I took yesterday off from writing because I am have been reading a few other blogs and online journals to see what others write and kind of look at their styles. I wasn't sure that I was putting in enough information and maybe my entries were to short. Then I went back and reread some of our text and realized this is my blog, there is no right or wrong style it is only my style so I shall now move on and just enjoy my writing.
I had the day off yesterday from school and work and it was nice to be able to sleep in a bit and get some stuff done around the house, but damn it was hot and by the middle of the day I was having flashbacks to the middle east. I know it is summer time but if my memory serves me correct just a few days ago it was cool and rainy. It is all good though. wend and did some shopping for the BBQ this weekend and am looking forward to hanging with some good friends and grubbin out to some ribs and brauts.
I woke up this morning to the roll of thunder and as I bolted up the first thing that was on my mind was "Holly Shit the top is down on the convertible" so I ran outside and just as the first few drops were coming down I was able to get the top up and didn't have to worry about trying to dry it out latter. I love a good summer thunder storm and hope the ones that are supposed to roll through today are some good ones. No offense to the people down at Hoopfest, but I am glad I'm not down there.
Have a great weekend all and talk with you soon
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
27 June 2013
So yesterday was my 44th birthday and I had a real good day. My wife made me a great dinner and then my son and I went and watched Star Trek. Today there was no class and I was at work at the Veterans Outreach Center all day. Normally there is not a lot out of the ordinary that goes on. We get Vets that come in for services and assistance, but today we had a gentleman that came in who was from the Governor's Veterans advisory board and they are interested in having us host their September conference on Veterans issues with the Governor which is a real honor as we have only been in our new location for just over a year. Later in the day I received a phone call from the French Embassy in Seattle, and they want to award the French Legion of Merit to a WWII veteran that lives here in Spokane. He was part of the D-Day landings at Normandy and apparently was very instrumental in the success. One of my favorite things about my job is the interesting people that I get to meet and the stories I get to hear. Have a great evening all
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Self directed writing .....
For this quarter we have been asked to establish a self directed writing proposal that we will perform throughout the quarter. I have been mulling this over for the past couple of days and am not sure if this is going to work but I think that I would like to continue my journal that I started while in Iraq that is basically a look at my day and events that have impacted my life. I will transfer my journal to here on my blog and give a break down of my life throughout the quarter and maybe beyond
A time in my life when I had magical powers. ....
For those who read my blog I will be doing our morning writing prompts on here just to get my thoughts out and to practice my writing style.
When I left for Iraq in 2006 my son was not quite 4 years old. It was a whole new feeling for me to be leaving my family and heading into a dangerous situation knowing that there were those at home who depended on me. For my son he was proud to tell everyone that his dad was a soldier and was going off to fight for freedom and help those who were hurting. In his eyes I was invincible and stronger than any hero out there. For nine long months I left my family behind and struggled everyday with the emotions that flowed through my body. When I got the chance to call home and talk with my wife and son, Colton would always tell me how proud he was of me and wanted to know about all the people I was helping and about the bad guys we were getting rid of. At one point I had come back after being out on mission for quite a while and when I got back to base I sat down in front of a video camera and read a story to my son so I could send it to him and he could see me and hear my voice. Apparently I was so exhausted that three or four times during the story I nodded off. Colton would tell his mom that daddy must be tired from helping all the people in Iraq and he just needed to recharge for a few minutes before finishing. I had made my son a promise that I would come home safe and sound to make sure that he would grow up to be a good man and that I would be there for him because he was the most important person in my life along with his mom. Colton told me that he knew I would be ok and wasn't worried about me being hurt because I was his dad and nothing could hurt me and I was going to be able to help all those people that were living in a bad place get better and have good lives. 5 years later I still see the magic I hold in my sons eyes.
When I left for Iraq in 2006 my son was not quite 4 years old. It was a whole new feeling for me to be leaving my family and heading into a dangerous situation knowing that there were those at home who depended on me. For my son he was proud to tell everyone that his dad was a soldier and was going off to fight for freedom and help those who were hurting. In his eyes I was invincible and stronger than any hero out there. For nine long months I left my family behind and struggled everyday with the emotions that flowed through my body. When I got the chance to call home and talk with my wife and son, Colton would always tell me how proud he was of me and wanted to know about all the people I was helping and about the bad guys we were getting rid of. At one point I had come back after being out on mission for quite a while and when I got back to base I sat down in front of a video camera and read a story to my son so I could send it to him and he could see me and hear my voice. Apparently I was so exhausted that three or four times during the story I nodded off. Colton would tell his mom that daddy must be tired from helping all the people in Iraq and he just needed to recharge for a few minutes before finishing. I had made my son a promise that I would come home safe and sound to make sure that he would grow up to be a good man and that I would be there for him because he was the most important person in my life along with his mom. Colton told me that he knew I would be ok and wasn't worried about me being hurt because I was his dad and nothing could hurt me and I was going to be able to help all those people that were living in a bad place get better and have good lives. 5 years later I still see the magic I hold in my sons eyes.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Writer teaches writing first three chapters
So I am working on my English minor this summer and I am taking a course on English comp. Now I have some real fears about this course because I have always struggled with the composition process and with instructors trying to tell me how to write and what I write is not done properly or in the right format. So the text that we are using is called Writer Teaches Writing and I have to tell you what I have read so far has really opened my eyes and made me start taking a different view of writing.
