So here we are at the end of yet another year. I think it's a sign that I'm getting older that the years seem to go by a lot faster now. Who made that rule? I'm definitely not a fan.
In the past year, I have changed my job and my home, and both were wonderful, positive changes. I am about 4 classes away from my Masters degree in English Education, which is pretty darn cool. Yes, I'm going to make my students call me Master Farrell for a little while after I get that degree. ;) I have been taking a break from theater this fall, and I've loved it. The break helped me re-charge my batteries and remember who I am as a person, not just as a teacher. I hosted my second annual Home-Cooked Meal for Former Theater Students, and it was a riot. I'm so blessed to have worked with such tremendously talented, intelligent, and just GOOD kids.
I have been thinking about and could write about all the things from the past year that I wasn't so happy about. In fact, that's kind of my nature--to ignore the good stuff and obsess over the not-so-good stuff. But I'm not going to do that this year. What is done is done and it's not worth any more energy or worry. It's water under the bridge.
Instead, now, on the eve of 2009, is the time to look forward with hope, optimism, and love toward what the next 365 days will bring. I am hoping that 2009 will involve love, happiness, good health, wonderful friends, a credit card with a balance of 0, and a pair of size 10 pants. :)
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
May you begin 2009 with a spirit too high to be encumbered by your old nonsense! Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Big Changes...
Well, it's been awhile and a lot has changed. As I type, I'm sitting in a computer lab at Chaska High School, learning about the technology we'll be using this coming school year.
Big Change #1: I got a wonderful new job! I will be teaching Language Arts and Theater at Pioneer Ridge Freshmen Center in Chaska. I've met my new colleagues and they are wonderful. Also, my room is so big and pretty and has windows to the outside! :)
Big Change #2: I moved! I'm now living in Minneapolis, off of Loring Park, with a girlfriend from college. The apartment is very nice and I'm enjoying accomodating to city life after three years of suburban life. I'm starting to get the hang of the bus system, and I've discovered the quickest way to get to Chaska.
Other than that, life is just zipping along. I took two grad classes this summer, so I'm now halfway through my Masters program, which is super exciting. I've gone to several weddings of family and friends and I've made it up to the cabin several times.
Also, I have two book recommendations to share:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Hilarious and moving story about a young Indian boy who leaves his reservation each day to attend the local White high school.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah: Incredible story about a young boy who loses his family during the civil war in Sierra Leone and is recruited into the government army at age 13. Absolutely mesmerizing and heartbreaking and full of hope.
Big Change #1: I got a wonderful new job! I will be teaching Language Arts and Theater at Pioneer Ridge Freshmen Center in Chaska. I've met my new colleagues and they are wonderful. Also, my room is so big and pretty and has windows to the outside! :)
Big Change #2: I moved! I'm now living in Minneapolis, off of Loring Park, with a girlfriend from college. The apartment is very nice and I'm enjoying accomodating to city life after three years of suburban life. I'm starting to get the hang of the bus system, and I've discovered the quickest way to get to Chaska.
Other than that, life is just zipping along. I took two grad classes this summer, so I'm now halfway through my Masters program, which is super exciting. I've gone to several weddings of family and friends and I've made it up to the cabin several times.
Also, I have two book recommendations to share:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Hilarious and moving story about a young Indian boy who leaves his reservation each day to attend the local White high school.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah: Incredible story about a young boy who loses his family during the civil war in Sierra Leone and is recruited into the government army at age 13. Absolutely mesmerizing and heartbreaking and full of hope.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
My love/hate relationship with technology...
I'm currently having my students create blogs and contribute to a class wiki as part of our reading The Secret Life of Bees. I think the general idea of the whole thing is going to turn out really, really well, but it is frustrating as heck trying to get there. The set-up process and learning curve are so enormous that it makes me want to yank out my hair. I just have to get over this first hill to the point where they get what they're doing and all will be better.
Something that I've discovered that's interesting about my students is how unwilling they are to problem-solve on their own. It seems as though, if they don't get it the first time, they get completely deflated, give up, and call me over to help them. Where's the eagerness to get in and muck around with stuff until you figure it out? Where's the willingness to make mistakes so you can learn from them? I hope this will teach them that it's okay to do that, especially when you're learning how to do something new.
Other than class today, life is okay. It's getting harder to listen to people talk about school here next year when I know I won't be here. I don't feel at all invested in decisions that are being made because they won't affect me, and staying focused on my work is getting more and more difficult. People are frustrating me too. I don't want people's pity, so I'm trying to stay positive, but just because outwardly I'm smiling doesn't mean that inwardly I'm okay with having people talk carte blanche about next year like it doesn't affect me or bother me. I'm beginning to get a little worried... okay more than a little worried about finding a job for next year and there are some very big questions I need to answer to help me make the right decision, like do I still want to teach? Do I want to do something else? Am I willing to move? If so, where? Out-state Minnesota? Out-of-state? Overseas? Ah!!!!!!!!
