Ways My Life Has Changed Since the Last Post...and How You Can Keep Praying!

• I graduated college!
• I passed my Praxis test, most unexpectedly. I thought that I did absolutely horrible on the essays, but I was wrong.
• I finally got rid of my car! While it is a huge blessing to finally be free from "Miss Beatrice," it also hurts to have that part of my independence gone. Thankfully, my sister is willing to share her car with me for the time being. I've decided that I'm not going to buy another car until I can afford a decent one. Until that happens, I will be relying on my sister and the bus.
• I started searching and applying for a variety of jobs. I don't have my teaching license yet, due to the fact that I need a job just to afford the application fee. I've applied to 6 or 7 retail openings in the area around my home. My goal is to get a job that pays the bills for right now and then figure out my career later.
• I finally got an interview! I was getting a little down about the fact that no one had called me back. Two days after I submitted my resume to a bridal shop, the manager called me back! So, I have an interview 10 AM on Tuesday. Yay!

Ode to The Car Which Was Hell-Bent On Its Owner's Devastation

Miss Beatrice, my time with you is finally done.

Because of you, my dignity was overrun.

For ten long months you sought my demise;

I know now that purchasing you was unwise.

The oil-burning engine left a putrid aroma.

The carbon monoxide could have put me in a coma.

But all of your attacks I have survived

Though, of oxygen my brain was deprived.

Pushing, sliding, cracking, jumping

Why were you so intent on abusing?

Since March, you’ve run up a bill quite nice,

More than thirty-five times the trade-in price!

Now I’ve gone and sold you to the junkyard

Still, my budget and existence are truly scarred.

Though your existence I surely abhor,

You won all the battles, but I won the war.

It hasn't quite hit me yet...

...that I am graduating in five days! Nearly four months ago, I began what seemed like the longest and most intimidating semester of my life...but I came out on the other side alive!

I was so blessed to work with some of the most generous first grade families I have encountered yet. At the end of my last day, yesterday, the class had a root beer float party to celebrate and then sent me home with a tub full of more teacher stuff than I know what to do with!

I just started thinking about life after college. My primary focus all these weeks was just getting to the end of student teaching. More recently, my focus was on getting a job to pay next month's bills. I just realized that there is a life on the other side of college, and I will soon be entering it. On that note, please be praying!

• That God will provide a job in His timing that not only pays the bills, but also is something I can enjoy
• That God will provide the transportation for whatever job I get.
• That I will settle in to my post-graduation life and figure out what I'm supposed to do!

Finally, you're invited to a Christmas concert on Saturday the 19th at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. It is put on almost entirely by Northwestern alum, including myself, and it is going to be great!

Why yes, I do graduate from college in just 23 days!

Target's generic Cocoa Pebbles is my new favorite cereal.

After this 12-hour parent-teacher conference day, I will board a plane at roughly 6 AM bound for the gloriously warm and Disney-fied land of Florida. I may be broke, but I have no regrets. :)

My Life in Numbers...

30 days until graduation

23 days until the end of student teaching

23 first graders I teach every day

20 gallons: the depressing capacity of a Ford Explorer's gas tank

9 phone calls/emails/notes home since yesterday

7 days until THANKSGIVING BREAK!

3 days left in my lead week

2 days to spend in Disney World next week!

1 parent volunteer who did not show up today

1 exhausted student teacher

The Countdown has Begun!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will be a college graduate in exactly 37 days!

In 30 days, I will be done with student teaching!

In just 13 days, I fly out to Florida for Thanksgiving break!!!

First grade is going so well right now. I've had nothing but good feedback from the beginning, and everyone is so supportive and helpful. I am so glad to be where I am! My behavior management skills are getting a workout, however. This year's first graders at this school are a challenging group, and I started right in the middle of it. They love to test my boundaries, and some days getting through the lessons is like pulling teeth! They are exhausting, but I'm trying hard not to give up on them.

My sorry excuse for a car finally pulled its final stunt last week. I refuse to drive a car that is jumpy and accelerating by itself. I also refuse to fix a car that caused a mechanic's bill for 20x its trade-in value. Ouch. Unfortunately, no car and no money is not a good combination, especially during student teaching! The Lord was quick to provide however, and I will soon be getting a spare vehicle from a professor's farm to use for the rest of my student teaching.

I would love it if you would continue praying for me! Pray that:

• I would have continued endurance and wisdom in managing my class.
• God would continue to provide for my needs during the rest of the semester.
• I would finish strong and find a job soon after graduation!

The Joys of Preschool...