I love the opening line in the first chapter "It is time to give away the secret: teaching writing is fun."
For me, with all my apprehensions about my limits with writing, teaching it to high school students doesn't sound like a fun time, and I don't usually get anxiety.
What I really liked about this book is that it really makes the reader feel ok about having their own writing style and how important it is to allow students to develop their style.
As the book moves into chapter two the author starts to break down the aspects of writing and it even provides a model of the writing process. It then breaks down each aspect of the writing process in a way that is easily understandable.
Chapter three starts out "The writer's moment of truth arrives when all the collecting and planning are completed and the writer faces the blank page" It really takes the process and preparation of the writer and puts it into the development stage. It talks about the importance of preparing a draft, the art of revision and what it takes to edit your work. This process, this design puts the concept of writing in a much clearer light.
I am pleased with this book and feel that it is going to be a great guide for not only this class but as I move forward into a classroom. I am looking forward to putting some of the ideas and techniques into my writing and seeing if I feel more comfortable with putting words down on paper and also with teaching students how to find their technique and become better more fluid writers.
I love the opening line in the first chapter "It is time to give away the secret: teaching writing is fun."
For me, with all my apprehensions about my limits with writing, teaching it to high school students doesn't sound like a fun time, and I don't usually get anxiety.
What I really liked about this book is that it really makes the reader feel ok about having their own writing style and how important it is to allow students to develop their style.
As the book moves into chapter two the author starts to break down the aspects of writing and it even provides a model of the writing process. It then breaks down each aspect of the writing process in a way that is easily understandable.
Chapter three starts out "The writer's moment of truth arrives when all the collecting and planning are completed and the writer faces the blank page" It really takes the process and preparation of the writer and puts it into the development stage. It talks about the importance of preparing a draft, the art of revision and what it takes to edit your work. This process, this design puts the concept of writing in a much clearer light.
I am pleased with this book and feel that it is going to be a great guide for not only this class but as I move forward into a classroom. I am looking forward to putting some of the ideas and techniques into my writing and seeing if I feel more comfortable with putting words down on paper and also with teaching students how to find their technique and become better more fluid writers.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Some final thoughts ........
........ Because of my commitment to the US Government my education has taken a bit longer than I would have liked. The 10 year break in school was quite overwhelming and when I got back into school I felt like a fish out of water. You, my peers, were quite a bit younger than I was and for the most part had no real understanding of the life that I had led or where I had been. But I have to tell you all that the past two quarters, between Vince's and Sean's class, I have developed a major amount of respect and admiration for all of you. I enjoy some great new friendships, and as a father I feel real comfortable knowing that you are all going to be part of the education system, I have been amazed at the amount of the growth that I have witnessed not only in myself buy in each of you. It has been cool as all get out watching you become the teachers you were meant to be.
We have but a short time left at EWU and for most of us next fall will be the final class we have together and that just seems kind of weird. This journey has taught me quite a bit about myself and has really helped erase some of the doubts that I had transitioning from the military to the classroom. I want to thank everyone for the encouragement and great feedback along the way.
Sean, dude you have a great gift as an educator. I love the fact that you really try and know your students and you try and minimize the gap that exists between student and professor. I have enjoyed talking to your class for the past two years and I hope to continue in the future. I know that your focus is English but you have so much to impart on future teachers I hope you continue with some of the education classes.
Everyday I become more and more excited regarding the possibility of one day having my own classroom where I can create an environment that will excite students and help them realize that subjects such as History, Government and Civics are not just boring facts but lessons that have helped shape the world as we know it today and every event that is occurring out there that we see on the news or on a blog somewhere may very well wind up being taught in a classroom someday and again be a major contributor to the how the world operates.
This summer I am again pushing the boundaries and trying to cram 18 credits down my throat with the hopes to finish up this English Minor that I thought was a great idea to add. I am also going to start the CTE (Career Tech) endorsement process in hopes that I can use some of the skills I learned in my years in the military and in private industry to help make me more marketable in this very competitive job market.
I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful summer and I hope to see you around. I am always up for some Golf or going out and grabbing a beer, I look forward to next fall and seeing everyone in 420 and continuing on in this journey.
