Farewell BYU!

I wanted to title this post with something super lame like, "Rise and Shout this Cougar is outta here," but that was WAY too lame, even for me so I just put in in the text of this post instead.

I'm done with my undergraduate career. The only thing left is for me to walk around in a weird-looking gown with hundreds of other people in order to be handed a fancy piece of paper that says I'm finished. Weird concept.

Looking back on my life as an undergrad student here at BYU has been nice, but I'm excited enough about my future that I am excited to move forward. I feel it is important to recognize some big events that have happened over the past 6 years. Twenty-five events or people to be specific.

25.

Freshman year my roommates and I put seasonal t-shirts on these ladies. It was so freshman-y.

24.

I was in BYU's Women's Chorus for 1 year. I got to be on TV.

23.

John Beck to Johnny Harline touchdown pass in the BYU-UTAH game. One of the best moments of my life.

22. I had my first boyfriend, Ben Pettit. It was fun. (Sorry, I don't have old boyfriend pictures).

21.

My roommates and our friends filled the front of my car with popcorn. It was the funniest prank I've ever heard of. Luckily the popcorn wasn't buttered!

20.

I met these two lovely ladies. Carolyn (Jackson) Hirz and Deidra (Kofoed) Law. We had an awesome time being roommates, and we're still friends.

19.

Cinco de Mustache party. One of the coolest parties I threw during my college career.

18.

My first summer in Provo. It really is so much more fun living in Provo during the summer! My ward did all sorts of fun activities all the time.

17.

I went on a mission. The best influence on my life yet.

16.

I came home from my mission.

15.

Lived at home for the summer.

14. Boyfriend #2, Andrew Baham.

13.

The Dream Palace. I love these girls! I was the awkward RM in the bunch if you can't tell.

12.

I started my program in the McKay School of Education.

11.

Harry Potter 7: Part 1 Premier. I was Bellatrix Lestrange.

10.

I moved to Banbridge Square. I don't have any pictures of Sarie and Dani and Lene together, but they're all awesome and I loved living with them!

9.

Jimmer.

8.

Second summer in Provo. Again, no pictures of Sarie but she was there too. This summer was way fun, lots of parties and pillow talk.

7.

Hiked Timp and the Y for the first time!

6.

I moved to Baywood with these lovely ladies (minus Sara, even though she is lovely as well).

5.

I got to spend time at two schools for a month each. The first school was a 2nd grade Riverside Elementary in West Jordan and the second one was a 6th grade Southland Elementary in Riverton.

4.

Harry Potter 7: Part 2 Premier. I was Sybil Trelawney.

3.

I student taught in 5th grade at Hobble Creek Elementary and 2nd grade at Art City Elementary and it was magical!

2.

Began looking for real-life teaching jobs.

1.

FINISHED COLLEGE!!!

Dr. Seuss Day Is TOMORROW!!!!!

So I had this wonderful thing called a Teacher Work Sample to do this semester. I turned in a 72-page document all about magnetism. I had to plan the unit, make lesson plans, teach the lessons, give the pre- and post- tests, and evaluate EVERYTHING. It was a beast. I turned it in February 27. Hooray!!!

Also on February 27 I changed schools and grades for student teaching. I absolutely LOVED my last school and grade and class and everything. I'm learning to love this one. Here's why:

The good:
* Amazing mentor teacher. She has 27 years of teaching experience and is so thorough in everything she does it is incredible to watch.
* Super cute kids. Second graders are always cute no matter what. Especially when you get to send them home at 2:45.
* Did I mention that Dr. Seuss Day is tomorrow? Oh, AND I get to go on a field trip to a FARM with these kids.

The other stuff:
* The school itself has been going through some changes because there is a new principal. She is really fun but is new so going from a wonderful principal to someone who is still learning the ropes has been interesting.
* There has been quite a bit of drama between teachers the past few weeks. Lame.
* My mentor teacher kind of talks to me like I'm one of her students. She calls me "honey" and "sweetie" all the time. It makes me feel a little awkward.

BYU has wisely had us split up our student teaching into two blocks. They also have you student teach in both a lower and an upper grade. This is wise because we are basically the full-time teacher by the end of our first placement. Then we have to come to another school and start again where you were two months ago. It is humbling, which I think we all need. In talking to all the other student teachers in my school they feel the same way I do about learning to love our classrooms.

I'm starting to look for teaching jobs too so if you have ANY pointers for me I would be grateful for them because I'm a tiny bit terrified and don't really know how to do this. I'm SUPER excited though because it means I'm going to have a real job someday!!! Hopefully in a few months!

Lastly, I ordered my cap and gown last night. I'm going to graduate from COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!

Future Plans

So first of all I feel that I should let everyone know that I am in love with teaching. I have absolutely found where I need and want to be with my career. I love teaching, I love planning, I love the students, and I love the school setting! It is so wonderful! I'm student teaching in a 5th grade right now and it is just dreamy because it is so amazing every single day. I am incredibly blessed to have been able to be led to this career. It's awesome.

