Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day Daddy! 


Gelukkige Vaderdag Papa!! 


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Summertime...

....and the livin' is eeeeeasyyyyyy, fish are jumpin', and the cotton is hiiiiiiiigh." Another song, yea its been a while. Um, livin' is easy? Not so much.
So let's see.
School: That has been going really well lately. My classes are pretty great. I'm taking Classroom Management with Dr. R, who is the most awesome woman/educator around (and I use awe-some in it's original meaning - filled with awe, as in she fills me with awe in her breadth of her knowledge, her kindness, and her classroom experience). When I first moved here, I registered for classes after the beginning of the semester. Because I had already missed the class and she didn't want me to get behind, she called me, let me know what I needed to do and welcomed me back to the US. She is wonderful. I learn so much in her classes. And she will be leaving after summer session.
I am super sad about this fact. Her class, my first day, I knew that this was where I was meant to be, and I know that part of that was her. She will be missed greatly.

The other class I am taking is Technology and Pedagogy. It is a good class, I am learning so much about using technology in the classroom, but I... don't know. I am all for technology and connecting with the current generation, but I have to wonder about the essential skills that we are leaving in the dust to make way for all the technology.
I was watching the news last night, and there was one principal who had taken out cursive writing. REALLY!?!?!? It was taken out to make way for more typing/computer classes. Are we really going to have a future generation that has no idea what to do when given a piece of paper and a pencil? Okay, maybe a little dramatic, but students in undergrad used to complain about physically writing out their papers with a pen/pencil. And therefore having to, Lord have mercy, plan out their papers before they begin writing. Seriously, I understand the value of having students being able to type and use common software applications, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. Like people were commenting on the news, a generation without signatures. I remember when I was able to read my grandmother's cursive handwriting as a kid. I was so proud of myself that I could read her letters on my own. I'd like my future children to be able to read her writing as well. As the key word of Tech and Ped, "balance" is the key.

Life: I am moving into On-Campus Housing on Tuesday. A little nervous, but also excited. I'll be in the graduate housing, so I won't have a repeat of freshman year. (For those who don't know, let's just say I only lived on-campus for that one year, and it was awful.) Moving on, I won't be to far from the Education building, which is nice. I'll be able to ride my bike.

Knitting: On Saturday evening I started my Fang Garden. I'm using Fresh from the Cauldron's Fangtasia yarn. It's just so darn beautiful. I'll post pictures when I think there is enough to really get a feel for the pattern.

Basketball: Mavericks Won!! YEEEESSS !!!! Dirk Nowitski MVP!!! Hooray for him. It was an amazing game. Close all the way through, lots of fouls and close calls, a 3(?, I think)-pointer right before the buzzer and a skirmish. Very exciting times.