Who teaches who?

Well Ladies and Gents,
It is week 4 of the Student Teaching... So far I have not quit ;), have not killed any students, or any of my coworkers. But I have had my first parent call me and talk to me about their daughter. I was scared shitless when i called her back, even though there was no problem at all. We ended up having a meeting because she wanted to meet me, and she wanted to make sure I understood the problems that her daughter had...Well I survived it, and it was great! I gave my first test this week, most kids averaged between a 70 - 80 % on the multiple choice...jajajaja...and 6 essays in I have already failed 3 of the kids! UMMMMM So I hate grading essays. Note to all of you who want to be awesome writters...just grade some essays and you will learn more about writting then you ever wanted to know. I think that was my biggest problem was I was reading and I did not know what to look for. I wish I did something like this at the beginning of my college career, because it would have helped me with my writting so much.
Let see what else was new... It is really funny because the two classes that I thought were going to suck at the beginning of the year, right now are my favorite ones. Even though they are a bit more quite, they work hard and dont talk back! As for my last class of the day it is pretty rough. Most of the kids do not care because it is the last class of the day, or they simply do not want to be there. I have a girl who wont even look at me because I'm the devil of the world, and another one who can only say negitive things about life! jajaja But you know I talked with my teacher today and figured out how I can deal with the class. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a brighter shade to the situation. My favorite part of the job is the grade book! lol it is so much fun watching the grades go up and down...;) Just kidding my favorite part and my most dreaded part of the job are the kids.
Even though there are some bad kids, there are some really cool kids in the classroom. It is amazing when you show that you care, the kids do alot better. There were a few kids in my classes I saw that they were not doing any work, and I talked with them and asked them what was up. I said," hey I see you are smart why arnt you doing the work?" and they were like uhhhhh.... I told them "hey you are here just participate, it will make your time go by much faster" It was funny something as simple as that had an impact on some of the kids.
There is also another student who is just a lazy little bastard! I have to yell at him to do anything in the class, but I think I finally got him to wake up. Today we were talking about history for 30 minutes! jajaj! ya that is big! And even though he still has a 58 in the class, I hope to see that move up, to at least a C before the end of the semester!
It is funny, people say if you cant do anything be a teacher...who ever said that was a complete idiot! This is the most tiering job ever! But it is awesome and I would not change it for anything.
There are some stupid things. For instance the school curriculum. They lay out everything for you to teach. Which makes it really tough. I mean I have to teach 600 years to the students this semster about the entire world! I think in College If I had a class on 600 years of history it was over just one country! Shit my final class was only over one year! I just realized that I hate the way our schools are set up. There is no accountability for the students and it really drains the creativity out of the teachers. There could be so many cooler things I could be teaching the students, and they would actually probably retain that stuff, rather I have to waist days and teach things like the Columbian Exchange....Ya that is not about drugs...I was dissapointed ;).
As for me and life, things are getting better at home, you know still crowded in the house, still always tierd when I get home but I'm surviving. Found a Lost friend, but we are only on season one right now. Finished a big project ;). And I'm still working on my TEFL! OOOOO I went Ice climbing for the first time last weekend, it was pretty sick! I cant wait to go back. I had so much fun and enjoyed it so much!
Well I hope all of you are doing great, and I'll catch you soon.
JeFf

PANTS!

OK, So I tried yet again to wear my pants all the way up today....Not going to happen! I feel so awkward in my classroom with these thong jeans on! So I just thought I would let all of you out there know...who give me crap for wearing my pants on my butt that I tried...and it didn't work! :)
Have a good 3 day weekend all
Tchüß

