As of about 6:30 yesterday evening, the Spring semester of 2009 is over. All that is left to do is wait for the grades to be posted, which should be by next Tuesday. My SPED 401 final should be the last final I will ever take in my undergraduate career (I'm assuming that a four day summer class will not involve a final, but I can't be sure until I start the class). All that is left is the four day summer class, student teaching, and the student teaching seminar. The seminar should only meet about 7 times during the semester, so that shouldn't be too terrible.
I'm trying to work out a time to meet with my cooperating teacher for next semester. I'd like to get a chance to see the school and have some idea of what I'm getting into. One of my placements is an early learning center, with about 400 students all aged 7 or under. That could be a bit of a test for me, but I'm looking forward to it anyways.
I've got some plans for the next couple of weeks before I leave for Seattle. I'd like to get the house a little more organized than it is, give it a good, although belated spring cleaning. I would also like to get some knitting done. I have been neglecting my hobbies in the craziness of this semester, only finishing a couple pairs of socks since finishing my Christmas knitting. I have the current cardigan and a pair of socks on the needles. I think I'm also going to cast on for Sheldon the Turtle today. I would like to have one finished to take out to Sophie when I go.
I've also decided, instead of creating a second blog to write about my student teaching experiences, I'm going to combine it with this blog. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to write one blog about, well, about nothing in particular, and write another about something.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Changes and Student Teacher Placement
As this long semester, which followed a first long semester draws to a close, I finally feel like there may just be an end in site to my seemingly endless pursuit of education. This is my last semester spent filled with classes. I finally will be student teaching next semester (and to prove just how good my education actually has been, I edited out student teachering, knowing that teachering is not a real word). I'm soon to be done with driving to Eau Claire an average of four days a week. That added up to 12 hours in the car a week, which means I spent the equvilant of two full days out of every month in my car. That's a depressing thought if I ever had one. But those days are done.
I will go from spending 12 hours a week in a car to spending 5 hours a week in a car. That's a big improvement in my book. A huge improvement, a monumental improvement. I'm gaining 7 hours a week. That's seven hours a week that I can spend knitting (or more likely writing lesson plans).
In the course of getting things done, I'm haven't been putting the time and energy into knitting that I should be. I've been focused much more on school (understandable, but depressing). However in another week and a day, I'll be able to devote much more time to my creative endeavors, and much less time to academic persuits. Well, until that stupid summer class, that'll take up a good portion of a week.
I've managed to create some more squares for my sock yarn blanket, that is about all that fits into the windows of spare time I can create right now. I've knit only about two rows on my black socks and done next to nothing on my cardigan.
Even though I have yet to contact my cooperating teachers, I've already started making plans for my student teaching next fall. Not so much the lessons I want to teach, but more of planning for time managment. My goal is to spend the summer organizing my class materials so that I have resources available to me when I start. I also want to chronical my experiences, so I'm
I will go from spending 12 hours a week in a car to spending 5 hours a week in a car. That's a big improvement in my book. A huge improvement, a monumental improvement. I'm gaining 7 hours a week. That's seven hours a week that I can spend knitting (or more likely writing lesson plans).
In the course of getting things done, I'm haven't been putting the time and energy into knitting that I should be. I've been focused much more on school (understandable, but depressing). However in another week and a day, I'll be able to devote much more time to my creative endeavors, and much less time to academic persuits. Well, until that stupid summer class, that'll take up a good portion of a week.
I've managed to create some more squares for my sock yarn blanket, that is about all that fits into the windows of spare time I can create right now. I've knit only about two rows on my black socks and done next to nothing on my cardigan.
Even though I have yet to contact my cooperating teachers, I've already started making plans for my student teaching next fall. Not so much the lessons I want to teach, but more of planning for time managment. My goal is to spend the summer organizing my class materials so that I have resources available to me when I start. I also want to chronical my experiences, so I'm
going to be adding those posts to the infrequent posts I make on here.
Starting now...
So, Monday I recieved my placement information, and it would be difficult to make me too much happier (well, thus far, I've yet to actually talk to my cooperating teachers). I'm only thirty minutues from home. Instead of the usually student teaching placement, split into quaters, I will be dividing my time three ways, between three teachers. I'm left with the freedom to work out how my time will be divided with my teachers.
Two of my placements are with students with cognitive disabilities. One at the early elementry level, grades 1 and 2, and the other at the middle school. The third placement is also at the middle school level, working with students with learning disabilities. I'm reluctant to add any more identifiers to the description, out of respect for the privacy of the students and teachers (yeah, yeah, I'm such a professional).
