First Time "In Charge"

I ran my first class today. My cooperating teacher had some training for first hour, and although there was a sub, she asked me to run the class. I didn't have to instruct, just monitor group discussions. All in all, it went very well...the students were on task and seemed to listen ok.

I think they are getting used to my presence. I was asked legitimate questions for the first time today, and someone actually addressed me by name. It is a good feeling to know that students are starting to view me as a c0-teacher in the room rather than simply a random guy who sits at a desk and watches what's going on.

Fourth hour brought my pet peeve...well, one of them. A student right in front of me was sleeping in class, and persisted even after being told by both of us to wake up and do something. I find sleeping in class disrespectful. I mean, come on, even teachers are tired sometimes but how hard is it to stay awake for an hour until one gets to go home?

Week One Down...

Well, I survived my first week as a student teacher...well, three day week anyway. It wasn't too tough, since the first few weeks are mostly observation and preparation.

Of course Wednesday, each hour started off with kids whispering "Who's that guy?" I was introduced but won't get to know this crop too well, since the new semester starts in two weeks, and the new semester means new kids.

Thursday I had the experience of a fire alarm, and of working with a sub for the afternoon. I had to supervise one class in the computer lab, and was reminded how dumb some kids must think I am...I may be new to this, but I'm pretty sure messing around on AOL.COM has nothing to do with schoolwork.

Friday I was told I could go explore the school while an exam was being taken. I walked around and found some places...the IMC, the mail, the copy room and etc. and introduced myself to folks in those areas, including some administrators and secretaries. I am still amazed at the expansiveness of the building...significantly larger than my high school, yet with fewer students...who probably don't realize what a facility they have.

The biggest adjustment so far is settling into the role. It is strange walking into a school and realizing you are a teacher and not a student. Even then, I think it's kind of an in between stage for first few days...the kids don't know me, I don't know them, and they're not "my classes", so it's a lot of feeling my way around and figuring out how much "authority" or lack thereof I have to do things as simple as telling them to get on task when my cooperating teacher steps out to run to the office or another room and leaves me "in charge."

It's going to be an interesting and fun few weeks, to be sure.

Relaxing Holiday

Well, I am back in Bemidji after 10 days at home. What did I do?

• Hung out with my parents and sister.
• Spent some time with friends
• Ate out a couple of times
• Went to the British Ad Awards screening at the Walker-a yearly tradition with Mom.
• Slept...a lot
• Was generally lazy

Now I am anticipating my first day at BHS. Talked to cooperating teacher tonight and it sounds like we are on the same page, which is good. It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.

A Night Out, to an Unexpected Place

Friday evening I had the pleasure of visiting with my good friends Brent and Derek, and another friend of theirs. I also had the chance to keep a long standing promise to go out on the town with them in Minneapolis. Stops included The Saloon and The Local.

Yes, if you know Minneapolis, you know one of those is a gay bar. This was after several reassurances that yes, I had no problem going if they wanted me to go along, and I could handle a little "culture shock." Really, I found it to be not much different than your average club except for the preponderance of men. And an evening with friends is always enjoyable no matter where one is.

Perhaps the funniest part of the whole thing was explaining where I had been the following day.

My mother: "You danced??!"...yes, and I usually do not.

My sister: "Did anyone hit on you?"...no

My friend RS: "Oh, I've been to The Saloon!"...this from the last person I would ever expect to go to a gay bar, being that she is both straight and not a bar fly at all...and is under 21. Apparently she went with a friend on 18+ night.

Quite the evening.

It's a New Year

Happy 2007 to everyone in the Blogosphere!!

Home for the Holidays

After a long bus trip yesterday afternoon, I have arrived home for Christmas and New Year's. I don't get home much so it is kind of nice.

What I've Been Up To...

Wow...the last substantive post I made was right after Thanksgiving! I guess I'm about due, eh? Although as I've said before, posting ought to be more about content than frequency of posts.

Well, let's see. In the last few weeks:

• We welcomed a new Senate VP, Steph, who I think is going to be an absolute rock star this spring. Could not ask for a better team at the top.
• We had a great conference...all 14 of us. I continue to feel really good about the amount of interest our Senate has in MSUSA.
  
• I became a Board Member of MSUSA at the aforementioned conference. I must give major props to everyone who, as Laura put it, "Caucused the hell out of it" to get me elected. So, to April, Laura, Steph, Mitch, and everyone else who I can't think to link to...Thanks!! And of course there's Cody, without who's encouragement I might not have decided to run again. I only hope that I am able to carry out this position in a manner that will make not only this Senate, but all seven, proud.

And school-wise:

• I got through my World Lit and Campaigns and Elections finals
• I finally finished the paper for World Lit
• Battled SPSS for Inquiry
• Got my student teaching assignment--at BHS starting Jan. 3
  

Labels

I was going to sit here and label all my previous posts since I'm now converted to the new Blogger...I've decided that's a bit much work.

Testing

Testing the new Beta

Tragic Coincidences

In the spring of 2002, I was a Senior in high school. That was the year I was on Student Council, so I wanted to experience everything that Council was part of, even the Junior/Senior Prom. Yes, it meant breaking a Fishing Opener tradition, but Dad was ok with that...there is an Opener every year and only one Senior Prom.

Since I wasn't seeing anyone, my friend Tina set me up to go as her sister's date in a group with her and some other friends. Except for her, none of us was dating the guy or gal we accompanied so it was just a fun evening shared with friends.

That same year, my sister accompanied her then-boyfriend, who was a Senior like me. They had a wonderful, memorable evening as well.

