More about School

Six weeks and I still love teaching.

Last week I was shocked by receiving the "Bird Award." Every so often a teacher is elected for this award at my school, you are presented with a large stuffed bird and a paragraph is read to the school about why you received this award. I had several teachers and administrators coming into my classroom all day long congratulating me for the award. The teacher who received it prior elected me, so I get to pick the next one for the school! :)

I allowed my classes to listen to music today while they were working on definitions/vocabulary work. I asked them to suggest a few songs for me to add to the playlist. Several students requested "Fireflies" by Owl City. I looked it up and actually quite like it, so I've added it to my playlist for you to enjoy.

Have a beautiful day!

http://www.notonthetest.com/

Happenings

This week ended up being short, since UEA weekend made it so I only taught Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday.

This week I was awarded the "Bird Award" at my school. Apparently every so often a different teacher is chosen to receive this award, you are elected by the teacher who received the award prior.

Welcome to School

Three Weeks have already passed.

I'm probably still in shock from realizing that I am a teacher.

I was very excited to start teaching Earth Systems. I did take the first 2 weeks covering basics and then decided to hop straight into Astronomy. The students are currently studying the life cycles of stars and today I introduced them to Fusion vs. Fission. I took everyone outside, I held up a sign which I could switch to Fusion or Fission, I called out "Fusion!" while holding the sign and everyone(okay, it took a couple of tries) ran into small groups. The groups would continue to grow and compact the longer I said Fusion. Then I would switch to Fission.

Multiple times I have already had several 9th graders comment on how much fun they are having in their Earth Systems Science. Other teachers have commented to me as well.

However...8th grade.

*sigh* I have been reading a book called "The First Days of School" by Harry Wong. (Excellent book by the way.) He discusses how you need to structure your class in the first few weeks so that it may run more smoothly throughout the year.

I works. I tried it, and so far all of my classes have been quite pleasant. except one.There's always one. I had to change the seating 2 times and will be changing it again tomorrow... 2 students decided to pick a battle today (quickly stopped...but still?) I have 7 strong talkers. 6 severe special needs. I asked for help today from my fellow science teachers. I will be calling parents tomorrow.

If you think I'm complaining, think again, I prefer to view this class as a rather difficult mind puzzle. Some how the students can be seated in such a way that they will stop biting each others heads off. Leaving me with some sanity would be nice too!

I going to go pray about my new seating chart now. :)

I love Teaching!

A curious question to ponder?

I recently attended a teacher's conference (for Science Olympiad) at Weber State University. While there I sat next to a woman I'll call Jo.

I introduced myself and asked her where she was from and what she taught. Jo isn't a teacher, she is a parent with 3 young boys and wants to be involved in Science at the school. She stays at home and has a degree in Chemistry; she's not LDS.

When she discovered that I had attended BYU she said: "You don't fit the mold of a typical LDS woman to me."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"LDS girls only attend BYU to get married and if they receive a degree it's only in Home Economics so they can be better stay at home moms." Jo paused, "That's what your church teaches right? That girls don't need an education, they just stay home and have kids."   

My response: "No. The LDS faith promotes learning. Everyone is encouraged to receive a good education not only in spiritual education but also in secular."

The conversation continued throughout my two day stay in Weber. I explained that I was allowed to think and that I had decided for myself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. (I wasn't forced into it, or coerced.)   

Then she brought up a few things that concerned me...

For most of my childhood I was a quiet child, shy. I recall being scared of talking to people who were not LDS. I remember thinking they were all criminals and scary. (I've learned otherwise now.)

Jo explained that in her community all non LDS are in, what she called "pods". Groups of them get together for parent groups, clubs etc. She cannot get any of the LDS people around her to come or talk to her. "There is a barrier. Maybe it's the garment layer. I can only get to know them so much and then no more."

I have attended an LDS Church in another area(outside of Utah). I remember being instantly invited and welcomed. Are we the same in Utah?

I know I need to improve.  

 

I was shocked by a few of the misconceptions some of which I'd heard before and others I hadn't. But what worried me the most was the realization that I still sit inside my house staring out my window at the 'non-LDS' people. Only becoming friends with the people in my ward, because it's safer, easier. (The Utah Bubble, I think I'll call it a fishbowl-but even I struggle looking through the glass.)

Overall this was a very positive conversation and I really enjoyed talking to Jo. I wasn't trying to convert her or force her into anything. I was just there to answer her questions to the best of my ability.

So just curious: How do you respond to a new friend you've made and leave a positive impression of the LDS faith when their previous experience is that we won't even leave our yard to say hello?

Yellowstone

Hurrah! We finally made it to Yellowstone. Rew & I have been wanting to go to Yellowstone for a long while and finally got the chance to go last week(Fri-Mon). I toldRew that I couldn't be a proper science teacher until I went! :)

Yellowstone Lake in the background you can get a glimpse of the Tetons.

Where Yellowstone gets the name, from the sulfur deposits.

Old Faithful (just before camera died.)

Hot Spring! Yellowstone is very active right now. Rew told me that I was incredibly lucky to see so many geysers and hot springs go off. He teased that I only had to look at it and it would blow...a few minutes later we were walking down a boardwalk and every one I looked at...blew!! It was so awesome!!

