When you find yourself ironing an old pair of khaki shorts - with paint and grass stains - for your picnic wedding reception you know one of two things: you are poor, or you are living a very alternative sort of lifestyle.
When you find that you don't know which... well, I'm not sure what that tells you.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
So Many Thoughts...
Over two years ago, I began writing this blog under the title Thoughts and Adventures, hoping to include many stories and accounts of both. This fall has seen me undertake very few adventures in the outdoor/exploration sense. I've left the Cities only a handful of times in the past few months, and the most adventurous of those occasions was perhaps a beautiful afternoon hike at a nearby state park. Hardly bushwhacking in Colorado. This isn't the end of my world explorations, however; in fact, even as Brooke and I write the final draft of our vows (now to be spoken in a mere five days) we very intentionally included a promise to be each others' partners in adventure. But for now, the call of work and school has kept us both on a short tether.
This is not to say that my present life is devoid of adventure! As it turns out, thanks to both my fall class at Hamline and my job, my very thoughts are a constant adventure! The class in which I am currently enrolled is called Theory to Practice, which essentially means that we read and explore the thoughts of many different theorists and then come to class and have fascinating discussions about what we actually do in class: How do we set expectations? How do we create assignments? How to we assess student learning? How do we manage a classroom???
This last question is of special interest to me because of part of my current job experience. Aside from my rather mundane chore of delivering mail and teacher copy requests, I spend half of my day supervising students in a study hall/independent learning center. And for an extra-special three hours after school on Wednesday, I have the opportunity to supervise Wednesday School - a three-hour detention for naughty students. The "Learning Lab" (as it is known) is a wonderful exercise in setting expectations, building positive rapport, and motivating students. Wednesday School on the other hand...
Let's just say that Wednesday School is kind of like my own personal 3 credit-hour laboratory for Classroom Management Skills. There I am given a list of strict rules, handed down by the administration, and a room full of rowdy kids who would rather not be in said room (also handed down by the administration). As I reflect on the many ideas we discuss in class (and write papers about them) I get the opportunity to try these very skills out! On real-life rowdy students!
Alas, though I think and think about all the factors of student motivation and behavior, day in and day out, it's all I can do to plan for a wedding and keep up with my school work. My journal has fallen into disuse, and this blog suffers a similar fate. But not for lack of thoughts or adventures! My current adventure begins like this:
One classroom management author we're reading (Harry K. Wong, if you're familiar with him) is a HUGE proponent of being up front with students regarding expectations, rules and procedures. Tell them exactly how things will go, and watch things go that way. After my first week of anarchy in Wednesday School, I decided to begin the next session by distributing a list of rules, then going over them, and then nonchalantly but strictly following my own rules. And we had silence for two hours, with only a bit of growing rowdiness by the end.
But NOW... my classmates and I have all chosen different books to read on classroom management, and I have begun reading Beyond Discipline by Alfie Kohn, a somewhat controversial person in the field of education. Now I am reading very compelling arguments that call me to question my very rules! AND the methods of coercion by which I enforce them!
When I demand silence, is it reasonable? Is it harmful to enforce my rules through threats of office referrals? Is the very existence of detention by nature coercive and harmful??? At this point I don't know. I'm only three chapters into the book, and I'm not sure I agree with all that Kohn is saying. But the adventure surely continues to play out in my mind. And however I am thinking tomorrow afternoon, I will still have a room full of talkative kiddos who don't believe they deserve Wednesday School. (Maybe they don't...)
------
One other thought to add, before I sign off for the night: While I was initially excited about biking to my new job, the time saved (over an hour each day) by not biking has led me to faithfully join the masses of the so-called "commuters." I now proudly fire up the NPR in little Moses every morning at 7:20, and drive my 15-20 minutes to work.
One thing that struck me as I drove home today: I now think of my 15-minute commute as "a short drive." Have I really become that desensitized already? When I used to live in the small town of Bellefontaine, Ohio fifteen minutes would get me to my friend's house in the next city. If I heard of someone driving fifteen minutes to work I would think, "why doesn't he just move to the other city?"
It's not bad. It's just different. I used to live in a small town (for the last 24 years) and wonder if I could ever stand to live in a big city. I guess I can, but it's taking some getting used to.
It's not bad. It's just different. I used to live in a small town (for the last 24 years) and wonder if I could ever stand to live in a big city. I guess I can, but it's taking some getting used to.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A(nother) Blog in (Slightly More Than) 10 Minutes
And yet again three weeks have slipped by along with three weeks' worth of good intentions about "writing every day! even if just for ten minutes!" Let's be real. But I would love to write more.