I finished my week as the lead teacher, and it was a complete success! I'm still not entirely sure how it happened, but I have earned back the respect and trust of everyone at the center. One comment that my supervisor wrote in her observation notes was that she had never seen so much improvement from a student teacher within one week. I think I even surprised myself!

I am especially proud of 3 things that I did this last week that I think really "enriched" the lives of the preschoolers:

• For three days, I had bubble wrap in the sensory table, and now the entire preschool class knows the joys of popping bubble wrap.
• I put three of my favorite books, by Doreen Cronin, in the reading center: Click Clack Moo; Thump, Quack, Moo; and Giggle Giggle Quack. Love them!
• During one group time, I played clips of two Bach pieces, the Flower Duet, and Agnus Dei.

I feel that, with the addition of these three pieces in my unit, my work at preschool is done. ;)

Yay!!!

I am so happy tonight! To make a long story short, the past few weeks have been very trying. Last week, the gauntlet was thrown, and I was given one week to "turn it around." This week is my lead week, which means I am in charge of almost everything! I spent at least 10 hours at the preschool getting things ready, and I was a nervous wreck. Somehow, I'm not even sure how, things got turned around. So far, I have received numerous compliments on my work and teaching, and I can tell that the teachers and staff are really 100% behind me now! I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am that the week has been successful and that everyone actually thinks so! In case you can't tell, I had some self-esteem issues. :)

So, I have one day of lead-teaching left and three more days next week, two of which will be with the toddlers! Then two glorious days off, a wedding, and off to 1st grade the next Monday.

Yay!

Whoops...It's been 3 weeks!

Oh dear, time is going by so quickly! I've been so busy keeping up that I haven't taken the time to update in a while. I am so thankful for small breaks in the busyness - this weekend, my sisters and I went to visit my grandparents, so I got to escape for a little while. Coming back to real life is a little less than welcome!

My first few weeks of student teaching were "rough," according to my supervisor. I was a little rusty and still trying to find my place in the classroom, so I didn't start very well. As a result of that happy little discussion, I have been working really hard to do better. Last Wednesday, I had my "halfway done" conference, and things are going a lot better. I still have work to do, but I am on the road to finishing these 7 weeks well.

I only have 3 1/2 weeks left in preschool...please keep praying for me!

• Pray that I will keep up my energy and motivation to keep going.
• Pray that I will get my work done in time, especially the unit!
• Pray that I will have creativity and good ideas for the activities I have yet to plan.
• Pray that I will continue to improve each day and that I will end as a competent preschool teacher!

Thank you!

Praise the Lord, Friday is here!

I have survived the first three days of student teaching. However, they were primarily "observation" days, so I haven't done much yet. I love being with the children; they are a lot of fun! I think I have finally learned most of the names, except for occasionally confusing the two sets of twins.

The hardest part of this week has been going to work after an 8 hour day and getting enough rest. I think my motto for this semester will be, "One Day at a Time." I am SO thankful that I have two whole days almost entirely to myself! If I'm smart, I will use this weekend to get a head start on lesson plans and such for this next week. Starting on Monday, I will be teaching, leading, supervising, and/or setting up at least one activity each day. Each week, I will be responsible for more and more until, in my 6th week, I will be responsible for just about everything. This means writing a unit plan that covers the entire week. (Note to self: start on the unit.)

How can you pray?

• Pray that I will get enough rest!
• Pray that I will be able to step up to the plate as I assume more responsibility as an actual "teacher" in the classroom.
• Pray that God will provide the money to pay all of my bills while my work hours are restricted...specifically that I will be approved for a private loan without a cosigner!
• Pray that my car will at least last until the end of the semester, and that those driving behind me in the wake of my oil-burning car will not hate me.

Thank you!

I Started a Blog...

So, I start student teaching in just a few days. As I was thinking about how crazy busy I am going to be and how my professors recommended I have people who are consistently praying for me, I decided a blog would be a good way to keep everyone updated on my life and share prayer requests!

So what will I be doing that will keep me so busy? On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I will be in student teaching orientation, and Wednesday will be my first day in the preschool room at NWC's Child Development Center. Seven weeks later, I will start in a first grade classroom in a White Bear Lake school. My hope is that I will come out on the other end of 14 weeks of student teaching and graduate on December 18th!

How can you pray?

• Pray that I will start my first placement well and get into the routine quickly.
• Pray that I will be able to quickly form relationships with the children and cooperating teachers.
• Pray that I will balance student teaching and working three nights a week without exhausting myself.
• Lastly, pray that God will grant me lots of wisdom during this time!

Thank you! Look for more updates as I delve into this final adventure before graduation.