I’ve been grounded…. June 21, 2008

Since I’ve started the MAT, it has been all I can think about. My life began to revolve around it some 2 weeks ago. I’m constantly looking for research, doing homework and readings for class, formulating my own opinions about topics we discuss, getting to know my cohort, and even grocery shopping for foods that I think would be great to take to class. In all that I’ve done, its been about the MAT. Well, I forgot that when I usually get absorbed in one part of my life and forget about the rest, something happens to ground me. An event, a person, anything usually comes along just when I think nothing would to make me realize there is more to life then just me and what I’m doing. You see, I have a large family, and with large families comes problems. I’ve had sibling fights, disagreements with my father, and I’ve wanted to lock my sister’s kids in a closet, but in the end we all love one another and have to realize that this life is short and it shouldn’t be wasted on the material, the menial, or the trivial. So we’ve all put our differences and lives aside because my grandfather is dying.

A few years ago my maternal grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer. All but 2 of his 8 siblings have died from cancer or will die from cancer. He is currently the last of three and the oldest remaining sibling. Recently grandpa started some pretty intense radiation treatments that have burned his stomach so badly, he hasn’t eaten in weeks and has lost almost 50 pounds. He is skin and bones. I like to describe his personality as an old cowboy. He loves watching westerns. He used to train horses, hunt, fish, and snowmobile throughout Idaho’s forests. Now he is bedridden, too weak to get out of bed from lack of proper nourishment. His 64th wedding anniversary is next month, July 29th, with my grandmother Margaret. They were married the day after she turned 18 against her mother’s advice and discouragement.

So last week, the family came together. It seemed like it had been ages since I’ve seen everyone in the same household. Great grandkids were running around hollaring, us grandkids were visiting with grandpa and helping grandma, and my father was contacting hospice because we realize his final days are approaching. He doesn’t want to go to the hospital anymore because that is not how he wants to live. Our duty as family is to keep him comfortable, painfree, and happy.

I’m worrying about my grandmother. I went and stayed the night at their house Thursday night since we did not have class Friday. Having someone at the house helps grandma to keep up with the hectic medication schedule as well as maintaining her sanity and health. I took over food from Orphan Annies and if I hadn’t, she said all she was going to have for dinner was cottage cheese….I don’t care what anyone else says about cottage cheese and fruit because I know they are nutritional. You can’t live off of it. I grocery shopped for her and I promised to take her out for some new clothes next week. (She claimed all of her clothes were ancient and she needed some sprucing up) We watched some western movies on the TV and I dusted her surfaces and fine things.

SO, I have a lot of homework this weekend and coming week with the literature review coming up. I’m not stressed though because I was with my grandmother when the social worker came by and discussed options for my grandpa’s living will. I have so much reading to do tomorrow before the week starts, but I will get it done without becoming anxious about any quiz because I gave my grandfather a sponge bath. I have to find a way to pay for summer school, but I will do so with grace, because there are more important things to worry about.

I’m writing about this not to make anyone sad or feel sorry for me, my grandfather, or my family. I’m writing this for myself, so that I can look back later and read this and recognize that during times of stress in the classroom, or when I am completely oblivious to anything but me, there are more important things in life. We just have to recognize what they are before its too late.

p.s. please don’t respond to this blog

slide show anyone? June 19, 2008

Inspire Me June 19, 2008

webquest June 18, 2008

just when I think I’m about done…….

WHAM. I’m not.

“Be The Change You Wish To See In The World” – Mahatma Ghandi June 17, 2008

So the title to this blog sums up the speaker we had to day. And when I say speaker I mean the Mayor of Caldwell Idaho, Mr Garrett Nancolas.  I could tell right from the start that he had tremendous public speaking qualities.  He rambled off some pithy quotes  and poems that tied his complete message together about his concepts of leadership, ABCx3.  I recognized his face in the beginning and he claimed he knew me from somewhere.  I work at the popular mom and pop restaurant Orphan Annie’s here in Caldwell, and I am very fortunate to engage in discussions with people in legislation, such as Senator John McGhee, Mayor Nancolas, and even Sheriff Smith who always come in for a bite at the end of their long days.  (I’m telling you guys, Orphan Annie’s is a great place with delicious food, great service, live music on the weekends, and a FULL BAR!!! I work there during the week but spend many weekend nights as a barfly listening to live music and laughing at drunk people. (Well, not every weekend, so don’t think I’m an alcoholic please)

Back to Mayor Nancolas!! I thought he was really great. Really really great.  He had fabulous insight into how leadership helps create change, even if the change we want is far-fetched and hard to obtain.  I appreciated his explanation of his grassroots development of downtown and filling us in about the extent of change that is occurring.  I also think it is fabulous about what he is planning for parks and recreation here in the caldwell area.  I know that right now, I don’t utilize parks as much as I should, but I know that if facilities are implemented all over the area, my likelihood, and I’m sure as well as others’, will increase with that.

SO my friends, you be the change you wish to see happen.  We can do it!

