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.

What Happens in Nevada...

Ends up on my blog.

This past week I had my first ever out of state Spring Break Adventure, which is kinda sad considering I'm a senior in college. I guess better late than never. Anyway, I went to the illustrious town of Panaca, Nevada. Never heard of it? Odd... Well it is a quaint town about an hour Southwest of Cedar City. Still not sure where it is? That's ok, suffice it to say it's small (Population of 4016, Elevation 1000 according to Gwen). This was definitely a magical place where time does weird things and phones (at least T-mobile phones) cease to function. You are probably begging for some highlights at this point so I will gladly oblige. How will I do this? A list of course!

Day 1

The drive up was definitely excellent, full of stimulating conversation and bunnies.

"You have really straight teeth for not having braces. You also have a really nice gum line" -Preston

"Scipio!? I think there is a petting zoo at scipio... or a gas station. I'm pretty sure it's a petting zoo though." -Preston

"Hey Dad, we made it to Arizona." -Me
"I thought you were going to Nevada?" -My Dad
"Oh, yeah. We made it to that one." -Me

Hiking was a big part of this trip. We spent the vast majority of Monday in the car and then at Cathedral Gorge where we climbed over, through, and around dried mud piles.

"I've just got these bodacious hips!" -Amy

Day 2

"What time is it? My phone doesn't know." -Me

Pioche, which sounds like a swear.

"Stop your piochin'."
"You're such a Pioche!"
"Ok, I should probably stop saying that cause it really does sound like a swear word" -Preston

We found a couple little shops that were fun to look around. Most of them had a lot of weird porcelain dolls.

"There's a girl in our ward who collects coke bottles" -Preston
"Uh... Yup" -Me

"'Paradise Found.' Are they quoting something or is it a joke?" -Gwen

"I still don't know what time it is... It's driving me crazy!" -Me

"Carol Mathews" -Preston
"What?" -Me
"Carol Mathews"
"What...?"
"CAROL... MATHEWS"
"What!?"
"She owns the bed and breakfast..."

The Drive home was mostly a compilation of repeating CD's over and over again, as well as a pit stop in Richfield, Ut. Overall this was a great trip. If I get more technologically advanced in the next few weeks I will post pictures (along with the fact that I will have to steal them off of someone else's computer). I hope you enjoyed the recap of the trip as much as I enjoyed writing it. Have a great day!

More Stuff From My Head

Again, I've thought of too many things in one day that I figure I should write down. The only medium I can think of to get my thoughts out there? A list! On my blog of course. You knew it was coming.

Cars are so annoying; however, parents are the greatest thing that were ever created. Especially when your car breaks down again and all you can think to do is call and cry to them about the fact that you hate cars, and then they tell you everything is going to be all right and they will help pay for the second clutch your car needs after only a two year old one breaks. Parents are the greatest, mine are the greatest of the great.

I'm a kid, and I like kid kind of explanations. For instances, a seven-year-old explains love this way: "'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." I think that is great :D

Things really do work out. Doesn't matter how much you stress about any given thing, they always work out well. I've been doing a lot of the "what if-ing" this week and suddenly I had the thought "Yeah, and what if the sky fell right on top of my head right now!?" and then I stopped playing that game because I know things are going to work out just the way they are supposed to. Having that knowledge is really helpful, even though I forget it all the time, it's good to know.

Generally, life is good. Regardless of missing class, and not feeling well for a couple days, turns out life is still great.

I'm happy to report happiness. I have good friends and the amazing opportunity to live, learn and grow. I think it's great.

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.

Enjoyment Deferred

For a while now I have just thought that I have been in a point in life where I would simply have to accept the fact that, for a moment, enjoyment was being deferred. I figured that I would have to enjoy life when this period was over. It's been this way for longer than I am willing to admit; however, I think this mind-set has come to and end. Don't get me wrong, I have had great enjoyment in the past year and a half. So many great things have happened, but I've just felt like I've been in a rut. Happiness has eluded me, at least lasting happiness.

I am happy to say that I think this rut has ended. The last week my face has hurt from how much I've laughed and smiled, I've met lots of new people, explored forgotten joys, and continued new ones. I think I am scared and excited for this :) Stay tuned for the happier adventures of my life of enjoyment.

Fun Loving

Anyone else as fun loving as I am?

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

Montage

So I think I've had a lot of thoughts rolling around in my head and I have no better way of getting them out than on my blog, and in a list. So here is a montage of my thoughts in the last couple weeks (don't worry, it's better than my rant from my last post).

Sometimes the two hour drive home is just what the doctor ordered. Good music, time to think, and almost a detox. It had a very calming effect and I'm glad I went home for my dad's birthday.

Wall-E. Yes I'm talking about the Disney movie that is about a little robot. The main thought I had: Wall-E just wants to hold Eva's hand. All Eva cares about is her "directive." It's not until after Wall-E seems to be broken beyond repair that Eva realizes that she is missing out on getting to know a great little robot, and she's especially missing out on holding this little guy's hand... er metal plates that act as hands. Anyway, moral of that story is that you really don't know what you have until it gets slightly crushed and beaten and then reverts back to the manufacturers drone without a personality. Don't take things for granted.

The best singers in my mind all have enormous mouths. Case in point:
Bon Jovi (Ok, his mouth isn't really that big, but whenever I think of big mouthed singers his name still comes to mind).
Steven Tyler (Who legitimately has the biggest mouth I have ever seen).
Nate Ruess (Lead singer of Fun [formerly known as lead singer of The Format] whom I may or may not have a big crush on after listening to their album "Some Nights").

It's better to look up. This is a talk from the October 2011 General Conference. It can be found in its' entirety here (and I highly recommend you read the whole thing) but in essence it discusses how we should look towards God in all things. I like it immensely.

Socializing (in any form of the word) = Exhaustion.

Waiting to hear back about a job interview = Exhaustion.

Chocolate Milk. Probably the best thing that anyone ever thought of. I think that's all I had yesterday just for lack of anything better to consume.

I kind of like clothes. This new realization almost goes against my whole being; however, I'll admit it. I have a thing for clothing. As of late if I like something I want to buy it in every color.

I'm sure there is more rolling around my head, but I think this list is sufficient for now. I hope your Friday is great!