Old Friends, New Friends

Today I had the opportunity to hang out with an old friend that I haven't seen in a very long time. I loved being able to catch up and talk, reminisce about high school and things that we can now laugh about. I kept thinking that it was so great to talk about the past. And then we started talking about our current lives. As I watched her beautiful baby boy blow raspberries and smile hugely at us I was even happier to have a friend to talk about our current lives. We said a few times that high school was fun and we loved every minute that we were in it; however, we were much happier with how life was turning out to be. It didn't matter that she and I are in different points in our lives, or that really our lives were very different. We sat and talked for hours. I liked it. A lot. And it made me realize a few things... Just a small list guys. It's been a while.

1. I really like to talk. And laugh. This was satisfied with talking and laughing for three hours.

2. I really like my life. I got to talk about the past, talk about the present, and talk about the future and it surprised me how happy I am with where I am now. Ultimately I have bigger and hopefully better plans, but I like where I am and I like who I am. I also liked hearing that my friend is happy in those same capacities in her own life.

3. The future is looking bright. I came home this weekend only to be bombarded with worries about the future. Car troubles (always), wondering how exactly to pay for college, and worries about things completely out of my control (coughdatingcoughboyscoughsocializingingeneralcoughcough). Despite these random things that I can't really control, I know things are going to work out. I know I will make it through my final semester of college, financially and all. I know that cars break, but cars can also be fixed. And regardless of how I feel, I know I will someday be much less socially awkward. Or I'll just find a way around that. Although barring ordering a spouse off the internet, I'm not sure how I will do that.

Anyway, I said this would be short, so I am cutting myself off. I think I like coming home and having old friends to talk to, and I especially like talking to those old friends only to realize that they are new friends too... If that makes sense haha.

Random

"Look at your life through heaven's eyes."

"So I learned from you, do do do dododo dodah do do."

"'It's not you it's me?' I invented 'it's not you it's me!' If it's going to be anyone, it's going to be me!"

"One more stupid love song I'll be sick."

"Butt-faced miscreant?"

Maybe I just had a weird kind of random day? But this is what has been going in my head, and at this point I can't sleep so documenting it was all I could think of to do.

That's Who I Am

Thanks goes out to Jessica Andrews for this song for inspiring the title of this post. This thought is actually on my mind quite a bit. It pops up at random times, like when buying clothes; am I really that girl that can pull off bright purple skinny jeans? Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm that girl. Am I the girl that holes up and watches all three Lord of the Rings in one day? Yes I am. Sometimes I'm the girl that will go out of her way to make you smile, especially if that smile is adorable and perfect. And then sometimes I'm the girl that gives you the "man you're an idiot" face without realizing it. Now, I don't think this would make a good song, Jessica Andrews can continue being the lyricist, but it has been good food for thought. And if we're being honest I think about this all the time, some times more than other times. Like when I met with my cooperative teacher, for instance, he just kept telling me to be myself and I had a mini panic attack. What if I'm not sure of who I am to be myself? The truth of the matter is that I feel like I'm never quite sure of who I am exactly because I never stop changing.

Now, I'm going into rambling mode so buckle up or click out, but I remember my first big realization that I was a very dynamic and changing being. It was the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. One of my best friends from 9th grade was extremely frustrated with me because she wanted to be friends with the Megan from our 9th grade year. I realized that I couldn't be that friend because I was different. She and I had spent most of the summer apart and I had changed. This was so amazing to me. I had changed and there was no going back. I have had many of those realizations since then, but it still amazes me. I have changed, and there's no going back. I suppose I am just made up of change and changes. That's who I am :)

My Life Today

"Oh no really, I insist... Let me go out of my way to make a fool of myself. I love feeling stupid. All the time." -Me

Also, the new blogger bugs me. I can't decide if I'm flattered or creeped out that more people look at my blog than I thought. Maybe I'll hold off on the creeped out feeling for a while. And if people really are looking at my blog, I feel like they should comment. Unless you don't know me, cause that freaks me out.

In addition it's a sunny beautiful day and all I can manage to do is sneeze and glare. Customers at work were not super happy with me about that.

I had more to say about the Old Navy, but the new blogger set up made me realize that my blog is pretty much open to the world so I'll keep it to myself. And all the poor random people that get to hear me rant about Old Navy.

Anyway, I have some quality time to spend with the couch and possibly some homework.

Looking Back

I feel like the last month has gone by really quickly, and I've found myself looking back to where I was even just two months ago and honestly there's only one thing that comes to mind as I've been looking back.