WOA WEA

Well ladies and Gents,
I am past the one week of teaching full time, and I love it! I have to say that first week is quite stressful with all the added things that you do not learn in your classes. They really need to give us a class or two on like how to make announcements, grade books, organization of classes and stuff like that! I could teach and plan fine, its you know the other 60% of the job that took a bit to get use to. I'm really glad I have my teacher that I do, he has a lot of great information. We also can talk pretty much about anything so it works out really well. I just finished up teaching my first chapter, and I'm about to begin my second. I have my First quiz tomorrow, and then shortly after my first test a week from Monday! The grade book is starting to fill up and the good times are starting to roll!
As for my classes, I'm really beginning to build relationships with some of my students. This is making the time go a lot faster, and making class a bit more enjoyable. The kids can definitely tell that I'm a fun loving teacher, but if they cross my bad side I'm a pretty harsh teacher. Today we played a game in all my classes to review one of my readings on Martin Luther. It was great because all of the classes did it, even my 3rd period class which can hardly speak in class. We are about to move on to Exploration!
Lol today I was asking my teacher which chapters I could cut out to get to World War One and Two faster! I have so many Ideas. I cant wait to get more Star Wars into my classroom. I have an idea already for World War II, and am still looking for more. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. Also some great movies I can not wait to use, La Vida de Bella and all quiet on the wester front :-). Also I can finally use my huge NAZI book collection I have! oh its like all my dreams have come true! I can teach little kids about Nazis! lol ;) that one is for you Abbey. Na This semester should be great and I'm looking forward to it all.
As for life on the home front, things have still ben a bit rough. But I got a few phone calls to cheer me up so, you know who you are, but thanks for those! As for now I'm going to be working on my car a bit...yes the hyperdrive is out again...fucking Falcon! For those of you wondering about my computer...yes it has about 20 lines on the screen now, but it is still pumping along. But good news I get a 10% discount on apple computers because I'm a teacher! yay!
I have been working on my TEFL class, but I have been sidetracked a bit do to a language program, lol so I have started learning Italian and German! haha ya why do one at a time when you can do 2! But the program is great, and addicting.
And for the final news, the best of all, SNOWBOARDING this weekend prey for snow, which I think there is going to be a lot of...SUPER B SIDE!!!! :) Hope all is well with everyone.
Ciao

First Week!

Well, As of today I have taught more classes then I have in all of my previous steps put together! So far it is not to bad. Yesterday I felt weird because I had to make the students read and I was just sitting up front looking at them...Awkward. Today we worked with some music and a hand out. It is funny how cool these kids are! Some of them are just way to cool to get evolved! But for the most part, all of the kids are great. I have a lot of intelligent kids in my classroom.
You know I have found that so far teaching and the planning have not been the hardest part of the change here. It really feels natural to be in the classroom and teaching the students, it is really great. I think the hardest part for me so far is the change back home. Not because my parents irritate me, but because I do not have all the same faces around me that I have had for a long time! So if I seem a little more sentimental to you all and full of love, that is why, just because I miss you all that have made my life so awesome the past few years! It is also weird to get in to the habit of a full time job...I mean Copper just had 25 inches of snow in the past two days...I really really want to call in sick tomorrow! But I cant :(. But it is great, I have been learning so much. And for all of you who have been there for me in the past few years I am making you a present of some of our great memories.
Even though it has been a bit tough this week, I have somehow learned even more about myself! I think this change will help me strengthen my independence a bit more, let me to take action when I get into a new situation. I'm just really excited for the next few months...Though there is one bumming factor, I was going to try and go to Europe with some of the foreign language classes, but they went last year, and they only go ever other year. So unless I go with the English department...I will have to wait till summer!
But, I get to go to a dance, the first time in 4 years! OHHH YEA. Feb. 7th 930 -11 Fiesta time. And also i'm excited beacuse I get to be an assistant coach or help guy, I dont know what my title is, for the Men's swim team! wooohoo.
Well hope all is grand for all you,
Catch you on the flipside

First days of School!

Well I thought I would finally start one of these because I keep getting more and more emails asking whats happening!

Over break I signed up for my TEFL class! Hopefully within the next six months I will be able to spell and teach English! HA! Like that will ever happen! But seriously I'm so excited because it is the first step to the future.

I started at my School yesterday. I'm at my old high school, Columbine High School. Yesterday we had a teachers meeting and just planning time. During the meeting I was introduced, and I think it was pretty funny because you could see some of my old teachers shaking there head and thinking oh shit he passed school! haha But the day really sucked though! I started off so excited and by the end of it I was thinking oh shit what did I get myself into! Thankfully I got a call from a good buddy telling me he was just and shocked from the first day, so that helped a bit! But after a long night of preparing nothing, sitting, waiting, and wishing. And I went to bed at 10:15!!!! That is the earliest time in like a year! As most of you know I am a nerd so I prepared my self for my first day of teaching by falling asleep to Star Wars ;-). Best idea ever!

As for today it was a good day on the most part. My teacher and I are a bit different in our ways of teaching, so we clash on ideas sometimes. Also I'm really excited to start teaching and take over everything so it is a bit hard waiting and watching him teach. But I was able to teach 2 out of the 4 classes today, and the first one was a bit shaky, but the last one went really well. I kicked some ass! But so far I'm still happy I am a teacher...so far... ;).