It has been a terrific, challenging year. I told my students this week that I haven't done as good of a job forming relationships with them, so far. I'm not really sure why, but I haven't. I think maybe I have already lost sight of why I am doing this. I went to a workshop this week that talks a lot about forming relationships which reminded me of my inspiration to teach. Michelle (my wife) is my inspiration. She forms relationships with students and I saw that which is the reason I decided to teach. Did I lose sight of that already? Maybe so, but my batteries have been recharged and I am ready to work towards that goal again.
We will see what this week holds for me. I think it's going to be great.
28 September 2008
06 September 2008
So far...
It has been a typical beginning of the school year. Mishelly and I have been busy with the sophomore class at SNU and our new family group, not to mention my Physics and Astronomy club at PC, and of course the kids have their own interests that don't always match what we would like to be doing. It has been really good to see Jessica blossom as a social, young academic and I am really hoping JC follows in her footsteps.
My classes have been typical as well. I picked up a Physical Science class again this year within the first week of school. They are certainly challenging me. I am already out of resources as far as classroom management goes. My phys. sci. class last year was tough, but not like this.
On a lighter note, I came up with a great analogy to use in that class the other day. We were talking about school in general and they were complaining about our block schedule. I was trying to encourage them and asked "If you had (insert cake ingredients here) could you make a good cake?" Most replied in the affirmative, as expected. Then I asked "Could you also make a bad cake?" Of course they agreed that it would also be possible to make a bad cake. So then I said "well, you have a block schedule, physical science, me, and yourself...which kind of cake are you going ot make?" Do you know what their response was? "We are gonna make a CAKE in this class?!?"
I just about fell out laughing. Had I not been so frustrated at the time, I probably would have. I then asked if they knew what an analogy was and they said "No". So there you have it: one of my goals is to teach them what an analogy is this semester.
My classes have been typical as well. I picked up a Physical Science class again this year within the first week of school. They are certainly challenging me. I am already out of resources as far as classroom management goes. My phys. sci. class last year was tough, but not like this.
On a lighter note, I came up with a great analogy to use in that class the other day. We were talking about school in general and they were complaining about our block schedule. I was trying to encourage them and asked "If you had (insert cake ingredients here) could you make a good cake?" Most replied in the affirmative, as expected. Then I asked "Could you also make a bad cake?" Of course they agreed that it would also be possible to make a bad cake. So then I said "well, you have a block schedule, physical science, me, and yourself...which kind of cake are you going ot make?" Do you know what their response was? "We are gonna make a CAKE in this class?!?"
I just about fell out laughing. Had I not been so frustrated at the time, I probably would have. I then asked if they knew what an analogy was and they said "No". So there you have it: one of my goals is to teach them what an analogy is this semester.
18 August 2008
A Brand New Year
Year number 2. Woo-hoo! I am so excited about this year. I feel much more comfortable in the classroom and don't feel like I have to spend several hours each night getting ready for class. Now that's not to say that I go home right after school, but I do feel like I am better prepared to face each day, having some things from last year to modify and change to fit what I want it to do.
I am teaching Physics, Pre-AP Physics, and Physical Science. Again, I get thrown into physical science 3 days in with absolutely no preparation time. I am glad to have the class instead of duty, I just wish they would communicate with me and let me know when a class is supposed to start!
So get ready, because here come the Pirates!
I am teaching Physics, Pre-AP Physics, and Physical Science. Again, I get thrown into physical science 3 days in with absolutely no preparation time. I am glad to have the class instead of duty, I just wish they would communicate with me and let me know when a class is supposed to start!
So get ready, because here come the Pirates!
15 July 2008
Ah Summer
I am really enjoying the summer vacation. This is my first true "summer off" aka "all of my weekends at once" without feeling that I have to work. We have done some traveling over the last month or so and it has been relaxing.
We are planning on going to NYC and DC in the next two weeks and I am really ready for a road trip. We will spend about 3 days in NYC and then almost a week in DC. It should be a great. The family is going to keep a blog during the trip.
I have begun to hear from some of my AP students and at least one of them got a 3 on the AP test. Woo-hoo! At least everyone didn't fail. I'm pretty stoked about it. More info to come.
