Jun 28, 2010 18:35
What I do when I get so overwhelmed with school is to break everything down into manageable tasks (sometimes as vaguely as "CREDE paper, one hour" or "adolescent case study, one hour" and make a big, long list. Then in between each task, I break it up with something that recharges me, such as "clean the bathroom" or "go to the bank." (Pretty lame that those are the things that recharge me, but it just helps to turn off my brain and get the blood flowing sometimes.) Then I just alternate between things I HAVE to do and things that RECHARGE me until exhaustion. This weekend (my weekend) I have a list of 39 tasks, each of which takes approximately one hour. I've been whittling away at it all damn day, and have only crossed off 9 things. (Right now, update LJ is a recharger.) In between the 9 things, I also did a few things that weren't on the list: eat lunch, take shower, 30 minute nap, check Facebook. I wonder if between now (6.27pm) and tomorrow at, say, midnight I can finish the 30 more things left to do.
So, the topic of this entry is "update." What's new? Nothing. Boring. Mind is filled with student teacher BS, and BS it pretty much is. The whole program is an exercise in being vague, PC, and totally impractical. Whatever. One more year. I'm so excited to get back into a classroom where the real learning happens! Speaking of, while drifting off to napland today, I had an idea for a daily classroom activity - sort of a prompt to get the day going. It would be, maybe, 5% of the course grade that each student would have to choose a literary quote that meant something to them and recite it (perhaps required from memory, or as extra credit). I don't ever remember in any English classes much recitation of poetry (and anyway, reciting just any old poem would suck). But there's beauty in spoken word, and it would be fun to let students choose something beautiful and important to them. I'd start the first week off with my own examples - maybe the Kerouac dingledodies quote that strikes a chord in every 18 year-old.
D. has hatched a magical plan, I can't remember if I mentioned it. Okinawa. I'm looking into teaching positions with the Department of Defense. Who knows if it'll materialize, but it's exciting to imagine, and a fun brain exercise to return to studying Japanese. Note to self: replace crossword puzzles, chess, and other brain games with language learning. It's fun AND pays off.
I learned something about myself today. I had recorded a series of interviews I did with a 15 year-old as part of an assignment. We always hate our voices on tape, but I noticed something about myself that made me cringe even more. I need to be a better, calmer listener. ESPECIALLY as a teacher. I thought I was so well-trained with ESL students (and perhaps I would think differently of myself if the interview had been with one). No need to feel uncomfortable during pauses. Wait as long as it takes for an answer. The beauty of open-ended questions! Slow down and LISTEN. Take the little openings and run with them. All the stuff I thought I knew, I FAILED at in practice. I was too concerned she was bored or uncomfortable, and shuffled things along too quickly. In a word, I sucked. What was meant to be a case study of an adolescent turned into a good case study on myself, and how I need to better practice what I preach. I need to be calmer.
What else to update? I'm craving asparagus. Okay. I think that'll do. On to Task #10!
(Can't wait for time to run again and MOVIES!)
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