Secondly, Aubrey and I were just talking about dating for some reason and we began talking about living together when we're old and having two or three dogs (not big, slimy, hairy ones, but cute, nice, and fun dogs) that we will allow in like one room of our house but otherwise keep outside, our aquarium with a few tropical fish that our pool boy will take care of(he'll wear a tasteful t-shirt with jeans but with a man-kini on the outside for comedic effect), and our chickens in our backyard. We decided that Pleasant Grove would be a good place to live and the most exciting factor of this home will be the bookshelves that are built in the walls. That honestly is a serious life goal of mine and is quite possibly a deal-breaker. If a man doesn't want lots of books, he chalks up loser points.

Anyway, Aubrey and I have agreed that our dear friend Rachel Ann Augustus will live with us and we made a list of other ladies we would be happy with including (but not limited to) Lauren Nielsen or Elisa Freeman. (Keep in mind readers that if you are not on this list it does not mean we don't like you, these are simply awesome people we both know well).

So this was a fun conversation that I wanted documentation of, hence the blog post. Anyone else want in on our awesome future dream home?

Tablecloth Trick

This was shown before work this morning:

Just so you know, this was actually fake, but it's hilarious! I think I've watched it ten times already.

My nephew is a star.

My nephew is Marty the Moose. He's totally the star of the show and so darn cute!

Duck, Duck, Goose

Today I played duck, duck goose with a 3-year-old, myself, and four wooden nutcrackers. It was the most exciting thing I did all day.

Teaching Advice from Mrs. Pippin's 6th Grade Class

My last day being in the 6th grade class I love so much was this past Monday. Because they are awesome and loved me, the class made a little booklet full of teaching advice for me. It was so adorable I had to share what they all wrote. These are as written, some grammar and spelling issues made it even better!

1. Don't make little kids cry

2. To become a good teacher you have to...
a. No yelling, because it might couse you a pretty good enemy.
b. Don't give ANY homework on the weekands!
c. Be a fun like teacher (by that I mean give out candy)
d. Dress up when the time is right :)
e. Have lots of fun games in the classroom.
But I don't think you will need all of this because you are a great student teacher.

3. Always have some sort of weekly prizes for winners! :)

4. Make sure you reward the students with parties!

5. Don't give out to much homework because kids hate it and get stressed out. Homework kills trees.

6. Never keep kids in for both recess's because kids are always needing to be outside. They need alot of exercise. And you should let kids bring snacks to school because it's better for the brain. * Included a drawing of a chunky squirrel.

7. You've been a good teacher keep in contact send mail to... (address included). Make some games for math and stay yourself and let the kids go out to recess.

8. I bet you will be an amazing teacher but here are a few tips...
a. Please do not keep your kids in from recess
b. Finish Red Pyramid and read 2nd book (a book the class was reading while I was there)
c. Keep being nice
d. Keep being awesome and cool and totally nice
* Included a picture of her with a card and gift for me and me wearing my lanyard.

9. You should always think of ways to do projects to help them

10. Don't choose a favorite student.

11. Have great patience, don't get mad easily or your students won't like you.

12. Keep your eyes peeled for kids passing notes, talking, and being rude. Keep up the good work.

13. Do not yell at the kids because they'll tell others

14. If you get the students to like you as a friend, you will have a great year with them.

15. When your a teacher you should give the kids money to come to school and candy let the kids have a no school party every mounth

16. You have been such a great teacher! You don't need any advice! I can't believe its time for you to tend your classes. Please come visit soon! I will miss you dearly!

17. Don't keep kids in side from recess. You should have a missing work board but not make kids stay inside.

18. Answer all the questions and don't skip anyone because people have different answers and it gets REALLY irritating when you don't call on them

19. Even though I know nothing about teaching school, I would advise you to always make learning fun for your student. I will miss you!

20. I wish you wouldn't leave but I know that you have school to tend to. I hope that you'll come back again so that we can see you. I know that you will be a great teacher. I don't have any advice because you work well with everyone! But I think that you can handle it from here

21. You have been amazing You don't want to keep kids in at recess because they will try there hardest with you being their teacher and hopefully you will get a student teacher nice like you wish you the best!

22. Be gental and kind to the kids and don't keep them in for lunch recess.

So I pretty much loved every single one of those. In case you didn't notice the trend with recess, a lot of students didn't like that part of not getting their work done. It was such a wonderful experience and I'm sad I'm gone but I know I'll get other awesome classes like this one. Had I gotten a job as an Intern I never would have had the chance to teach this class and I honestly think this may have been one of the reasons I didn't get selected as an Intern. This experience made me think about teaching so differently and gave me an incredible experience and wonderful classroom to work with. It was actually an accident that I was in this classroom, I was assigned to another teacher who had to cancel the day I came because her father was sick but then she decided she wanted me back! I did not switch back because I was already in this classroom and I am so grateful for every single one of these students and Mrs. Pippin! It was one of the best things I've been able to do with my education thus far.