The End July 16, 2008

So here are just some thoughts I would like to share about the MAT 2008 summer session and the fine people I spent so much time with. 

Don, Dennis, and Willie: The 3 musketeers.  It was almost shocking that I didn’t have Patti nor Deb for a class during the summer.  I’ve only had Don once as a teacher and that was a few years back.  You men teach much differently too! All three classes were interesting, sometimes fun, sometimes I wanted to bang my head against a wall in frustration, but for the most part I enjoyed them immensely.

Josh: You crack me up.  I love how you are a bit reserved, but freaking hilarious. 

Richard: I’ll just say it, sometimes I didn’t know what the heck you were saying, but I’m glad you are as rad as you are.

Sara: Smarty pants McGee.  I’m glad I finally got to catch a glimpse of your personality.  We never really got to know each other in our other ed classes, which is unfortunate.  You are also quite hilarious.

Johnna: I’ve always thought you were a bit crazy, but I’m so glad you are doing the MAT.  Crazy knees…

Blake: I learned a few things about you that were shocking, but I’m glad I got to take you to Mickey D’s on your bday and buy you lunch.  You are a hoot.

Michael: I don’t even know, thanks for being so neat.  You are a kick in the pants.

Jamie: I’m so bummed that I didn’t get to know you more in the Spring.  I was a little put-off by you until this class, but now that I know you more I’m loving it! You are so rad and I love giving you crap!!!

Aimee: hey sister, soul sister….you know the rest.  What can I say? We are completely and utterly the same but different. If that makes any sense.  I love ya for who you are and you make me laugh….almost too much!!!

So I guess this was a little like a year book signing, and I know we’ll be working together for the entire next year.  I’m just glad it is you guys.   Have a great rest of your summer.

July 14, 2008

video? July 14, 2008

WEEKEND FUN!!! July 9, 2008

So this weekend I went on the annual Trail Ride that the 4-H group that I grew up with puts on every year.  Right after class on Thursday I went home, packed up, picked up Jacob, and we headed for the hills.  This trip is the trip that I have to go on every year because I’ve been doing so since I was a newborn…except for the two years that they cancelled it due to fire danger, and then another for too much snow. SO it is basically the best and most fun camping trip I go on all year.  Usually I take a horse up to ride the trails with everyone else, but since I’ve been in summer school, I didn’t have the opportunity to condition any horse to take up, so Jacob and I hoofed it with the riders for 4 1/2 hours one day and then 4 the next day.  I am still so tired and sore because it was all over the mountains. BUT IT WAS AMAZING!  So that is the jist of my weekend. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how to do that.

I’m Melting… July 8, 2008

It is getting hot…and its even hotter when you’re outside.

4th of july weekend July 7, 2008

So the busiest week of the Summer session is over and I celebrated in style. I took my boyfriend to the Vale 4th of July rodeo, drank overpriced coors lights, and watched cowboys and girls compete for money and rodeo titles. I saw many people that I knew from high school, all of them congregating in the beer garden, but I wore my oversized and limo-tinted sunglasses so I didn’t have to deal with the repetitive conversations of “HEY HOW ARE YOU WHAT ARE YOU DOING HOWS LIFE YOU MARRIED GOT KIDS? BLAHBLAHBLAH?!?!” Yeah I think it’s really obnoxious to catch up with people who you weren’t really friends with in the first place and don’t really give a darn anyway…..sounds pessimistic but I’m just being realistic. Although I did see my best guy friend from high school, in which I gave him a hug and rushed off, scared that someone would recognize my very loud and excited squeels and wonder if Jennifer Phillips really was in the beer garden. My favorite part of the rodeo was introducing Jacob to my second family, which is the 4H group that I showed horses in. We are called the cactus riders and, 4 out of the 12 months of the year, they were my everything. This week is actually the biggest week for the group because they are heading out to the mountains for their annual trail ride. I’ve gone on this trip since I was born, except for the 2 years that they cancelled it due to fire and snow. SO I’m heading out Thursday after class for that.

The rest of my weekend was AMAZING and for some reason, felt like it was lasting forever (Which is such a good feeling) Jacob and I went and swam at Lake Lowell on Friday, then went to the fireworks show in Caldwell at Simplot Stadium (which was amazing) And I almost blew my hand up afterwards because I lit black jacks in my hand….and for some reason I was holding the fuse…but they weren’t just any black jacks, they exploded and shot fireworks in all different directions. I’m lucky to have a hand today. We then rafted the Boise river on Saturday, headed to a wedding in New Plymouth that night and then to Saddles ‘n Spurs in Ontario, and finally yesterday we made dinner for his family. All in all it was a fabulous summery 4th of July weekend.