I'll be contacting my cooperating teachers on Monday. I'm nervous and excited.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Scrap Sock Yarn Blanket
I've been looking for a way to use up the unused remains of sock yarn that I just can't seem to throw away. After searching ravelry, I settled on the Scrap Yarn blanket, which is made up of a bunch of little squares that require very little yarn to create. I started working on my first couple of squares, and have been pleased with the results.
This is a great project for me because: 1) the squares take very little time to knit, great for my short attention span, 2) I can set aside this project for extended periods of time and pick it up again with little thinking, 3) I can make a blanket without spending any additional money, 4) the finished project will be fun, pretty, and brightly colored, 5) it is a perfect excuse to knit a lot of socks.
However, I failed to consider: 1) these squares are little, it will take FOREVER to make this blanket, 2) they don't use up much yarn, so it will be awhile before I am able to finish off any yarn, 3) after I create enough squares to make the first row, I begin to join squares together, which will make the project pretty non-portable, 4) there are going to be a TON of loose ends to weave in, and I hate weaving in ends, 5) because there will be multiple squares of each color, and because I'm building the blanket as I go, there are going to be groupings of each sock yarn color, which may make the finished product look bad (or good, I'm holding out for good), 6) I'm going to have to knit a lot of socks.
At any rate, it is going to keep me occupied for some time. As I start a new project, I can't help but consider that right now I should be spending less time on knitting, and more on finishing the semester. Each evening it seems like I have less and less time to spend on knitting. But the end of the semester is fast approaching, and summer should see a dramatic increase in the amount of time I can spend knitting.
The end of the semester cannot come soon enough, though when I think about the amount of stuff I have to do, it will probably also come too soon.
This is a great project for me because: 1) the squares take very little time to knit, great for my short attention span, 2) I can set aside this project for extended periods of time and pick it up again with little thinking, 3) I can make a blanket without spending any additional money, 4) the finished project will be fun, pretty, and brightly colored, 5) it is a perfect excuse to knit a lot of socks.
However, I failed to consider: 1) these squares are little, it will take FOREVER to make this blanket, 2) they don't use up much yarn, so it will be awhile before I am able to finish off any yarn, 3) after I create enough squares to make the first row, I begin to join squares together, which will make the project pretty non-portable, 4) there are going to be a TON of loose ends to weave in, and I hate weaving in ends, 5) because there will be multiple squares of each color, and because I'm building the blanket as I go, there are going to be groupings of each sock yarn color, which may make the finished product look bad (or good, I'm holding out for good), 6) I'm going to have to knit a lot of socks.
At any rate, it is going to keep me occupied for some time. As I start a new project, I can't help but consider that right now I should be spending less time on knitting, and more on finishing the semester. Each evening it seems like I have less and less time to spend on knitting. But the end of the semester is fast approaching, and summer should see a dramatic increase in the amount of time I can spend knitting.
The end of the semester cannot come soon enough, though when I think about the amount of stuff I have to do, it will probably also come too soon.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Basic (or Boring) Black (Project Talk)
After a day of Doctor Who, homework, and knitting; (more knitting than homework...perhaps I would be less stressed if I prioritized better) I've finished the Show-off Stranded Socks. They turned out absolutely beautiful, perhaps they will be my favorite socks. The yarn and pattern worked wonderfully together. I'm also including finished photos of the finished baby blankets for my niece and nephew. I'm pretty happy with how they both turned out.
So, finishing one pair of socks of course means that I will be starting on another pair. Instead of using one of my many, many beautiful handdyed sock yarns, I'm making ones out of some basic black sock yarn. (well, actually kettle dyed sock yarn, so there is some variation in the color of the yarn, but not much) I'm going to do a cloverleaf lace rib design to add some interest, but these socks have the potential to be very, very boring. I'm also continuing to work on the Lily cardigan, I'm a few rows short of dividing the body from the sleeves. I'd also like to get a start on the blanket I'm going to make out of all my scraps of sock yarn. It is basically a patchwork of little diamonds. It will be a long term project, but it is a good use for my scraps of sock yarn. I am anxiously awaiting summer so I have more time to devote to my knitting. I've got a pile of projects on my to do list.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
And the probability that I will be bald by the end of the semester increases
s the end of the semester draws nearer, my workload and stress seem to be increasing. So, I am doing the logical thing, of course, by using my free time to complain about it instead of working. Well, in all fairness, I'm flipping back and forth between this screen and another so I can search for articles while I complain, I'm not happy unless I'm multitasking. At any rate, I feel the intense desire to pull out my hair many times a day.