I guess that's about it for right now. With any luck, the next post will be less stressed and moe positive. :)
Something that I've discovered that's interesting about my students is how unwilling they are to problem-solve on their own. It seems as though, if they don't get it the first time, they get completely deflated, give up, and call me over to help them. Where's the eagerness to get in and muck around with stuff until you figure it out? Where's the willingness to make mistakes so you can learn from them? I hope this will teach them that it's okay to do that, especially when you're learning how to do something new.
Other than class today, life is okay. It's getting harder to listen to people talk about school here next year when I know I won't be here. I don't feel at all invested in decisions that are being made because they won't affect me, and staying focused on my work is getting more and more difficult. People are frustrating me too. I don't want people's pity, so I'm trying to stay positive, but just because outwardly I'm smiling doesn't mean that inwardly I'm okay with having people talk carte blanche about next year like it doesn't affect me or bother me. I'm beginning to get a little worried... okay more than a little worried about finding a job for next year and there are some very big questions I need to answer to help me make the right decision, like do I still want to teach? Do I want to do something else? Am I willing to move? If so, where? Out-state Minnesota? Out-of-state? Overseas? Ah!!!!!!!!
I guess that's about it for right now. With any luck, the next post will be less stressed and moe positive. :)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
First non-class related post!
I realized that I haven't posted anthing here in some time, so I felt I probably should do a little updating.
Life went wild in December and the wildness has been changing and shifting in and out of different areas of my life since then. I finished directing The Laramie Project at MGSH last month, which was an incredible experience. The students were so committed and wonderful to work with that I was a sad to see it end, but relieved to have my after school time back. :)
In February I was finally forced to acknowledge that I'm not Superwoman nor am I invincible. My years of perfectionism and people-pleasing finally caught up to me. I discovered that I suffer from anxiety (that's where those panic attacks were coming from!) and am on the road to dealing with it. I'm happy to repotr that I'm doing 10 million times better than I was in February, and I am finally learning to say "no" and not take on quite so much. :)
Bad news quickly follows on the heels of good, though. The school district in which I work--District 279: Osseo Area Schools--failed to pass all of our levy referendum questions this past fall, so we are cutting $16 million from our budget. Elementary schools are closing and people are being let go left and right. My school is faced with the task of cutting 13 positions from our building and is anticipating average class sizes around 40 next year due to our "reduction in force." Needless to say, I'm very concerned about my job, but this situation also brings up questions of whether or not I want to continue teaching if class sizes are going to be that large. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and not get too stressed out. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
Despite it all, life is going pretty well. My students are, for the most part, really wonderful. They have their days, some more often than others, but don't we all? We're currently gearing up for the MCA II Test in Reading, which is the test they have to pass to graduate. It's also the test the government uses to measure Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which I think is, though well-intentioned--a pile of (CRAP). :) My family is doing well and are excited to get up to the cabin this summer to do some painting and remodeling. I've already been to one Twins game this year and I'm ready for the warmer weather and the sun and more Joe Mauer. :)
That's enough for now. Until later...
Life went wild in December and the wildness has been changing and shifting in and out of different areas of my life since then. I finished directing The Laramie Project at MGSH last month, which was an incredible experience. The students were so committed and wonderful to work with that I was a sad to see it end, but relieved to have my after school time back. :)
In February I was finally forced to acknowledge that I'm not Superwoman nor am I invincible. My years of perfectionism and people-pleasing finally caught up to me. I discovered that I suffer from anxiety (that's where those panic attacks were coming from!) and am on the road to dealing with it. I'm happy to repotr that I'm doing 10 million times better than I was in February, and I am finally learning to say "no" and not take on quite so much. :)
Bad news quickly follows on the heels of good, though. The school district in which I work--District 279: Osseo Area Schools--failed to pass all of our levy referendum questions this past fall, so we are cutting $16 million from our budget. Elementary schools are closing and people are being let go left and right. My school is faced with the task of cutting 13 positions from our building and is anticipating average class sizes around 40 next year due to our "reduction in force." Needless to say, I'm very concerned about my job, but this situation also brings up questions of whether or not I want to continue teaching if class sizes are going to be that large. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and not get too stressed out. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
Despite it all, life is going pretty well. My students are, for the most part, really wonderful. They have their days, some more often than others, but don't we all? We're currently gearing up for the MCA II Test in Reading, which is the test they have to pass to graduate. It's also the test the government uses to measure Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which I think is, though well-intentioned--a pile of (CRAP). :) My family is doing well and are excited to get up to the cabin this summer to do some painting and remodeling. I've already been to one Twins game this year and I'm ready for the warmer weather and the sun and more Joe Mauer. :)
That's enough for now. Until later...
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