Part of the craziness lately has been trying to finish out my first term at Hamline, and being met with large papers to write on top of major presentations and the usual underlying humdrum of reading lots and lots of sometimes-very-boring material. Just yesterday I passed a major milestone in completing a 12-page research paper that started out exploring the benefits/downsides to year-round schooling and ended up being a 12-page treatise on how potentially awesome the calendar can be for students and teachers alike. It's ironic too because one of the many reasons I initially wanted to be a teacher was for the long summer vacations...
Another realm of activity in my live has been moving into a new apartment. This process began over three weeks ago, moving a few boxes into a storage unit in the basement of my new apartment building, which is approximately 6 blocks from my old apartment and a mere 2.5 blocks from Brooke's house. I then left for PA for a week, came back on the 31st and had a crazy moving in session that very evening with Brooke and her family. (Many thanks to Joe and Luanne and the great big van!) And now I'm in the process of slowly reclaiming items from Pittsburgh, trip by trip, and trying to pack them into my tiny little apartment, lovingly named "the dungeon." What's worse, since I know that I should be working on homework, it takes an extra effort of willpower to not unpack all the boxes of cool stuff that I've been missing since December.
A few other things everyone should know. My new apartment building is right across the street from a large park. Brooke and I have a folding card table that we keep leaning against a wall near my door, and we try to have dinner in the park as much as possible, which is all too infrequently. Also, way back while I was working at the bike shop, I managed to piece a new bike together for myself with some new parts and some old parts. It's a bit more friendly for commuting, and it is very much a work in progress. It will hopefully get some studded tires for this winter and maybe some better gear ratios when Brooke and I finally get around to our goal of light touring. The bike is named "Jeconiah." Brooke and spellcheck don't think this is a legitimate name, but it's totally biblical. Look it up.
Cheers.
Part of the craziness lately has been trying to finish out my first term at Hamline, and being met with large papers to write on top of major presentations and the usual underlying humdrum of reading lots and lots of sometimes-very-boring material. Just yesterday I passed a major milestone in completing a 12-page research paper that started out exploring the benefits/downsides to year-round schooling and ended up being a 12-page treatise on how potentially awesome the calendar can be for students and teachers alike. It's ironic too because one of the many reasons I initially wanted to be a teacher was for the long summer vacations...
Another realm of activity in my live has been moving into a new apartment. This process began over three weeks ago, moving a few boxes into a storage unit in the basement of my new apartment building, which is approximately 6 blocks from my old apartment and a mere 2.5 blocks from Brooke's house. I then left for PA for a week, came back on the 31st and had a crazy moving in session that very evening with Brooke and her family. (Many thanks to Joe and Luanne and the great big van!) And now I'm in the process of slowly reclaiming items from Pittsburgh, trip by trip, and trying to pack them into my tiny little apartment, lovingly named "the dungeon." What's worse, since I know that I should be working on homework, it takes an extra effort of willpower to not unpack all the boxes of cool stuff that I've been missing since December.
A few other things everyone should know. My new apartment building is right across the street from a large park. Brooke and I have a folding card table that we keep leaning against a wall near my door, and we try to have dinner in the park as much as possible, which is all too infrequently. Also, way back while I was working at the bike shop, I managed to piece a new bike together for myself with some new parts and some old parts. It's a bit more friendly for commuting, and it is very much a work in progress. It will hopefully get some studded tires for this winter and maybe some better gear ratios when Brooke and I finally get around to our goal of light touring. The bike is named "Jeconiah." Brooke and spellcheck don't think this is a legitimate name, but it's totally biblical. Look it up.
Cheers.
Monday, July 25, 2011
A Blog in 10 Minutes
Lately I've been having difficulty writing papers. It's not that I'm not a good writer; in fact I've gotten top marks on all papers submitted so far. The problem is more one of timing. Namely, I read and research and reflect, sometimes even pre-write and outline, and then when I get to the actual paper I freak out. I sit and stare and manage to squeeze one sentence out of my brain every few minutes. I ultimately average (and this has been pretty much consistent since undergrad) about one page per hour. Talking to (and getting constructively scolded by) Brooke, I realize that that's not very fast. and that I could do better.
This past weekend was a doozy. Brooke and I were to head up North to do some relaxing (before I headed out East for a family vacation), BUT several things happened. I got sick and I had two papers to write over the weekend (plus plenty of assigned reading). So I did take a work day, and I got one good paper written (at the page-an-hour rate) and the other outlined, but that leaves me with a night class tonight at 5pm, one paper left unwritten, a vacation to pack for and an apartment to move out of.
So, why am I wasting time blogging? My goal here is to "warm up" with some train of thought writing. My biggest problem in writing is that I want it to be perfect coming out of my mind. But that's not how writing works. You edit to make it perfect. And I'm even a good editor!!! Sooooooo, I'm hoping to pump myself up to crank out 5 rough pages on my educational philosophy in an hour, do some laundry, come back and edit a bit, and so forth.