Tuesday, everything piled on me at once and brought about a huge panic attack. I've been expecting this attack to come for some time now, but I actually thought it would manifest last week, when I had two presentations in one day. But like all good attacks, this one waited until I wasn't expecting it, then struck. I suppose it is not an attack if I can predict its coming. Anyways, so I found myself in my car, on the side of the road, crying, and feeling like there was no one in the world for me to talk to. I've been feeling isolated a lot lately, and that may have added to the panic attack.
It is just beginning to feel like there are less and less hours each day. I'm also really beginning to resent the hell out of my drive to Eau Claire and back four days a week. I used to find it relaxing, but now I spend it dwelling on the things I could be doing if I was don't spending almost three hours a day in my car. It probably also does not help that I'm currently listening to the world's most annoying audio book, and I can't stop listening to it because I can't not finish a book. And, to top things off, the will be no new episodes of The Bugle for the next two weeks. There goes my reason for getting up on Monday mornings. (okay, I should remember that I have several previous episodes stored on my ipod for just such an occasion, so if I get desperate I can always revisit monkey news or a 60 foot roof penis. God help me, I'm a married twenty-seven year old woman, and I still find a story about a kid painting a giant penis on his parents roof funny...that's why I love spending time with middle school students).
So, even though it is spring, I'm convinced that the days are getting shorter, not longer. Meals at home are a rare occasion. Most likely if you went into the kitchen, you would discover the only appliance not covered in dust would be my coffee makers. Yes, coffee makerS. I am the proud owner of three coffee makers, an espresso machine, a french press for everyday use, and a regular drip machine for days when the french press isn't going to make enough coffee.
At any rate (found 1 article!), I'm recovering from the panic attack, and feel better that when comparing notes with classmates, discovering that many of them feel as overwhelmed as I. This makes me feel (found article 2, now I just need two more and I'll be set for next week). If I'm going to be mired down with stress and work, its good to have company. So with the pile of abstracts, papers, summaries, chapter problems, assessments, essays, exams, website building, lesson plans, transition planning, and other tasks to accomplish by the end of the semester comes due, I can rest assured that I will not be the only one burning the midnight oil in the computer lab, or panicing while working and watching Doctor Who (okay, still might be the only one doing that, but what can I do, I'm a nerd.)
And it's time for class. Hopefully, I'll get a tighter grip on things and be able to post more, cheerier news.
Tuesday, everything piled on me at once and brought about a huge panic attack. I've been expecting this attack to come for some time now, but I actually thought it would manifest last week, when I had two presentations in one day. But like all good attacks, this one waited until I wasn't expecting it, then struck. I suppose it is not an attack if I can predict its coming. Anyways, so I found myself in my car, on the side of the road, crying, and feeling like there was no one in the world for me to talk to. I've been feeling isolated a lot lately, and that may have added to the panic attack.
It is just beginning to feel like there are less and less hours each day. I'm also really beginning to resent the hell out of my drive to Eau Claire and back four days a week. I used to find it relaxing, but now I spend it dwelling on the things I could be doing if I was don't spending almost three hours a day in my car. It probably also does not help that I'm currently listening to the world's most annoying audio book, and I can't stop listening to it because I can't not finish a book. And, to top things off, the will be no new episodes of The Bugle for the next two weeks. There goes my reason for getting up on Monday mornings. (okay, I should remember that I have several previous episodes stored on my ipod for just such an occasion, so if I get desperate I can always revisit monkey news or a 60 foot roof penis. God help me, I'm a married twenty-seven year old woman, and I still find a story about a kid painting a giant penis on his parents roof funny...that's why I love spending time with middle school students).
So, even though it is spring, I'm convinced that the days are getting shorter, not longer. Meals at home are a rare occasion. Most likely if you went into the kitchen, you would discover the only appliance not covered in dust would be my coffee makers. Yes, coffee makerS. I am the proud owner of three coffee makers, an espresso machine, a french press for everyday use, and a regular drip machine for days when the french press isn't going to make enough coffee.