Looking down at Artist Paint Pots...an area where each hot spring has a unique color, from orange, red, light blue, grey, white.

Mud Pots. They are so funny! I loved hearing the "bloop, splat" that they make.

This paint pot was rather wet, so didn't hold the bubbles for too long.

Sarah kept pointing at the bubbling water and saying, "Bubbles! Big Bubbles! Small bubbles! Hot bubbles."

Ash Flow Tuff mountain...gorgeous!

Keeping our energetic little one safe! She was trying to grab a chipmunk!

Yellowstone's grand canyon. This waterfall formed by cutting into the softer sediment layer(mostly sulfur) beneath a harder sediment layer of lava flow.

The waterfall was one of Rew's favorite.

Which is why we have a lot of pictures!

The landscape was green! Really Green! (just above sulfur lakes)

Dragon's Mouth Spring (Apparently a 9 year old boy died here when he jumped in.) The water is very incredibly hot, and smells like rotten eggs(sulfur).

Hot Spring!

We saw several Bison, this one only 6 feet away (we were in the car). We also saw deer, bucks, coyotes, a falcon type bird retrieving a fish out of the river (really cool!) lots of birds, a black bear and a grizzly bear!! (The black bear was really close to the road, the grizzly at the top of a ridge. - our camera said it had a full battery charge when we left home, but after taking two pictures, told us the charge was gone! What?!? Anyway... It kept dying after just one picture, so the pictures of the bears are on my cell phone and thedisposable camera we bought...I'll try to scan them in later.)

Ahhh! Sarah had A LOT of fun! We recieved comments from all our neighbors at camp saying, "When you pulled in I thought your daughter would cry and scream and keep up awake. But I never even heard a single cry!" Yea Sarah! She really is a wonderful daughter and a trooper!

Sulfur springs-by far the stinkiest thing ever.

Oooh!! look! it's a chemical reaction! Swirly mud!

The Fishermans Bridge...is closed to fishing! Due to high water...All the islands are under water...the stairs as you can see...underwater and the surrounding forest!

Wind in her hair! The first night and day were perfect. We attended church in West Yellowstone (close to our campsite) A couple of thunderstorms blew in, during one therainfly on our tent blew off while we were gone and soaked our blankets! (I should'velearned from Geo 210. This time it was even a different tent!) We spent a few hours drying everything off using our car. Several people in RV's offered for us to spend the night-but luckily everything dried before we went to bed.

Bison, "Room for two?" "King sized beds only!"

More sulfur! We used the disposable camera, our camera and my phone and Rew's phone until they all died. The online site said that our camp wouldn't have electricity, but it did in the bathrooms! I could've recharged the camera batteries, but I didn't bring the recharger!)

Spasmodic Geyser! It was cute and little!

Still Spasmodic!

Cute! Bubbly water! DO NOT TOUCH!!! Ouch!

It was a wonderful trip and I would love to go again sometime! Good bye Yellowstone! I have a bunch of geyser videos on my cell phone, I'll try to load them later!

Harry Potter

Rew & I had tickets to see the Midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! People everywhere were in full costume! My sister Sara & her husband Spencer got our tickets for us while we were in Yellowstone, thank you!!

I didn't read any reviews for the movie, but I had watched the trailer a number of times. Overall? I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY AWESOME MOVIE!!!!! They did an excellent job on this one. As always parts in the book were left out as should be expected, however, the director did a beautiful job of catching the story line.

I'll let the cashier check my groceries

Today was grocery day! On my list: Broccoli, Peaches, Bananas, Watermelon, Celery, Green Onions, Pork, Chicken, Milk, Butter, Shampoo, Baby Treats, Sushi etc.

Oh the joys of walking through the grocery store. Have you ever looked at people's faces? Usually they are focusing on the task ahead, concentrating with great effort, you can see the math in the air...almost.

I stopped by Buy Low, Walmart, Sunflower Market. (It was a big grocery day...)

I decided to get the milk at Smith's...as they have the cheapest price currently. Just a normal trip.

Go to Store.

Buy milk.

Go back home.

Have husband put milk away. :)

I decided to check out at the self check. I love them. (I was a cashier at Macey's for 4 1/2 years.)

In front of me were two girls, both buying ice cream and other delectable treats. The brown haired one was holding a skate board & the blonde one a scooter, you know the one, the popular scooters that nearly every child has with two wheels and the handle. The scooter is metal. M-E-T-A-L

Her self check opened and she placed her ice cream down and then her scooter.

suddenly....

!!!BLUE AND YELLOW SPARKS!!

Electricity gone mad at the scooter.

Guests stepping back in shocked admiration.

The girl standing, not too close, watching her scooter fry to the floor!

The Smith's worker, pausing for a minute, then calling on the overhead

"Uh, could we have the head electrical worker come to the front?"

The Smith's worker then having to stop a brave young man from trying to touch it...

People in the circle (people always form circles, no matter what the event/disaster)

People in the circle trying to explain electricity to the gentleman

and why it's a 'Do Not Touch' situation.

Finally the electrician came.

Moved the scooter...to uh...'safer' location.

I admired the scorch marks and white residue on the floor.

Enthusiastically thanked the Smith's worker for the Fireworks.

Glad that I did not witness electrocution.

And drove home.

Next time...I'll let the cashier check my groceries!