Freak, I'm glad I'm not there anymore!

I think the last month has flown by mostly because I have felt happy. Now don't get me wrong, I get tired n grumpy like the rest of the world; however, comparatively speaking this last month has been exceptionally happier than the six previous ones. I still feel like I'm gaining new friendships and no longer spending quality time with my couch and Lil Heaty (who, by the way, might be on his last leg. I would cry harder [note that I say harder, not in the first place] except for the fact that he has slowly been phased out of my life. R.I.P Lil Heaty. Maybe you represent a bigger, sadder, former life that I have now left behind). Anyway, what I really mean to say is that things are looking up. I am excited for the summer and the List of Things to Do Summer 2012 (I capitalize it because it will soon be an actual document, it's in the works). I am ready to be happy full time. And to the past, once again: FREAK, I am glad I'm not there anymore! :D

A Challenge to Be

I have a professor in the eduction department that always tells us to have our students become, rather than just do a subject area. She tells us to have students be scientists if you are teaching science, to be mathematicians in math, and in English to be writers and critical readers. In my opinion this is a good way for students to learn a subject. This approach teaches children to find passion in a subject and to make connections; however, I don't think my main goal with teaching is to create writers, but to create real thinking feeling people in the classroom. Don't get me wrong, I am a proponent of reading and writing, but I would rather have a student discover something vital about themselves or the world around them than have them remember how to use a semi-colon correctly.

Often times in the public eduction system I see tests being administered and all I can think is that we are creating robots. We put information into these students and expect them to reproduce it. I don't want to create robots, the Apple store is doing enough of that on its' own. I want to create humans: critical thinking, question asking, ever wondering, discovering humans.

Sometimes I think we (teachers) forget that students still have life and they have real things to deal with. This came abruptly to my view as I was observing in a Psychology class for my clinical hours. In the course of two class periods during an opener entitled "Free Advice Friday" we discussed what one would do when faced with a degenerative hip disorder as an athlete. We also talked about how one might confront a friend who might be causing themselves bodily harm (also known as cutting). This made me wonder how we (again as teachers) are preparing students to cope with life, instead of just memorizing the parts of the brain. These instances, along with other conversations and thoughts lead me to believe that in my classroom I want to create people who can discover and think, be compassionate and self aware, as well as see beyond themselves to look through another's eyes. If they happen to learn how to properly use a semi-colon, that'd be cool too.

I Still Want to Be a Teacher?

The news in the last couple of days had me nearly convinced that I should change my profession. What with Utah wanting to pay teachers based on student performance, and three Ohio student's deaths. But then I went to a high school classroom and remembered that I really like teaching. I love what my friends term my "teaching voice." I love how lively high school students are, I once had a teacher exclaim "I love teaching high school! I get to suck the life out of you guys every day!" (Yes that was Ms. Pratt for those of you wondering). It's true though, there's an energy that can easily feed into a great learning experience. I love watching students go from "I don't know and I don't care" to "Show me more." I don't like adults, because I don't think I'm ever going to be one. Adolescents on the other hand, I'll probably relate with them until the day I die. I love that these students are so smart, they are always smarter than I am in one way or another and I look forward to learning from them daily.

So despite the fact that Utah is crappy for teaching (the English teachers at Sky View have a little poster that says "Utah: First in pavement, last in Education") and despite the fact that I was taught how to react to a student bringing a weapon to school (for instance how to position myself physically and what to say to try to keep calm) I still want to teach. So once again I return to the realization that I would love to be a teacher.

Fun Loving

Anyone else as fun loving as I am?

Chances are I'm just going to buy this album.

Feeling Bloggy

I just finished an assignment for my "Technology in the Classroom" class. It was about Podcasting. I am not a fan of podcasting. Yeah, it's cool that people can listen to you instead of read what you have to say, but there are literally ten thousand steps to get there. This is why I am revisiting my blog this fine crisp fall day. Because I love my blog and I hate podcasts.

I do have to admit that my podcast adventure did reintroduce me to something that I have been missing for a while: Poetry. I stopped and thought that for the last three years I have analyzed at least five poems a semester. This semester, on the other hand, I don't think I've even read five poems. This made me sad. I have been reading Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Berry, which has been an extraordinary adventure (and thanks to fancy new phone, it's been really easy to access). The book is a bit darker than any of the movies, but I have loved it all the same (and for those of you who already know my affinity for Peter Pan will understand how much I have loved it). I just have to highlight one word that was used that I absolutely loved, it's one of those words that feels good to say: miasma. The definition is even better: noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere. Isn't that fantastic? Anyway, I feel like I need more literature in my life as of late.