At any rate (found 1 article!), I'm recovering from the panic attack, and feel better that when comparing notes with classmates, discovering that many of them feel as overwhelmed as I. This makes me feel (found article 2, now I just need two more and I'll be set for next week). If I'm going to be mired down with stress and work, its good to have company. So with the pile of abstracts, papers, summaries, chapter problems, assessments, essays, exams, website building, lesson plans, transition planning, and other tasks to accomplish by the end of the semester comes due, I can rest assured that I will not be the only one burning the midnight oil in the computer lab, or panicing while working and watching Doctor Who (okay, still might be the only one doing that, but what can I do, I'm a nerd.)
And it's time for class. Hopefully, I'll get a tighter grip on things and be able to post more, cheerier news.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Spring Cleaning
In an effort to better prepare for 2009, (I know, nothing like getting an early jump on things by planning for 2009 in March of 2009) Jeff and I spent a good part of Saturday doing some cleaning/ unpacking/ decrapping of the house. While this is not an ideal way for me to spend a rare Saturday off (which was only finagled by begging people to switch around their shifts), it proved to be a worthwhile way to spend a Saturday, not every Saturday, but every now and then, it doesn't hurt.
After sending about 8 boxes of clothing to Goodwill, and realizing exactly how little of my wardrobe I actually wear, I set about attempting to organize my knitting. In the spirit of cleaning out my closet, I took a hard look at a couple of my projects, and determined that I would be more likely to restart the whole thing than ever finish the current one. Sadly, one of the projects that fell into this category was the banded peasant blouse, which, despite my enthusiastic start and overall love of the project, was over shadowed by my poor yarn selection. The yarn did not work with the pattern, and I ended up throwing the whole thing away with only about five inches left to go. I may restart this someday, with a better yarn choice, but we're going to put it on the maybe pile for right now, and not even add it back to my ravelry queue. Another such project was my Cheshire Cat Stole, which was going reasonably well, considering that it was my first real lace project (and my first project with beads). However, the process was set aside first for the move, then for Christmas knitting, then because I stepped on and broke one of the needles, then for the baby blankets, and during all the setting aside time, someone, (I suspect Minerva) take the project and remove half the stitches from the cable. I couldn't bring myself to sort out the mess of dropped stitches, and thus gave up. It actually felt like a bit of a weight was lifted off of me, by allowing myself to give up on these projects, I eased the guilt I was feeling about not wanting to work on the projects.
Progress on the new projects is going well. I am about halfway done with the raglan increases for the lily cardigan, and have just finished the gusset decreases on the second diagonal rib sock. I've chosen the next pattern (show-off stranded socks) and yarn (Sunshine yarn's twist in Weezley Wizard Wheezes) for my next pair of socks, which provides the motivation to keep working on the current pair of socks. (I may not have much self-discipline, but I only allow myself to work on one pair of socks at a time.
I'll update with pictures of the latest projects soon!
After sending about 8 boxes of clothing to Goodwill, and realizing exactly how little of my wardrobe I actually wear, I set about attempting to organize my knitting. In the spirit of cleaning out my closet, I took a hard look at a couple of my projects, and determined that I would be more likely to restart the whole thing than ever finish the current one. Sadly, one of the projects that fell into this category was the banded peasant blouse, which, despite my enthusiastic start and overall love of the project, was over shadowed by my poor yarn selection. The yarn did not work with the pattern, and I ended up throwing the whole thing away with only about five inches left to go. I may restart this someday, with a better yarn choice, but we're going to put it on the maybe pile for right now, and not even add it back to my ravelry queue. Another such project was my Cheshire Cat Stole, which was going reasonably well, considering that it was my first real lace project (and my first project with beads). However, the process was set aside first for the move, then for Christmas knitting, then because I stepped on and broke one of the needles, then for the baby blankets, and during all the setting aside time, someone, (I suspect Minerva) take the project and remove half the stitches from the cable. I couldn't bring myself to sort out the mess of dropped stitches, and thus gave up. It actually felt like a bit of a weight was lifted off of me, by allowing myself to give up on these projects, I eased the guilt I was feeling about not wanting to work on the projects.
Progress on the new projects is going well. I am about halfway done with the raglan increases for the lily cardigan, and have just finished the gusset decreases on the second diagonal rib sock. I've chosen the next pattern (show-off stranded socks) and yarn (Sunshine yarn's twist in Weezley Wizard Wheezes) for my next pair of socks, which provides the motivation to keep working on the current pair of socks. (I may not have much self-discipline, but I only allow myself to work on one pair of socks at a time.
I'll update with pictures of the latest projects soon!
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