Science was better

Thanks for the suggestions Lori. I like the one about selecting a couple of students in the beginning of the lesson to gage student understanding of content so I can adjust accordingly early in the lesson.
I was really nervous about teaching the science lesson on Tuesday because all the students were doing was rubbing rocks together-for an hour!!! But it turned out really well. The students were engaged, excited, and active during the exploration phase of the lesson and attentive during the instruction phase. They had good questions that led perfectly into the next lesson. It was fun! My second science lesson, washing rocks, also went well.
However, my second Reading lesson and first Math lesson didn't go so well. I believe the content of the lessons is too easy, or in the case of the worksheet I typed, too hard. (Even though I took it right out of the teacher's edition) I should have used it as a whole class rhyming activity instead of an individual thing. But it is something I can bring out in a future lesson and do as a whole group activity. (maybe use "movie talk" where students answer as if in a silent movie-silent talking only)
I have either felt confident with the lesson or the classroom management. My goal is to have both lesson and classsroom management come togehter by the time I am done with this practicum. I think once the content of the lesson is up to the student's academic understanding I will half the battle one. I realize student behavior is not strictly based on a good lesson. But I feel that if they are interested they will be less likely to find other things to occupy their mind, hands, mouth, brains....
More to come as the practicum continues.

HELP

This blog is mostly for those of you who have more experience in the classroom than I. Today I taught my first lesson this semester. Can you picture a crash and burn? The lesson was a review for them but I didn't know that so the students were bored. Any suggestions? What classroom management techniques have worked in your classroom? When they have gotten loud and out of control what have you done to bring them back? I teach science tomorrow, then reading on Wednesday and alternate like that until Friday. I'm sure glad my advising professor didn't decide to come observe today!!!
Now some good stuff. Last week I asked Patrick and Stuart to give me a blessing because my back hurt. It more than just hurt, it was debilitating. I had hesitated to ask them because they were both just ordained an Elder less than 6 months ago, and I felt they weren't experienced enough to "say the right thing" so I could get a good blessing. I kept getting the impression to ask them because it's predicated on Faith not Experience. So finally I exercised my faith, got the blessing and am better. The lesson for me was about faith. It doesn't matter how long they have had the priesthood-it's the same priesthood whether the man has had it for 50 years or 50 minutes.
Last question, are there actually any "papers" involved in the mission papers? Paper as in-made from tree pulp. Stuart is supposed to fill out some forms online.

This is just a sample of the colors we have been seeing all week. They are so vibrant here. Check out my pictures for more.

Time to de-stress

Guess the stress balancing school and life is getting to me. I was looking over my schedule for next semester and realized I am going to have a lot of spare time. I'll have one class Wednesday night, another class Monday mid-day and the last class can either be Wed. mid-day or Wed. afternoon befor the night class. That's it. seven credits! When I was explaining to the kids, and thinking outloud about this I asked, mostly to myself, what am I going to do with all my time. I feel like I'll have a lot of wasted time. I can't really work in the school because the day classes are mid-day and I can't schedule any of them closer together because they are only offered during one time slot. To which Stephanie said, "Maybe you can de-stress."

Firsts

This was a weekend of firsts. Stephanie went on her first date! She went with one of her best friend's older brother's. (Brother to the friend she saw at BYU, Katie). A very nice, Utah-mormon family--not from Utah. It was a good date, one I hope she will hold as a standard for dates to come. Especially because I am sure she will date non-members. She seems to enjoy the idea that dating is for fun, "friends getting together to do something fun" not dating to find a steady partner. This could change as she dates more; or less and wants to date more. But for now she can enjoy having fun with friends. I wish I had understood the concept when I was her age. Poor Darrell.
Nathan was ordained President of the Deacon's quorum today. The past week was interesting to be able to guide him in choosing his counselors; to watch the process. "I don't think Joe and Timmy will get along if I chose them for my counselors." (They already DO NOT get along.)
Stuart was ordained an Elder and gave his first blessings the day before school started. The blessings he gave us were simple, basic, and tender. He cried more with each successive blessing as he felt and understood the promptings of the Spirit. Truthfully, expected the blessings to be very similar because of his inexperience. They were unique to each of us. (Oh, me of little faith.).

AMBER ALERT!!!!!!

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

NAME: The Crazy Lady
FROM: Escondido, California
DATE MISSING: Monday, July 28 2008
LAST SEEN: "Utah Vacation"
DATE OF BIRTH: September 6
AGE: not too old and younger than her age
HEIGHT: taller than Leighann but shorter than Lynette
HAIR: brown
SEX: probably...she has four kids!
WEIGHT: none of your business...skinny...that is all you need to know
EYES: hazely green
DESCRIPTIVE FEATURES: Double jointed knees, pencil lead in eye brown, no ear piercings or any other bodily piercings (that I know of)

If you have any information or know where she might be please contact us immediately. She has been know to frequent other blogs, leaving comments but her specific whereabouts are unknown.

REWARD: A generous reward has been offered by her parents of salt, garden fresh vegetable, family group sheet and insect identification. If found blogging fresh homemade bread is included with the aforementioned reward.

I was just thinking

This summer I had a chance to do some things I haven't been able to do in quite a long time. Seemed like forever!!! I planted a garden and did some sewing. These two activities made me think about when I had more time for these things...like when my kids were small...like when I wasn't in school. Then I thought about all my sisters and how they are living their lives right now. Although I felt, I know that what I am doing right now is the right thing for me. Aside from that, I could see how "back in the day I was raising my family" and they (my sisters) were going to school, I was finding all kinds of great recipes and doing all kinds of fun things with my kids, and my sisters were making meals from a box (remember the mac and cheese?) and going nowhere for any length of time. Now I cook meals from a box, or the kids do, we go nowhere for any length of time and my kids pretty much are on thier own. Meanwhile, my sisters are finding all kinds of great recipes and doing all kinds of fun things with their kids. Just something I have been thinking about. I can't wait to get back to having time to do some fun stuff.