With my remaining three minutes...
One blog post I wanted to write last night would have been titled, "My Last Day Here and Noor Hooked Me Up with a Pizza." That blog would have discussed my upcoming move (to a new, nearby apartment - this one a studio: tiny but not shared with anyone), how this is my last day living in this apartment, how it was going to be a hectic day... AND how on this day that I would scarce find time to even feed myself, Noor left a nice box of Pizza Hut pizza on the table - up for grabs.
Another post that never materialized in days past spoke of new changes for me. Aside from the new apartment, last Wednesday I found out that I got a job that I had interviewed for - at North High School in North St. Paul. It will be 30-35 hours/week as an Education Assistant, presumably helping small groups of struggling teen get caught up on school work. The job sounds fun, the pay is considerably better than the bike shop job (which I quit several weeks ago), and though it is a solid 9 miles away, there is a beautiful rails-to-trails bike trail that takes me most of the way there. So life is good. As long as I can keep typing this quickly.
This past weekend was a doozy. Brooke and I were to head up North to do some relaxing (before I headed out East for a family vacation), BUT several things happened. I got sick and I had two papers to write over the weekend (plus plenty of assigned reading). So I did take a work day, and I got one good paper written (at the page-an-hour rate) and the other outlined, but that leaves me with a night class tonight at 5pm, one paper left unwritten, a vacation to pack for and an apartment to move out of.
So, why am I wasting time blogging? My goal here is to "warm up" with some train of thought writing. My biggest problem in writing is that I want it to be perfect coming out of my mind. But that's not how writing works. You edit to make it perfect. And I'm even a good editor!!! Sooooooo, I'm hoping to pump myself up to crank out 5 rough pages on my educational philosophy in an hour, do some laundry, come back and edit a bit, and so forth.
With my remaining three minutes...
One blog post I wanted to write last night would have been titled, "My Last Day Here and Noor Hooked Me Up with a Pizza." That blog would have discussed my upcoming move (to a new, nearby apartment - this one a studio: tiny but not shared with anyone), how this is my last day living in this apartment, how it was going to be a hectic day... AND how on this day that I would scarce find time to even feed myself, Noor left a nice box of Pizza Hut pizza on the table - up for grabs.
Another post that never materialized in days past spoke of new changes for me. Aside from the new apartment, last Wednesday I found out that I got a job that I had interviewed for - at North High School in North St. Paul. It will be 30-35 hours/week as an Education Assistant, presumably helping small groups of struggling teen get caught up on school work. The job sounds fun, the pay is considerably better than the bike shop job (which I quit several weeks ago), and though it is a solid 9 miles away, there is a beautiful rails-to-trails bike trail that takes me most of the way there. So life is good. As long as I can keep typing this quickly.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What Do These Two Things Have in Common?
Answer: They both help me study!
While things like Saving Papers For The Last Minute or Not Sleeping Enough detract from my efficacy as a student, repeated studies have shown that nothing helps me focus better than Beethoven's piano sonatas and a good ol' cup-o-joe.
[Today's blog was brought to you by Bodum, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, and by the letter R!]
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The News
Here are some headlines and news from my life today:
Homework, Job and "Having a Life" Combine to Make Young Man Anxious
I have so many assignments stacked up, job applications to fill out and gardening chores that I want to do that I literally didn't fall asleep for over an hour last night. Furthermore, I'm not doing a good job of prioritizing those good things in life that make it worth going through all the stressful times. I was planning to quit my job later this summer, but I may advance the expected last day by a few weeks.
Journalist Interviewed: Trying Times for Newspapers... and Photographers
I carpooled to a school tour with a colleague this morning and had the opportunity to hear some of his life story. He studied journalism in college (in the 80s) and got a job as a photojournalist for the St. Paul newspaper The Pioneer Press. Apparently no one reads newspapers any more. He was laid off in 2002, made it as a freelance photographer a number of years after that, and more recently couldn't even make it doing that. Now he's in his first semester at Hamline - same as me - getting licensed to teach communications.
Camping Gear Still Strewn About
I got off the water with Brooke and friends last Monday after a four-day canoe trip. It poured rain the last day out, so I hung up a makeshift clothesline in my room to dry stuff out. I've been slowly putting things away, but there's still plenty to go.
Craigslist Leads to Interesting and Potentially Helpful Guy
I have a new bike. His name is Jeconiah. Actually, he's just a new frame I bought with some birthday cash with all of my old components swapped over. I'm currently trying to sell some of the old parts that didn't transfer on Craigslist, and I missed a great trade opportunity by 4 hours. C.J. was the guy behind the almost trade and when I called him back today, he still took the time to ask about what I was looking for - a crank, long cage derailleur. He "knows people" and alerted me to the bargain finds to be had at local "swap meets." Apparently he trades for parts, builds up bikes and knows a lot of similar people. Though he only just met me over the phone, he'll "get back to me" with some potential used parts I'm looking for. Score(?).