Lead Teacher June 16, 2008

So it has been a while since I’ve contacted my lead teacher for next year…. Let me just give you a quick synopsis about her. Her name is Kathy Vadapalli, she is married to the son of a man who used to ref me throughout my soccer playing years. (Small world) She is one of the fourth grade teachers at Van Buren Elementary school here in Caldwell and she is, in a few words, one of the most fabulous teachers I have encountered. She is certified and was originally a Title I teacher, making her the best candidate to teach the lower level math learners and readers for all the fourth graders. Both reading and math are leveled at each grade. Students are integrated into their own classes during fun reading and math activities. She is so great with her kids and I am very excited to work with her. It is also her first time having an intern/student teacher so this will be a tremendous learning experience for both of us.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m about ready to be in the classroom teaching already.

May I Please Have the master’s thesis with a side of literacy review?? and please hold the tantrums, stress, anxiety, and late nights…. June 15, 2008

So I think I just got a fantastic opportunity! I think I will continue to pursue a thesis that has to do with the increasing national drop out rates and decreasing graduation rates….We’re around 70% graduation rates here!!! I emailed all of the people I hold in the highest regards when it comes to my academia and received some annoyed responses as well as some fabulous ones. Dora G forwarded my email about my idea on to LeAnn Simmons of United Way who turned around and invited me to the Drop Out Summit in January of 2009 hosted by Nampa Mayor Tom Dale. She even invited me to be part of the planning committee for the event. What a door of opportunity!

I was a little stressed over the weekend about whether or not I was going to pursue this research topic, but now that I have these opportunities my first thought is, “how can I pass this up?!” I know that our research must remain objective and not “prove” anything, in which I have no objection or problem with that. I have researched extremely heated topics, such as the wolf reintroduction to Idaho and new legislation to control the growing wolf population. It was very difficult to remain objective, especially when attending public hearings and listening to rather uneducated and emotionally drawn out testimonies. Yet I maintained an objective stance…(at least until my work was published)

SO I will pursue this topic, even if someone tries to interject that it won’t work for some reason. If I become part of this process, I will have a hand in potentially increasing the life chances of our future generations of students, who will one day lead our country, teach my children, and take care of my old butt when the time comes. I just really really really hope I can help make that difference, keep kids in school, and increase graduation rates exponentially with my research and contribution.

Response to Kurdy speakers June 13, 2008

I believe I will jump on the bandwagon with my class when I say that the Kurdy duo were fantastic people.  From an all around point of view, they are really caring and hardworking people.  We need more people like them in the teaching realm.  Their advice on leadership was particularly and I felt like they settled many concerns I had about teaching.

Kali talked about delayed gratification, in which we will be teachers whose students will not realize the result of our teaching until much later.  Other relevant advice that I will carry with me is not to wear my emotions on my sleeve, because students can sense mood changes and behavior and will transition their behavior and achievement accordingly.  What I think will be most challenging when dealing with this subject is that when I am in a bad mood, it will be very difficult to ACT like I’m having a good time.  I remember all of my elementary teachers, and I can remember which ones I liked best and worst.  When I think of those two groups, I think of their personalities and whether or not they were happy or angry people.  I came to the conclusion that I don’t remember any of my best teachers being angry or upset during school.  Those teachers that I don’t remember being fond of were those that seemed upset A LOT.  I just hope I can leave a positive impression on all of my students like the Kurdy’s have left on theirs.

just a memory… June 12, 2008

“Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused.” June 11, 2008

Here is a little BIO of JP’s life…

I’m 22…I grew up on a farm 5 miles west of Ontario, OR in a large family. I call my family the dysfunctional brady bunch because I am the product of the merging of two pretty diverse families.  I have two brothers, four sisters, and two brothers-in-law.  I have 2 neices and 4 nephews.  My parents are pretty rad.  My dad is super smart and hard-working and my step-mother is extremely loving and thoughtful.  She also has a pretty outrageous sense of humor.  My real mother unfortunately passed away when I was 11 right after Christmas.  I still consider her a huge influence in my life and I miss her like crazy.  My closest sister, Megan, and her family were an integral part to maintaining my sanity as I spent much of my adolescence in a household with two males. Her two kids are a huge part of my life, Zoey is 10 and Zeke is 6.  They are absolutely amazing.

I grew up riding and showing horses, playing soccer, and annoying the crap out of my closest, yet older brother. I was very fortunate to have all three of those opportunities and I hope everyone could have such experiences. My best friends are Brooke Ann, Leah, Allison, and Marino (who happens to be a horse).  Each of them always have the ability to make me laugh hysterically and are always there for me.

I just graduated from The College of Idaho with my BA degree in Anthropology/Sociology. I played soccer during my four years there as well. Now I am in the MAT program with a fabulous cohort of 9 people, 5 of which are married, 1 on the verge of getting engaged (at least that is the impression I’ve gotten), and the remaining 3 of us single. It is strange that now that I have graduated, my eyes have opened to the fact that everyone seems to be getting married or having kids….I seem to have chosen a lonelier path… But I don’t mind it yet.

My ultimate goal for entering this program is to get my MAT degree, teach for a few years, and then return to school to go into administration. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but I have always felt that I was meant to make a difference exceeding what I feel I could accomplish as a teacher. I wish to say good luck to my new group of friends, peers, and scholars. This year will be chaotic, but I’m very excited about it.