I really lucked out this spring and took on a long-term substitute teaching job at the high school. I really liked the kids and the subject was OK. But what won me over is that the kids never made me feel like a "sub." I enjoyed going to work. And now that we are approaching "Finals Week" I'm sad to see them go. I won't be returning to them in the fall as two new instructors have been hired, but I promised them that I would visit as often as possible. And besides, I will still be working for the school district as I finish my final year as an "undergrad" in my new BAs and will see my old students all year long.
I have truly improved as an educator over last year. I had few "bad days" this year. Feedback from teachers was also much better this time around. I will continue to take classes on methodology; Pima Community College has a few good courses I can't get via Cochise College.
If it weren't for the backpacking trip in July and Erin's visit in June, I would have continued with summer school this year, attempting what for me are the hard subjects: math and physical science. I also know, however, that I need a break from the stress and pressure to do well. It's been a week since my finals and I've already finished reviewing two more books for Amazon, played around with CS4 and done other personal readings without a deadline.
Apache Middle School in town is closing. A ceremony was held yesterday. Many of the teachers will move to the high school, teach elsewhere or take on "sub" jobs during the year. I liked the staff there.
And although I love reading about history, I also enjoy English and literature. The high school is looking for three English teachers this fall. Argh! I'm a year behind of being accredited so I missed my mark there, but the old principal was right: if I wanted to stay in the school district, I should pursue a degree in English (as opposed to social studies). My least favorite subject in English is studying Shakespeare, and "British Literature" is a requirement for all English majors.
I can handle one more year of being in school as I've enjoyed learning. I wish now I had this kind of time when I was younger, but small kids and definitely the military were two major barriers. (The army pushes its soldiers to get a college education but it doesn't push its soldiers to study so hard to earn all As and take the time off to do well.) Thank goodness Kevin is supportive of me and my studies. Together we earn enough to be comfortable.
Regardless, this will be a fun-packed summer with lots to do! Erin is flying here in three weeks and major housecleaning is in order. I must also find time to do a few practice backpacking trips, which is excuse enough for me to backpack the Rincons in June sometime as I've never been up Mica Mountain. That peak is part of the Saguaro National Park and dogs aren't allowed. Afterall, the dogs would make the horses nervous...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
School's out for summer
And it hasn't come soon enough. These last three weeks have been torture on me mentally and physically. My body's craving for some good sleep.
I enjoyed all my courses but as usual some were more fun than others. My favorite course this time around was ENG225, American Literature which was taught by Mr. Norman Bates, an enthusiastic and compassionate instructor and lover of American literature. He made the class fun. The classmates were all very interesting to listen to (many had great imput to add) and the reading level was about right. I plan on reading more American literature in the next few months. The choices we had were all great.
My most disappointing course, oddly enough, was the Digital Photography. The instructor was quite knowledgeable in the field but he wasn't very personable and seemed more interested in chatting with the young women in class than helping everyone individually. This wasn't his fault because there were too many people signed up for the class. We had close to 30 students in the class and every computer was taken. He liked the professional students the most. He seldom came to my corner of the classroom, and I will admit my corner seat was not conducive to stopping by to look at my work.
He did like my portraits and micro photography. I'd like to hone in on both, but I never got the encouragement from him he gave others. In fact, he seemed rather kurt with me when I came into class that last day early for some assistance on how to convert images to web and he replied "You act like you never opened CS4 Bridge" when in fact I've been working on it for the past two months at the computer library and taught myself how to do initial work in that program. I don't pay an instructor a lot of money so that he can degrade me like that. I watched him mingle with other students who clearly had no idea what they were doing and he never used that kind of tone with them. He did apologize for being short with me, but I have to admit I never got talked to like that from any instructor, EVER.
All this means is that I'm not flocking to his next class, as much as I'd love to learn some more advanced techniques. I may be better off teaching myself CS4 over the summer, one lesson a week, or following an on-line free tutorial.
Both of my history courses were good, too. I enjoyed both instructors. And my Biology 114J class was more time consuming than I expected for a one-credit class. I got an email from the instructor tonight saying I made "Best Student" of the class. I was not expecting that, not with those low As I was getting on those frustrating multiple-choice exams. I did like the course and I did learn some interesting things about Arizona critters, but for a one-credit course I sure was putting in a lot of time into it. The on-line course always met Fridays at 6:30pm, which was a very inconvenient time for me.
But I pulled through. I don't have all my grades in but I hope I did as well as last time. I will never again take more than four classes per semester as long as I'm also working.
I'm already signed up for three courses this fall: Spanish 101, English 273 (Women in Literature) and History 241 Medieval era. UA-S is offering some wonderful US History courses this fall, but I need a historiography course first before I attempt upper-level classes.
I enjoyed all my courses but as usual some were more fun than others. My favorite course this time around was ENG225, American Literature which was taught by Mr. Norman Bates, an enthusiastic and compassionate instructor and lover of American literature. He made the class fun. The classmates were all very interesting to listen to (many had great imput to add) and the reading level was about right. I plan on reading more American literature in the next few months. The choices we had were all great.
My most disappointing course, oddly enough, was the Digital Photography. The instructor was quite knowledgeable in the field but he wasn't very personable and seemed more interested in chatting with the young women in class than helping everyone individually. This wasn't his fault because there were too many people signed up for the class. We had close to 30 students in the class and every computer was taken. He liked the professional students the most. He seldom came to my corner of the classroom, and I will admit my corner seat was not conducive to stopping by to look at my work.
He did like my portraits and micro photography. I'd like to hone in on both, but I never got the encouragement from him he gave others. In fact, he seemed rather kurt with me when I came into class that last day early for some assistance on how to convert images to web and he replied "You act like you never opened CS4 Bridge" when in fact I've been working on it for the past two months at the computer library and taught myself how to do initial work in that program. I don't pay an instructor a lot of money so that he can degrade me like that. I watched him mingle with other students who clearly had no idea what they were doing and he never used that kind of tone with them. He did apologize for being short with me, but I have to admit I never got talked to like that from any instructor, EVER.
All this means is that I'm not flocking to his next class, as much as I'd love to learn some more advanced techniques. I may be better off teaching myself CS4 over the summer, one lesson a week, or following an on-line free tutorial.
Both of my history courses were good, too. I enjoyed both instructors. And my Biology 114J class was more time consuming than I expected for a one-credit class. I got an email from the instructor tonight saying I made "Best Student" of the class. I was not expecting that, not with those low As I was getting on those frustrating multiple-choice exams. I did like the course and I did learn some interesting things about Arizona critters, but for a one-credit course I sure was putting in a lot of time into it. The on-line course always met Fridays at 6:30pm, which was a very inconvenient time for me.
But I pulled through. I don't have all my grades in but I hope I did as well as last time. I will never again take more than four classes per semester as long as I'm also working.
I'm already signed up for three courses this fall: Spanish 101, English 273 (Women in Literature) and History 241 Medieval era. UA-S is offering some wonderful US History courses this fall, but I need a historiography course first before I attempt upper-level classes.
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