maybe pictures of my students!

loving life,

cj.

♥ [here's to both our colors - cardinal and white] ♥

CHIRP CHIRP!!!!

ahhh - i can't believe how much i missed being on campus!!!! :)

sam and i headed up to muncie after we got of school on friday. we got there in enough time to grab some quick jimmy johns with the girls before heading to the bsu vs. navy game. the game was absolutely amazing. i miss being able to go to them all the time. there are only 2 more games i can go to! :(

anyways, it was a fabulous evening - i'm including a picture tribute to the night so that you don't have to just read about it - it would take FOREVER.

[go cards!]

[oh my gosh - i missed these girls SO much!!!]

[amazing game! nice job boys!]

[storming the field!]

[the 5 of us - finally reunited!]

anyways, i thought i'd keep you up to date on my weekend. tomorrow will be filled with LOTS of homework - any volunteers to help me?!

-cj.

[time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. - john lennon]

today is ________________. FRIDAY! :)

hey yall! hope you are having an amazing weekend! 

as promised, pictures of my school. 

i really wanted to post pictures of my kids, but my camera batteries died. :(

[far away. the left side near the basketball pole is where our playground is.]

[a little bit closer. sorry for the reflection of the window.]

this week has been great. it is definitely starting to get more stressful as i gain more responsibility, but i wouldn't trade it for the world. this week has most definitely been a learning experience. i worked really hard on meeting the needs of my students this week. remember when i talked about william glasser?! well - it worked pretty well. but let me tell you - it is extremely difficult to make sure each and every child has all 5 of their needs met. anyways, time for some storytelling! :)

Need for survival - [The idea behind this need is that children feel safe in their environment.] It was extremely coincidental that we had a lock-down drill this week. We practiced what would happen if our safety was threatened. Our kids had a great deal of questions about what would happen, but we had to remind them that this was just a drill - but we have to practice to insure that we know what to do is something happened. 

Need for belonging - [Children need to be involved in classroom matters, along with receiving recognition from students and teachers.] Since I've been teaching more in the classroom, I am doing my best to include each student in on the discussion. Many of my students are shy, so they don't raise their hands. Instead, I have asked that every student keep their hand down and I will call on students. Another practice that I use is when someone answers a question that most people wouldn't know, I ask that everyone clap for them! What better way to show recognition from their teacher and peers?!

Need for power - [Children need to be allowed to carry out tasks in the classroom.] There are many times during the day that I need lights turned off or on, and when that is the case I ask a student to do it. Also, we have a helper of the week who helps us do tasks around the room (i.e., taking attendance).

Need for fun - [Children need to engage in interesting activities.] While I teach, I try extremely hard to create fun little games as a way of keeping the children interested. For example, we do a handwriting worksheet every day. They also have to color a picture using specific colors for specific letters. I make them raise their crayon at me so we know which color we are supposed to be using and then we dance around with it. I was just trying to be goofy the first time I did it, but the kids absolutely love it. When I did handwriting with them on Wednesday, I forgot to tell them to dance - and they kept asking when we got to dance with our crayon. It's the little things that really help. :)

Need for freedom - [Children need to be allowed to make choices.] When students in my class finish whatever they are working on, they are allowed to pick out a book and read silently until it is time to move onto the next activity. Also, I try to allow kids to work however works best for them. When I am teaching a specific activity, I allow students to stand or sit because every student works and learns differently. 

Well there's some stories - not the best examples, but I'm working on it! :)

Being from an area completely different from my school, it is completely shocking how much these kids have experienced. I had a student come and explain to me that he was worried about whether or not his mom would be in jail when he got out of school. This little boy is in first grade - FIRST GRADE! This is not a concern that ANY student should have to worry about. A few of the other teachers and I tried to talk to him about how as much as he might be worried, he was at school to learn and he needed to do his best to concentrate while he was there. I also have students whose parents haven't been paid child support, so they come to school with a lunch consisting of cookies and soda. I cannot even imagine the pressure and struggles these kids face on a regular basis. 

Alright, I think I'm done with story time for tonight! I could go on for days, but it is so much easier to do in person!!!

-cj.

[if you don't like something - change it. if you can't change it - change the way you think about it.]

oh happy labor day!

hey all! hope you all had an enjoyable labor day weekend!

i ended up housesitting for a family friend. they just so happen to have a pool - so i had an extremely relaxing weekend with the family. i know i promised new pictures and updates on my school - and i swear there will be updates by the end of the week!

but until then, i figured i'd tide you over with some fun pictures of my weekend!

always a goofy face.

justin the goofball! :)

and last but not least....possibly the best picture ever!

hope you all have a great start to the week!!!!!!!!!!

-caitlin.

[it's not where you came from, but where you're going that counts.]