We are planning on going to NYC and DC in the next two weeks and I am really ready for a road trip. We will spend about 3 days in NYC and then almost a week in DC. It should be a great. The family is going to keep a blog during the trip.
I have begun to hear from some of my AP students and at least one of them got a 3 on the AP test. Woo-hoo! At least everyone didn't fail. I'm pretty stoked about it. More info to come.
14 June 2008
Here I am again months later and no more information. But wow have I learned a lot in the last few months.
Teaching has been awesome and I have really found my niche.
I have spent the last two weeks at Oklahoma State University studying High Energy Physics through a program called quarknet. It has been tremendous and difficult all at the same time. I learned some really good things about the Nature of Science and feel that I am beginning to come to an understanding about that particular facet of my teaching journey. Not to say that I am a pro, but at least I am making progress.
As an update, I was rehired on a permanent contract at PC High this year. I was really excited to be able to tell my family that I had been successful this year and was going to continue there.
I have started a Physics and Astronomy club at PC High. It will probably begin to revolve most around the cosmic ray detector and the 12 inch telescope. I hope to generate some real interest and start doing some activities in which the kids might be interested.
We shall see.
Teaching has been awesome and I have really found my niche.
I have spent the last two weeks at Oklahoma State University studying High Energy Physics through a program called quarknet. It has been tremendous and difficult all at the same time. I learned some really good things about the Nature of Science and feel that I am beginning to come to an understanding about that particular facet of my teaching journey. Not to say that I am a pro, but at least I am making progress.
As an update, I was rehired on a permanent contract at PC High this year. I was really excited to be able to tell my family that I had been successful this year and was going to continue there.
I have started a Physics and Astronomy club at PC High. It will probably begin to revolve most around the cosmic ray detector and the 12 inch telescope. I hope to generate some real interest and start doing some activities in which the kids might be interested.
We shall see.
28 December 2007
Well...
here it is the end of the first semester of teaching and I haven't been on this blog more than a handful of times! So much for reflection on a regular basis. I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately to prep for next semester. I will have many of the same kids from my Pre-AP physics class in the full blown AP class. That will be a bit of a challenge. Some of these students are so intelligent that I have difficulty challenging them. I need to get the fall semester closed out and look ahead to January 8th. It's going to be awesome. I am so much better prepared for this coming time than I was back in August. Not that I am old hat in the teaching game, but I have formed some really good relationships with a few students and I look forward to deepening them. Bring it on!
Check the links sections for a photo blog that I have recently started thanks to my new Digital SLR camera.
Check the links sections for a photo blog that I have recently started thanks to my new Digital SLR camera.
23 July 2007
it's been a while
Since I have blogged on here. So here goes...
This past weekend our youth pastor, Jeff Smith, brought a wonderful message at Northview. It was the "gospel according to U2". It was part of a continuing series entitled (strangely enough) "The Gospel Acccording to". It really had an impact on me. In the words of Bono, the lead singer of U2, "Africa is bursting into flames and we are all standing around with a water bucket". Basically, what am I doing with my time to help others? Not how am I witnessing to others, not how am I influencing others, but how am I helping others? The Church of the Nazarene was built on the basic precepts of what many might call Social Justice. That name always sounded strange to me until this weekend. I am better able to understand just what that means and I am beginning to understand more fully what that should look like in my life. I need to reassess my priorities and look for a way to help someone. That may mean I lose some of my "personal" time, but I think the reward will be worth the "sacrifice". Thanks Jeff for letting God use you as an instrument to speak to me.
This past weekend our youth pastor, Jeff Smith, brought a wonderful message at Northview. It was the "gospel according to U2". It was part of a continuing series entitled (strangely enough) "The Gospel Acccording to". It really had an impact on me. In the words of Bono, the lead singer of U2, "Africa is bursting into flames and we are all standing around with a water bucket". Basically, what am I doing with my time to help others? Not how am I witnessing to others, not how am I influencing others, but how am I helping others? The Church of the Nazarene was built on the basic precepts of what many might call Social Justice. That name always sounded strange to me until this weekend. I am better able to understand just what that means and I am beginning to understand more fully what that should look like in my life. I need to reassess my priorities and look for a way to help someone. That may mean I lose some of my "personal" time, but I think the reward will be worth the "sacrifice". Thanks Jeff for letting God use you as an instrument to speak to me.
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