My Student Teaching Seminar and My nephew talking

So, I have to say that my seminar wasn't that great today... It was really cold this morning and most of my fellow student teachers did not want to be there. I could sit here and talk about a lot "things" that happened, but I am not going to. One thing that is was reminded of was an article that I read last night about paycheck NFL players, and how there aren't many NFL players in it just to play the game. That is how I feel at the moment. I am in it to play the game, no doubt about that. I feel I mesh with Rowse because she is also it to play the game. You need to love what you are doing to do your job to the full potential.
Yesterday I got to see my nephew and he says excuse me, and thank you. He also loves to give hugs, which is so awesome. When I was ready to leave he hid my keys in his toy trunk because he didn't want me to go home.

Funny Story

So I went to get my nails done yesterday...and I totally was asked if I was in high school. I told them I was student teaching and they said something about thinking I couldn't be any older than 20. Yeah...no. I am 25 years old, good job Amanda, and I think Evan cheated.

How old do you think I am?

So how old do you think I am? Just put some guesses on here...who are gets it right, gets a prize!!! :)

This is my nephew and he is listening to the MP3 player we bought him for Christmas. He is listening to "Honky Tonk, Ba Donk a Donk."

So my new favorite show is "I Used to be Fat" on MTV. It is an amazing show that reaches out to so many people. I think this show is better than "Biggest Loser" because they are doing it for their own well being, not because they want to win some money in the end.
All of the teens in the show are graduating from high school and want to change their lives around. Everytime I watch this show I get a little teary eyed because before they lose the weight most of them are treated so badly. Most of them don't have any friends and haven't had any romantic relationships. Aren't the still the same on the inside? I am glad they are doing it for their health, but it shouldn't be for anything else. It bothers me that so many people judge others on their looks and dress. I may look a certain way, but maybe I am somebody else. I am pretty sure everyone would be shocked at most people's real stories. I say most because some people can read other's like a book. Sorry for the rant, but I just don't think anyone should be treated differently because of how smart they are or how they look.
I would have a great story for anyone who wants to hear it. Its school appropriate trust me. My friends could tell you so many stories as well because I am who I am, and I don't care. Like me, Love me, Hate me...I don't care.
On to something else, on the same lines, but something else. Every single student that I am student teaching I enjoy because they are somebody special. Every single one of them can succeed and follow their dreams and goals. I intend to help them if I can!!!

Good Luck CW!

Acting!!!!

So... for some reason my blogger account does not want me to add this youtube video on here. I added them instead to the side bar!!! Enjoy!

When I was in high school I took Creative Writing my junior year. It started out as a plan to take a class with my friends and to get an easy A. As the class went on I had to do a lot of work in the class and started thinking about why I really decided to take this class anyway, I wasn't going to do anything with English after I got out of high school. I was going to be a nurse and not even use anything I did in this class. Week after week I started to have a better time, until the end I did not want to ever finish the class. My teacher was an amazing man, he not only cared about everyone of his students and their well being, but he wanted each of his students to grow. I didn't just learn how to write so many unique things, I also found who I was. The last day of my senior year this teacher (who was also my senior Brit. Lit. teacher) told me I would someday be where he is. I laughed, because that was not my plan at all. As I got into college I started taking English classes for fun, yes I said for fun! Soon, I changed my major to English Education because I too wanted to be that crazy teacher acting out scenes with G.I. joes and being there for their students. It's really funny when I think about all of this now because all of my family and friends tell me that I was meant to teach. I guess I was the only one that didn't see it at the time. At this moment I sit here and think about this because there is nothing else I would want to do with my life. I know that somedays things will be hard, but if I can get through to one student I am doing my job. As for writing, it is my passion and I have continued to write since that creative writing class. I have written books and books of poetry and I have actually written a book. I have gone back to this teacher and thanked him for everything he did for me, and he just said "I was just doing my job." At one time I was that student in high school making snide comments about this teacher and called his assignments stupid (side note, the stupid was not allowed in his class). Now I realize those types of assignments helped me grow into the person I am today. To think all of this came from thinking about my Creative Writing class...

