Has It Really Been 3 Weeks Already?

Greetings!

(I've added photos to my previous blogs so check them out!)

The past three weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of excitement, adventure, fun, and of course, learning!

This week at Swanson, my class began preparing for our newspaper project by doing a few introductory activities. My teaching of this unit has evolved immensly due to the feedback I get from my students on a daily basis. I realize what they need more or less of and go from there. Right now, I am teaching lessons on formating, language, and content of reports. From there we will move into construction of their own reports then put them into the final format. It is a challenging project, but I think it is realistic, worthwhile, and very meaningful and fun for the students! I love how it perfectly encompasses our reading theme (Current Events/News) and writing theme (Report Writing) for Term 4.

Also, due to rain cancelling our two, hour and a half long Athletic blocks, most of my nicely organized lesson plans for the week somewhat "hit the rubbish bin" by Tuesday as we had to restructure our plans almost daily. I found that I followed my plans for Monday, some of Tuesday, and then none of the rest of the week because things had shifted around so much. Now, don't get the wrong idea...it was still very worthwhile to write them because it gave me an idea of what our focuses would be and a basis for my teaching, but I found that instead of following an exact schedule for each block, I pulled stuff from all over the week into how it would best fit for each day and block of time. Funny enough though, things ended up turning out even better than I could have planned for. We got quite a bit accomplished in the realms of reading, writing, and especially music. As for music, I think our concert will turn out to be magnificent! The students are very quick learners on the recorder...I am amazed by how fast they have been able to pick it up! Science is also going well. We continue to do experiments with light, sound, and energy. Next week will focus particularily on light. After we finish with the basics of these themes in the next few weeks, the students will be doing an inquiry project and presentation for the class on a science topic of their choice.

Next week I already begin full control! I cannot believe how quickly I have taken over. As my cooperating teacher says, "Sometimes it is best just to dive head first into the deep end...you'll learn to swim as you go!" This has certainly been true. It was definitely not all rainbows and butterflies the first few times I was up in front of my class. Instead, those butterflies were swirling around in my stomach! I was very uneasy and unsure, but I quickly got the hang of it. I had to. I had a room of 25 9-year-olds eyeing me up, ready to see what I was like as a teacher and what I would excpect/tolerate from them in return. I had to just bite the bullet and go for it! Did I struggle? Oh yes. Did I have failures? Definitely, and will continue to have them so long as I am a teacher...it's unavoidable. Am I still here? Yes. Life goes on! Did I have fun? Absolutely, that I why am in in this profession in the first place! It hasn't been easy, but it has been very rewarding and I learn so much everyday.

On the outside of school agenda, a lot has been happening as well! Yesterday Rachel took us for a hike over near Bethels. It was a bit muddy, but still a lot of fun! Laura and I have also booked a flight for a weekend trip to to Wellington, New Zealand's capital. We will be going in roughly 2 weeks. We also booked a daytrip with Kiwi Experience to Milford Sound which will take place while we are in Queenstown at the end of our stay in New Zealand. Additionally we are planning to go on a 3-hour Black Water Rafting Adventure at the Waitomo Caves next weekend. For all of you who would like to see what craziness we will be up to, check out this link! :) http://www.waitomo.com/Default.aspx?DN=71783eda-ea40-4e6e-b0d3-9c8346d8719c
In addition, other weekend shenanigans will include a daytrip to Waiheke Island where we will rent mopeds and zoom around the beaches, vineyards/wineries, and landscapes (hehe) and also a trip to Rotorua in the beginning of December with Jan and Cory where we will be renting a cabin and trying out some of the following wacky New Zealand inventions: Zorbing, Off-roading on 4-wheelers, Lugeing, etc. We'll see as it gets closer!

Up and coming this weekend though, we are going to take it fairly easy. Saturday will include a scenic drive, lookouts, and maybe a beach with Jan and Cory and Sunday Laura and I will be climbing Rangitoto (a volcanic island off the coast of Auckland) with Rachel. Supposedly it has been dormant for about 400 years so breath easy, Mom! :)

I think that is all for now...until next time! Have a great weekend everyone!