I’m getting excited for the summer term to come to an end. I will be excited to sleep in and enjoy the sun a little more than I have, although I feel like I’ve taken every opportunity to enjoy it when I can over the weekends. Jacob and I are also planning a big hoorah camping trip with a ton of friends after summer session is over, so I’m looking forward to that…and spending some time on the farm. I will miss everyone though….a little bit.

can anyone share their motivation? June 29, 2008

I have been pretty good so far about not allowing myself to have much fun because of all the work I must complete for school….THEN COMES THE BIGGEST WEEK OF SUMMER SCHOOL…..and instead of studying, reading, and writing as much as I should have, (don’t worry, i’ve been doing a fair amount) I went and floated the boise river!! yay me!!  It actually was good because it helped me absorb all of the information that I have been studying for this week.  So now, I’m back doing some last minute note skims before taking the big mid term….

The point of this blog was to say that, because the weather is getting hotter, I would much rather be outside enjoying it. Don’t you?  But hence, we have school.  I keep telling myself….3 more weeks…3 more weeks….I just need to maintain summer motivation for 3 more weeks….

Hodge Podge Of Thoughts June 26, 2008

OK I have to start with this.  Jamie and I had a lengthy discussion yesterday after class and before the BBQ about how I’m a wuss.  It was a discussion about my personal life and how I should fight for what I want, not what other people want of me.  Make any sense?  THEN I had a dream last night that the ball and chain I want to shake proposed with a hideous ring and then I caught him cheating on me.  Vision of the future?  Ugh, gross. (no offense)

Next thought – I didn’t speak up to talk about my favorite teacher today during class, but its because it probably would have made me emotional. Her name was Mrs. Mc’D'Roe and she was my 5th grade teacher.  She scared the crap out of me the first day because she gave the class a day long lecture about how she was so strict and the toughest disciplinarian.  We were all “shaking in our boots” basically.  Then she turned out to be so dedicated to her students.  I received straight A’s all year and participated in TAG (or G&T) AND we were also secret pen pals.  We also connected on this strange personal note because her father and my mother were very sick during that year and I remember one occasion where we were both crying in the middle of class.  Weird? Perhaps, but I knew she cared and was an actual person outside of class.  Over the years we lost touch, although I was a peer tutor for her in high school.  Now she has remarried and changed her name to Mrs. Takeshida. 

Next thought: Today during class we talked about being excited to teach in the fall.  I, too, am very excited to teach in the fall, but for some reason I freaked myself out.  Will the kids respect me? Will they listen to me? Will they do what I say? Will they learn anything from me? Will they walk all over me?  This is contradictory to my usual outlook on teaching, but until I get into the classroom and realize that everything will be ok, I WILL have these random anxiety attacks.

So, this weekend I need to go grocery shopping. Yay, spend more money. And rent is due next week. Oh and utilities.  I’m taking my grandmother shopping for new clothes tomorrow.  My sister is getting married next month so we’ll probably buy outfits for that.  THEN I’m going to write, write, study, write, study, study, study, and write for the rest of the weekend.  Blake said something yesterday about penciling in fun time rather than penciling in homework time.  It is going to consume me for the next week.  BUT GOOD NEWS!! My bosses are taking vacation time for the next two weeks so I don’t have to work!!! SO I will be broke, but on vacation.  And it is the 4th of July and the 4th of July Rodeo is next weekend.  So hot cowboys, here I come!

Math has debunked me…is it friday yet? June 25, 2008

Question…

Why have we covered at least 1 1/2 years worth of statistics in 2 class periods? BECAUSE WE’RE GRAD STUDENTS!!  I just need to keep reminding myself that we are all a unique breed of students who have enough intelligence handed to us in the centerfold of our diploma case to help us conquer ANYTHING pertaining to new knowledge.  I can do this. I will do this. I will understand the t tests, 1-2 tailed tests, and inferential stats and blahdy blah blah.

These lessons just solidified the notion that I will be conducting qualitative research and if I do include quantitative research, I will simplify it for the comprehension of a 2 year old. YAY ME! OH, I do understand the errors of research studies.  FART

Join me after class and before the BBQ for a few drinks….

sicky puppy June 23, 2008

I believe that I have narrowed my thesis down a bit.  I’m sticking with the main construct of dropping out, but I’m going to approach that construct through factors such as labeling, tracking, and retaining students.  I have researched and discovered that all three of these factors are contributors of stigmatizing and ostrasizing students, who have higher likelihoods of dropping out. 

AND, I just want to apologize to everyone for randomly leaving class today. I still feel pretty fabulous as before, so if I don’t make it to class you all know why. 

 

p.s. I want a dog.