A Letter to Justine and Evan

Dear Justine and Evan,

Next time you go to Burger King and come into Rowse's room, please bring some for us. The room smells of it and now Rowse and I are very hungry for BK french fries. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Ice Cream Cake

Having an awesome day because of jeans and catering

So today is Friday and I am so excited to get to sleep in tomorrow. This will be the first day for about two weeks! I am also very pleased that I got new jeans yesterday at Vanity and I love them!!! I have to say that Norfolk's Vanity hires the nicest girls to work there. They are so friendly and help out in anyway that they can. The girl that helped me yesterday was the one that found the jeans that I decided to buy. She was so helpful and gave me big selection to try on. Right away when I told her I needed jeans she told me that they had a big selection of taller jeans. I have to wear a 35 in length on all of my jeans and it is very hard to find jeans that fit me right. She gave me a good selection of jeans that were 35 in length and checked on me a few times to make sure I was doing okay. I have to say that I am one of those people that is not helped in the first five minutes of walking in or they don't have a selection for tall people, I just walk out. It makes me a little angry when they don't have any thing for tall people. My Mom tells me the small thing for short people. I think that you have to be "average" to shop in most stores. But is anyone really average?
Then I found out by email today that Famous Daves is cheaper than Hyvee for catering (plus they are a lot more polite and they explain things). This includes a pulled chicken sandwich, two sides (like potato salad, caesar salad, baked beans, etc.), and a corn muffin. This will also included a lot of leftovers, and everyone loves Famous Daves leftovers. I am also thinking that they will bring all those good sauces to put on the sandwiches. I am making myself really hungry thinking about it!!! I was so happy to hear this news because we decided to go with catering to make less stress on us the day of the wedding (which is like 4 months away now). As the wedding draws closer a lot of my blogs are going to be about that, and I apologize in advance. I am just really excited about my catering and of course my jeans.

My Wedding

So yesterday I was talking to Dylan and Evan about my wedding.  We were talking about my colors and other aspects of my wedding.  I have to say that I am very excited about my wedding that is coming up.  I have a lot done.  One day that I am really looking forward to is February 6th because I am getting my dress altered and my fiance is getting fitted for his tux.  My little nephew who is almost 2, is the ring bearer and he is also going along to try on tuxes.  I believe I am going to take a lot of photos of him, and I might just have to post one on the blog so that you can see his cuteness.  My little sister who is 9, might be getting her flower girl dress, but last time I checked they didn't have the dress in stock that I wanted.  I guess we will see.

Most of you are probably asking the question:  "She has a 9 year old sister!?!?"  Yes, I do.  I have a sister that is 9, brothers that are twins that are 11, a brother that is a 18 and is a senior at Wayne High School, and a sister that is almost 20.  Some of you probably know the littlest sibling because they were at winter play try-outs.  The 9 year old loves high school students and wants me to bring her up here again sometime.  I think I am going to invite all the siblings to the dinner theater, or at least my sister that is 9.

Thank you Creative Writing

I would like to thank you guys for being so well behaved in class today.  You guys are so awesome.  I would like to shout out to Zakk and let him know that my real name calling was amazing.  Everyone did so well today, and because of that you get a treat tomorrow.  Good job guys!!!! 

I would really like to say that I am having a great time teaching at Norfolk Public under Miss Rowse because of all the students at the school.  All the students are wonderful and you make me laugh so much!!!  My supervising teacher from WSC said that the Creative Writing class is very respectful, keep it up!!!

Watching TV

So I am sitting at home in my comfy chair with a blanket on watching Being Human, the new show on Scifi (new spelling is not cool).  I love werewolves and vampire stories, I always have since I was very little.  I like it because it is the unknown, and something different.  It is not because they "sparkle" or fall inlove.  That isn't the real story, the real story is what started everything.  How they became what they are, and how they handled everything afterward.  Now to this new show on Scifi, I like it because it is a lot more raw than twilight.  The werewolf is struggling with his curse, and I have to admit kinda cute.  He really kind of looks like a wolf.  The vampire is struggling to keep himself away from his coven, and he has human compassion and does not want to kill.  Here's the problem though, if he gets too close to anyone human, he ends up losing control.  So the werewolf and the vampire decide to move in together to watch out for each other.  The place they move into has a twenty something girl that is a ghost.  Her fiance sold the house to the two guys because he couldn't bare to be in it because she died in there.  The werewolf and the vampire are the only two that can see her, well probably other like them can see her too, but not humans.  All I have to say is sweet!!  This show is pretty awesome.  Oh the vampire is a nurse, I don't know how he can be a nurse!!! That is really weird.  All women are attracted to the vampire, like all of the old books and other stuff I have looked at.  They say that women (men for women vampires) are attacted to them because of some scent they give off because they are hunters.  It is combining all of the stories into one.

I know that this was a really weird post, but I thought it was cool.  Any real werewolf/vampires lovers out there should totally check it out!!!

The Adventures of Party Pants and Ice Cream Cake---> The Nickname Fiasco!!!!