I also think I need more of this fall weather. Given the choice I'd much rather sit in a pile of dried leaves than on the computer figuring out how to make something work as an MP3 file. However, I did have the opportunity to have some time outside, and it was lovely :)

Anyway, I just thought I would share. School is good, life is good, the leaves are changing colors and I think I might go watch them fall.

Lesson Plans...

Are my life right now. My sister asked me to update my blog so she could know what was going on in my life. Well, there ya go. Lesson plans are my life. Want a taste? Well you asked for it.


Lesson Plan 19

Peer Review

Objective: To help students help each other in the writing process. This gives them a good place to start when they are reviewing and editing their papers on their own.

Standards Addressed: NCTE # 4 Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

Common Core: 11-12.W2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

1. Discuss what peer reviewing means. Go over classroom rules on respect, these rules play a role in the peer review process (10 minutes).

a. There are “compliments” and then there are better compliments for a paper.
i. A compliment: “I like the font you used”
ii. A better compliment: “The examples you used to back up your argument that Miss Watson is a hero were creative and convincing!”
b. Please refer to the rubric for the specific suggestions involving word choice, details, organization etc.
c. If you are unsure about something editorial, ask me as I will be walking around during peer reviews.

Peer Edit with Perfection!
There are three steps to good peer editing:
1. Compliment the author
• What are a few things that you liked about the author’s writing?
2. Make specific suggestions regarding the author’s. Please look over the rubric for explanations of each of these points!
• Word choice
• Use of details
• Organization
• Sentence length
• Topic
3. Mark corrections on the writing piece
• Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. (See Editing Marks)
In addition, remember to:
• Stay positive!
• Be specific!

Copyright 2004 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved. Image copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.

2. After going over the peer review etiquette, go over symbols that should be used in editing. (5 minutes)
a. Also, squiggly line underneath means the sentence or idea is confusing.

3. Have students pair up with a copy of their paper and a copy of the peer review handout. Trade papers and complete the peer review sheet. After this have students get into another pair and complete another peer review sheet. (So by the end of the class period they should have done two, and should have two for their paper) (15 minutes).

4. In the second pair have students read the paper out loud. Reading a paper out loud can help students hear mistakes that they might have missed while just reading it silently (10 minutes).

Disenchanted

dis·en·chant

[dis-en-chant, -chahnt]

verb (used with object)

to rid of or free from enchantment, illusion, credulity, etc.; disillusion: The harshness of everyday reality disenchanted him of his idealistic hopes.

— adj
	disappointed or disillusioned

This is definitely how I have been feeling lately. Mostly towards my major. Have I been wearing rose colored glasses this whole time while preparing to be a teacher? If I were to care about all of my students would my head explode? If I were to put time and effort into my teaching, would I get burned out in three short years? Not even wanting to even learn my student's names? My eyes have been opened a little bit more to everything that teachers face. Especially the politics. And it's made me think more about what I've really gotten myself into.

And the worst part?

I still want to teach.

I want to go crazy helping students understand how to express themselves. I don't want to get burned out, but I want to have expectations for my students. In essence, despite everything that is bad about teaching (the whole overworked, underpaid) I want to teach. I must be certifiable. Disillusioned and a bit disenchanted, but certifiable all the same.

A Day in the Life of Megan

So I've thought about this for a while and I've decided to invite you into a day in the life of Megan. I chose Monday, September 12.

7:30 am Roll out of bed. Literally. Eat breakfast. Put on shoes.
8:00 am Catch bus up to campus for my Aerobics class (cause yes, I'm that lazy. I'll work out, just not more than I absolutely have to).
8:15 am Sit and wait for class to start
8:30 am Aerobics. In this class my teacher has a sadistic goal: To make sure the entire class cannot move afterward. She's really good at achieving this goal.
9:20 am Hobble down the Old Main Hill to go home and change for work.
10:00am- 3:15 pm Old Navy... The smell of paint, the sound of crying children, and lots of shirts to fold.
3:15 pm-4:45 pm Eating food... Doing homework.
5:00 pm- 6:00 pm More homework
6:00 pm- 7:00 pm Relief Society Meeting
7:15 pm-9:45 pm SCED 3210 Multicultural Foundations A class that I thought only lasted two hours, but really it goes for two and a half. That last half hour really made the difference. This is also a distance education class, which means two and a half hours of staring at a screen that is supposed to be teaching me about teaching.
9:50 pm Once again hobble down Old Main Hill... Then pass out at home.