Government Shut-down Foils Family Plans
Thanks to stubborn lawmakers in the State Capitol building that is just a few miles from my apartment the entire state government might shut down in 7 hours. News usually just passes in one ear and out the other, leaving me about as politically informed as my bicycle, but this story is hard to ignore. Several of my colleague are realizing they may not be getting paychecks this week - a sobering thought. Fortunately for me the worst direct impact on my life will be the closure of the state park Brooke, her family and I were going to relax in over the holiday weekend. One positive* side: perhaps the government contracted construction workers will stop loudly driving their bulldozers up and down my street while I'm trying to study.
New Study: Can Cookies Lead to Obesity?
My housemate Noor is apparently the lead researcher on this one. And I am the experimental group, n=1. He brought home a tray of 84 cookies that he received for free yesterday, and rather than eating them all he left a note reading "please, help yourself." Also, consider that Brooke and I are low on groceries and time to cook...
*really just for me. Again, mostly sobering for the actual workers.
Homework, Job and "Having a Life" Combine to Make Young Man Anxious
I have so many assignments stacked up, job applications to fill out and gardening chores that I want to do that I literally didn't fall asleep for over an hour last night. Furthermore, I'm not doing a good job of prioritizing those good things in life that make it worth going through all the stressful times. I was planning to quit my job later this summer, but I may advance the expected last day by a few weeks.
Journalist Interviewed: Trying Times for Newspapers... and Photographers
I carpooled to a school tour with a colleague this morning and had the opportunity to hear some of his life story. He studied journalism in college (in the 80s) and got a job as a photojournalist for the St. Paul newspaper The Pioneer Press. Apparently no one reads newspapers any more. He was laid off in 2002, made it as a freelance photographer a number of years after that, and more recently couldn't even make it doing that. Now he's in his first semester at Hamline - same as me - getting licensed to teach communications.
Camping Gear Still Strewn About
I got off the water with Brooke and friends last Monday after a four-day canoe trip. It poured rain the last day out, so I hung up a makeshift clothesline in my room to dry stuff out. I've been slowly putting things away, but there's still plenty to go.
Craigslist Leads to Interesting and Potentially Helpful Guy
I have a new bike. His name is Jeconiah. Actually, he's just a new frame I bought with some birthday cash with all of my old components swapped over. I'm currently trying to sell some of the old parts that didn't transfer on Craigslist, and I missed a great trade opportunity by 4 hours. C.J. was the guy behind the almost trade and when I called him back today, he still took the time to ask about what I was looking for - a crank, long cage derailleur. He "knows people" and alerted me to the bargain finds to be had at local "swap meets." Apparently he trades for parts, builds up bikes and knows a lot of similar people. Though he only just met me over the phone, he'll "get back to me" with some potential used parts I'm looking for. Score(?).
Government Shut-down Foils Family Plans
Thanks to stubborn lawmakers in the State Capitol building that is just a few miles from my apartment the entire state government might shut down in 7 hours. News usually just passes in one ear and out the other, leaving me about as politically informed as my bicycle, but this story is hard to ignore. Several of my colleague are realizing they may not be getting paychecks this week - a sobering thought. Fortunately for me the worst direct impact on my life will be the closure of the state park Brooke, her family and I were going to relax in over the holiday weekend. One positive* side: perhaps the government contracted construction workers will stop loudly driving their bulldozers up and down my street while I'm trying to study.
New Study: Can Cookies Lead to Obesity?
My housemate Noor is apparently the lead researcher on this one. And I am the experimental group, n=1. He brought home a tray of 84 cookies that he received for free yesterday, and rather than eating them all he left a note reading "please, help yourself." Also, consider that Brooke and I are low on groceries and time to cook...
*really just for me. Again, mostly sobering for the actual workers.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Head Above Water
Turns out school is more difficult than I thought - at least when juggled with work, planning for a trip, job searching and having a life.
I'd write more, but notice how "blogging" didn't make the list of things with which I was juggling school.
Suffice it to say I have more [b]logs to post, I would like to keep blogging, and life is pretty busy right now. Presently I have some more Ed. Psych. to read before class tonight and a trip to the good ol' BWCAW slated for tomorrow.
[blub]
I'd write more, but notice how "blogging" didn't make the list of things with which I was juggling school.
Suffice it to say I have more [b]logs to post, I would like to keep blogging, and life is pretty busy right now. Presently I have some more Ed. Psych. to read before class tonight and a trip to the good ol' BWCAW slated for tomorrow.
[blub]
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