Have a great summer all.
Sean
We have but a short time left at EWU and for most of us next fall will be the final class we have together and that just seems kind of weird. This journey has taught me quite a bit about myself and has really helped erase some of the doubts that I had transitioning from the military to the classroom. I want to thank everyone for the encouragement and great feedback along the way.
Sean, dude you have a great gift as an educator. I love the fact that you really try and know your students and you try and minimize the gap that exists between student and professor. I have enjoyed talking to your class for the past two years and I hope to continue in the future. I know that your focus is English but you have so much to impart on future teachers I hope you continue with some of the education classes.
Everyday I become more and more excited regarding the possibility of one day having my own classroom where I can create an environment that will excite students and help them realize that subjects such as History, Government and Civics are not just boring facts but lessons that have helped shape the world as we know it today and every event that is occurring out there that we see on the news or on a blog somewhere may very well wind up being taught in a classroom someday and again be a major contributor to the how the world operates.
This summer I am again pushing the boundaries and trying to cram 18 credits down my throat with the hopes to finish up this English Minor that I thought was a great idea to add. I am also going to start the CTE (Career Tech) endorsement process in hopes that I can use some of the skills I learned in my years in the military and in private industry to help make me more marketable in this very competitive job market.
I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful summer and I hope to see you around. I am always up for some Golf or going out and grabbing a beer, I look forward to next fall and seeing everyone in 420 and continuing on in this journey.
Have a great summer all.
Sean
My school.
So I have been going through my blogs and seeing where I have missed some and I came across the fact that I had written a couple of my blogs and they were still in draft form and never published. So I will go back and try and catch up.
So I am placed at West Valley High School with a teacher that has been there for the past 12 years. I have two sophomore Western Civ classes and one Senior Econ class. My Econ class has 9 students in it and it is an elective course while my Western Civ classes have 23 and 25 students respectively. The classroom is set up in a modified horseshoe so that all students have clear visual to classroom technology. My cooop teacher has done a good job of ensuring that the classroom has the latest technology available for the kids. There are three computers available for in class research. There are also 15 I-pod touches that are linked into the schools wireless system.
Classes at WVHS run 55 minutes a day three days a week and then there is a block schedule on Wednesday and Thursday where classes are 90 minutes long and there is late start On Wednesday so that teachers can have staff meetings, training and collaboration. Students have access to teachers before and after school and the school provides extra help for students that are struggling in class.
So I am placed at West Valley High School with a teacher that has been there for the past 12 years. I have two sophomore Western Civ classes and one Senior Econ class. My Econ class has 9 students in it and it is an elective course while my Western Civ classes have 23 and 25 students respectively. The classroom is set up in a modified horseshoe so that all students have clear visual to classroom technology. My cooop teacher has done a good job of ensuring that the classroom has the latest technology available for the kids. There are three computers available for in class research. There are also 15 I-pod touches that are linked into the schools wireless system.
Classes at WVHS run 55 minutes a day three days a week and then there is a block schedule on Wednesday and Thursday where classes are 90 minutes long and there is late start On Wednesday so that teachers can have staff meetings, training and collaboration. Students have access to teachers before and after school and the school provides extra help for students that are struggling in class.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Man I have been slacking
I just realized that I have been completly slacking on my blog posts. Two weeks ago I was in Utah at a Wounded Warriors Retreat and forgot to post. Last week I got caught up in catching up with all that I had missed the week I was gone and now here I am trying to catch up. Things in school have been going great and I got both my evaluations done and got some great feedback. I am looking forward to the summer break and have talked with my coop teacher and we are going to get together a couple of times and look at what I will need to have ready for Winter Quarter and my student teaching.
In class we have finished up WWII and have begun talking about the Marshall Plan and the rise of communism in Eastern Europe. I was real proud of the kids these past few weeks as we have thrown a whole lot at them getting ready for the end of the year. The time line going from WWI to WWII and all the information that is included was extremely short and now this week we have to get through the cold ward and prep for the cumulative final next week.
My classes have never really posed any problems and the few moments where I had student act out were actually pretty easy to deal with. I feel pretty lucky to be in WVSD and I really like the atmosphere there.
I am going to try and keep this going throughout the school year next fall so stay tuned.
In class we have finished up WWII and have begun talking about the Marshall Plan and the rise of communism in Eastern Europe. I was real proud of the kids these past few weeks as we have thrown a whole lot at them getting ready for the end of the year. The time line going from WWI to WWII and all the information that is included was extremely short and now this week we have to get through the cold ward and prep for the cumulative final next week.
My classes have never really posed any problems and the few moments where I had student act out were actually pretty easy to deal with. I feel pretty lucky to be in WVSD and I really like the atmosphere there.
I am going to try and keep this going throughout the school year next fall so stay tuned.
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