I thought Monday was funny, so welcome to a day in the life of Megan.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I have abandoned you lately. I hope you haven't taken it personally. I haven't had ready access to the internet in the past month (i.e. I haven't had internet at my residence in Logan). It doesn't mean that I don't care, it just means that on the rare occasions that I do have the internet I am bombarded by other things. Predominantly homework at this point in time. I have also continued with two jobs and this takes up a lot of time. Anyway, I still care for you blog. And I swear I will try not to abandon you as much anymore.

Much Love,

Megan Kaye

Dear UP House in Herriman, Utah

I want to see you so bad!

I love the Parade of Homes, and I wish I had been there the week it was open. Now I will just have to stalk this house the next time I am home. It even has the hose that Russel can't climb up, and the mail box that sparks the whole story. If only there was a squirrel somewhere, and Dug! Anyway, you are an adorable house and I think people are geniuses for this one act. Woot for the HBA (Home Builders Association) for putting this lovely house in Parade of Homes. Not to mention those who actually built you. My own personal pictures will follow ASAP :D

Stop. Drop. Gold. Black.

Yeah, the zip line is pretty cool.

There Must Be Something in the Air

Because once again this is happening all over facebook....

I stole this from Brooke Austin, but it's true; however, whatever is in the air is just causing me to have itchy, red eyes, sneeze ten thousand times in a day, and have a scratchy throat. I guess pollen isn't the only thing I'm allergic to.

Happy Thoughts

Apparently they lift you into the air. I think Peter Pan was right. Happy thoughts are the best. My day started out with a happy thought and the happy thoughts just kept rolling. We'll share this in a list :)

I was making my lunch this morning (good old PB&J) and I immediately thought of my mother. Somehow at some point, whether by my request or my mothers offer, the idea of just having jam on bread was born. My mom and I called it just jam. I remember her asking me if I'd like PB&J or Just Jam, and usually I would say Just Jam cause it was the best homemade strawberry jam that anyone could ever ask for. I loved it. To this day I don't think anything can top Just Jam. Thank you Mother dearest for giving me just what I want-always :)

At Old Navy this morning I was working at the register. When on the register you usually have to multi-task. As you're ringing people up, you also have to greet the customers coming in as well as acknowledge the customers who are leaving. So, I'm ringing up a lady and she has two very cute kids. During the transaction a couple people leave, and I say "Thanks for coming in guys" and the cute boy who belonged to the woman I was checking out enthusiastically says... "You're Welcome!" This happened twice before the transaction was over. He was adorable, and extremely polite.

Ropes Course. (If you didn't notice my life kinda revolves around work). Anyway, today we were doing more building. Thirty feet in the air. With power tools. Now I figure most of you wouldn't believe me so I made someone take a picture. It's a small phone picture, but photographic proof of what I actually do. So enjoy. (The happy thought for this is that I didn't descend quickly [we're not supposed to say 'fall' or we have to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" for all to hear] and I didn't drop anything on anyone. Successful day at the ropes course).

Please disregard how fat the harness makes me look... We have to keep them tight or it becomes very uncomfortable very quickly.

From there we went straight to campus where we learned how to set up a thirty foot movie screen. We then proceeded to watch Tangled and then learned how to take the screen down. In the dark. It was a very good time, enjoyed by all :)

So despite my back hurting a lot (don't worry I've got ice and hot pads) today has been a very long and very successful day and I am excited for the rest of my summer :D

Summer 2011

So far I'm not entirely sure how to go about describing my summer. I really wish I had access to all the pictures we have taken up to this point, but alas... I do not (BUT one of my goals is to get my own camera and document my adventures).

I already wrote a list about what I've learned (and yes Mindy, we learned how to put a helmet on properly so if you descend quickly and happen to land on your head, it actually does its job instead of sliding off for you to crack your head open). And the only other way I can think of is pictures... So my dear reader I think you will just have to wait and see.

Also, today I took my car into the shop. At approximately 10:00 am today I should have a car with a fully functioning driver's side door, AC, windows that roll down, a left front blinker, a rear-view mirror, and a host of other random small things. I am pretty freaking excited :)

Dear Chocolate Milk,

Thank you for spewing violently out of my nose and mouth. It made for a lovely display, and a horrific choking noise. Also kudos to my roommate for the perfectly timed crazy eyes and fancy new way of saying "Patriotic." Who likes a boring Sunday night anyway? Not me.

Oh Yeah...

This is what I will be doing this summer :)

Click here to see more sweet awesome pictures!

Also, I'm kind of pretty excited.