Fast forward...

Labor Day 2003: My friend, the sister of my prom date, is killed in a motorcycle crash.

Thanksgiving Day 2006: The brother of my sister's former boyfriend and 02 prom date is killed in a motorcycle crash. The cycle had been a birthday gift just weeks ago. He was 20.

Both college sophomores, wonderful kids and so full of life. Both siblings of our prom dates. Both lives taken far too soon. An eerie, tragic coincidence.

If one needed a reason never to get on a motorcycle, this is it.

Rest in Peace, Tina and Brandon. Know that those of us who knew you will always remember the wonderful people you were.

Time to "Think Big"

I have been involved in student government a long time. In that time, I have seen the group ebb and flow...some months and years have been better than others. Nothing you do is always perfect. Just a couple of weeks ago I was writing on this blog about bumps in the road.

However, in the last couple of weeks I have also come to realize just what we are doing this year. It is not every day that students, faculty, and alumni come up to you and say things like "That bill was excellent", "I admire you", "He's a rock star" or the simple, yet powerful "Thank you for your work."

As my colleagues and I have discussed of late, it is very easy to get caught in the day to day kinds of functions we are required to fulfill, like going to such and such meeting or reviewing new policy. Much Senate business is reactive--we offer a response to an administrative proposal.

In the last month or two however, it seems like things are being taken a step further. Proposals are being reviewed, but along with that come suggestions for improvements. And folks are speaking up and asking questions. There are some things in the pipeline, that if done right will impact BSU in the long term.

It's time to "Think Big" and I'm glad I'm around to see it.

Not So Mighty?

Last night, the scroll ball on my Wireless Mighty Mouse quit working.

This morning I spent an hour on the phone with Apple.

They are sending me a new mouse.

Hopefully it will be mighty enough to last more than a couple of months.

Something From "The Lodge"

Checking out "The Lodge" today, I came across this post. Apparently, the U is considering adding language to their conduct policy that would punish students for off campus violations if they were serious enough.

Read the full article on wcco.com.

Definite food for thought for a student leader, especially as we've been discussing honor and conduct codes this past week. The big question related to this article--who decides which offenses are "serious" enough??

Election 2006

Well, yesterday was certainly an interesting one. I spent it in the office hanging out and answering election queries before heading over to the local DFL celebration with other friends.
Hanging out at a party soiree like that was a new experience It was a good time, and the energy was positive because they did very well.

Let's see:

• Moe won re-election and Olson unseated Ruud.
• Amy Klobuchar becomes MN's first woman US Senator--and I met her the other day.
  
• DFL took control of MN House and kept Senate, but Pawlenty kept the Governor's office. It will be interesting to see how things play out over the next couple of years.
• Democrats took US House and the US Senate, Of course they will have to contend with Bush and vice versa...which means a slow couple of years.
• The Event Center passed, albeit by a slim 44 votes.

The downers...

• Michelle Bachmann wins the 6th...UGH!
• Hal and Zac both lost to incumbents. They are both young and will (hopefully) try again some day.
  

It's Election Day

VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Proud BSU Student Am I

This photograph was taken last week outside Royalton on Highway 10, and sent by our illustrious student body president to the Marketing Director with subject line "The Greatest Image Ever"

Me, the king of silly pictures and out of context quotes.

Whirlwind

It's hard for me to comprehend the past two or so weeks. They have been a rollercoaster of emotions surrounding my three "lives"...personal, professional and academic. Mostly the latter two.

First came the midterms. Those stressed me out. I felt like I did not have a grasp of them at all but ended up with high Bs and low As, which caused me to breathe a sigh of relief. Now I must worry about my thesis...I think I know where I'm headed but it has been slower going than expected. The data portion has frustrated me most...I have it but my SPSS version will not read the documents I need!

Then come the bumps in the road we have faced in Senate. It's probably no worse than I have been though before but I have felt like I was in the middle of, and even contributed to, a lot of drama. We all have lately, and it hasn't been the greatest use of time--something I realized through many conversations with a certain friend and colleague who has usually been able to help me put things in pretty good perspective. And I'm thankful beyond words for that. Everyone needs a person or two to keep them "grounded".

Of course the MSUSA conference this past weekend had its share of drama too. Our State Chair, a colleague for several years, decided to step down after this semester. While everyone understands it was a decision he had to make, it's sad to see him go.

I was asked yesterday how I was doing lately. My honest response was that I am hanging in there and have been pretty stressed. This week has seemed better and I hope it stays that way.

What a Week

And it's only Wednesday. Enough said.

Oh well, at least I don't have class tomorrow. The beauty of having two classes the same day with the same prof who decided to cancel for the day.

"Crash"

Tonight I had the opportunity to watch the movie Crash. It was screened on campus...an event put on by the newly formed "Diversity Jam" group.

Wow...what a picture. It was powerful...sad. It was so interesting to see the different perspectives the characters had. It really brought home the point that everyone has their own struggles and set of prejudices. And I found that the score was quite good as well...bought the soundtrack.

Definitely a movie worth watching.

A Busy Week, But Productive Too

• Took two midterms--I feel comfident about the Campaigns and Elections one, but not so much about the World Lit one.
• Did one of the pieces of my campaign analysis project
• Turned in my grad plans...now officially filed to graduate in May...a little scary, but good.
• Met about my poli sci thesis, which is starting to come together, at least I know where I'm going with it...if only I could fast forward through the whole data collection and entry part.
• Did lots of little things around the office, and helped our speaker with the meeting since Cody is gone and Bruce was temporarily mute.
• and plenty more...