There once was this student teacher that was teaching a creative writing class, and in this class there was a student that did not want to learn her name.  This student instead decided to call this student teacher Ice Cream Cake.  One day Ice Cream Cake came to school and was asked by Evdawg why she didn't give him a nick name too.  Ice Cream Cake thought and thought.  And thought, and thought.  Thought, and thought, and thought (she thought for awhile, not always on the nickname, but other things too).  Soon she told her coordinating teacher, ROWSE, about the idea.  They started to think together on the perfect name.

"Well he kind of looks like Jesus," ROWSE said.
"We could call him Oh Savior!!" Ice Cream Cake replied.
"No that is too easy, his last name starts with a P, so we should call him Party Pants!!" said ROWSE.

Both of the teachers started to laugh and thought this was a great idea!  That would be his nickname and shall be for the rest of Creative Writing and maybe forever more!!!  And so that is the story of Party Pants and Ice Cream Cake...  True story, do you think I would make this up?

My Mother

So my mom called me today and left me a message.  This was either going to be a good message, or a bad one.  At my lunch break I dialed in my pin to listen to my voicemails.  As I listened to it, my mom said, "I passed."  That is so good to hear.
     About a month ago she got into an accident  with a girl in my brothers class.  My mom was at a yield sign and thought she had enough time to get though, but the girl was going too fast.  My mom collided into the senior girls passenger door.  My moms car was recked from the front and there was only damage on the girls passenger door.  The police asked my mom a series of question as she tried to keep my twin brothers that are 11 and my little sister that is 9 in the car.  They kept threatening that they were going to walk to school if they didn't get going soon (which two minutes later they jumped out of the car and sprinted towards school).  My mom didn't have her license with her, no shoes on, and no coat because she forgot her purse in house.  The kids were going to be late if they didn't get going.  Though the conversation with the officer he found out she had MS (multiple sclerosis), which effects are legs and feet.  Soon she got a letter in the mail saying that the family was trying to get an action to take her license away.  So she had to go today and take a drivers test and she passed.  She got 100% on the writing and missed five on the driving (you can miss up to 15).  So my mom proved many people in town wrong, she can still drive, probably better than half of the town.  That is why my mom is my hero today!!!  Not only did she do this today, but she also just undergone chemo to put the MS into remission. 

Sitting, eating jello while working on some "stuff"

During my lunch break, since I am such a great big nerd, I am working on homework and lesson plans.  I am eating jello, which I forgot how much I loved until now.  I sit and think of all the things I want to accomplish this semester.  I am not sure if the list I have can be all accomplished.  Then we add in the fact that I am planning a wedding that is charging toward me.  I am a little busy.  Oh well, that is life I guess.  The main thing that I have learned from this experience so far is that I forgot how busy high school students were.  I have a lot of respect for high school students because most of them are in everything!!!  When you get into college there will be groups and sure I was in intramurals, but it wasn't like high school.  In college you seem to have more time for everything, and high school can sometimes just be a big blur.  I don't know where I was going with this, but I believe I am done for today.

"Wherever you go,
go with all your heart."
Confucius
(551 BC - 451 BC)

Thinking and thinking

As I sit in this spot
I think of all the things
things that need to be done
things I will never get done
things that I have done
and things I wish I would have done.
This spot is so comfortable,
I think I could get used to it.
Soon there will be a spot like this for me.
After I put on that gown and black cap.
Won't that be nice.

I really enjoy writing in poetry, I know that some of you probably hate.  Poetry can be interpreted in so many ways and that is why I like it so much.  What does this mean to you?  Do you feel the same way?  I bet if everyone commented on this poem, each one of the responses would be different.

My First Week At Norfolk High As A Student Teacher

I have been up till 1 every night this week...kind of tired.
It has been eight long years since I have been in high school, and now I entered back into the school system in a different way...as a student teacher.  There were times in my life that I didn't know what I was going to do with my life, but now I know that I want to teach.  I enjoy the environment, the lack of sleep, the homework, the planning, and mostly the students.  I had the chance to observe last sememster for Ms. Rowse, and also go along to One Acts in North Platte.  The students have been so welcoming and they are fun to be around. 
I decided to be a teacher for one simple reason; to help students understand their full potential.  So many students in this day in age do not understand everything they can accomplish if they put their minds to it.  I believe in everyone, and try to give everyone a chance.  Everyone deserves just that. 
The highlights of the week are I taught a full lesson plan (hooray!!!), I was called numerous names except the real one I was born with, and I got to sit and eat with the teachers in the teachers lounge.  The school I went to the teachers lounge was like a heaven that students were not allowed in.  I know very weird, but I think it is so cool to be able to sit in that room--I feel a little important!!!!
Oh well, I guess I will have to give the first student that pronounces my name right some kind of a treat!!!  So come on kids!!!