The time has finally come. In less than 24 hours I will put on my cap and gown and walk that aisle to get my degree. It's been a long journey getting here. But it's not over yet. This is just the beginning. One day, I may be completely content with my education. Until that day comes though, I will continue to advance my education. These future advanced degrees include finishing my Bachelor's degree and hopefully a Master's degree. Even then, my education will still not be complete. There is something to new to learn in every day.
With as excited as I am to finally be receiving my first college degree, I'm just as scared. I'm just one summer away from entering the real world. Boxes will soon take over my bedroom, as I start to pack away my life. Then, I will make that 12 hour drive to begin the next chapter of my life.
Life is full of many adventures. Some are fun and exciting. Some are terrifying. But each adventure we encounter in our life makes us more of who we're suppose to be. God teaches us through our adventures. I'm ready to see what God has in store for me for this next adventure.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Packing List
With less than one month until graduation and a little less than three months after that until I move into my new apartment at Disney World it won't be long until my bedroom will be taken over by boxes full of all my stuff. With half of that stuff I will be taking with me in August. And the other half I will come back and get in January, when I will hopefully be a permanent Cast Member.
Oh what do I need? What do I need?
I know most of my days will be spent working. But, I don't plan on spending my off days stuck cooped inside the apartment. There's so many things I want to do. When I'm not working I will either be playing in one of the parks, at the pool, exploring Orlando, or exploring Florida.
Here's a few of the things I will need to pack:
Oh what do I need? What do I need?
I know most of my days will be spent working. But, I don't plan on spending my off days stuck cooped inside the apartment. There's so many things I want to do. When I'm not working I will either be playing in one of the parks, at the pool, exploring Orlando, or exploring Florida.
Here's a few of the things I will need to pack:
- T-shirts
- Tank tops
- Dresses
- Shorts
- Yellowbox Flip flops
- Black trousers, for Traditions and Seminars
- Grey trousers, for Traditions and Seminars
- Button up tops
- Business casual attire
- Jeans
- Khaki pants
- Black flats
- Workout clothes
- Bathingsuits
- Towels
- Work eligibility documents
- Computer modem for internet
- Ethernet cable
- Bedding (I will probably just use my old bedding that I had when I lived in the dorm)
- Computer, charger, and sleeve
- Camera, charger, memory cards, and camera bag
- Tennis racket
- Tennis shoes
I can't decide whether I want to take my Disney movies or not. I've started "collecting" the Disney movies as they come out on Blu Ray. So, all my Disney movies are in Blu Ray. Any others in the house that may not be in Blu Ray are my parents' copies. I don't think I want to take my Blu Ray player, at least not for the Disney College Program. Because disconnecting devices such as those are usually really tough and involve a whole lot of wires. I really prefer to only do it once. Sometime in October or November I will start the process to be a permanent Cast Member. So, before I even pack up the stuff I will take with me in August I will box up everything else of mine in my bedroom, in the garage, and in storage shed. Yes, we have more stuff than will fit in our house.
This stuff includes:
- All my reading books (Nicholas Sparks, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Harry Potter, photography books etc.)
- Any of the movies I won't take down in August
- Any clothes that I won't take down in August
- My papasan chair
- And anything else that might be left
It's going to be a long summer.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Dreams Really Do Come True
"Tomorrow will be better for as long as America keeps the ideals of freedom and a better life. "- Walt Disney
It's been just a little over a year since I got back from my trip to Walt Disney World with my family. I remember talking to my dad about how awesome it would be to work there. And how to be able to work there, we couldn't think of any other job I would need. I came home and started looking at their job openings. I love photography and have always dreamed of doing something with photography. I had no luck getting a job straight through the openings. At that time I was just ready to get back on my own. I returned to school in March after being out for a year and a half.
Well, here I am sitting here as I live and breathe with some pretty exciting news. On February 8,2013 I applied to the Disney College Program. The Disney College Program is a paid internship where you get live just a few miles from Walt Disney World in their housing. And you are given the opportunity to live and work with people from all over the world. I had my phone interview on February 16. Just one week after I completed my application and web based interview.The wait from the time I completed my application until time for my phone interview felt like so much more than just a week. There was nothing I could but wait after that point. Just wait for a response. My response came four days later. Those four days felt longer than the week between submitting my application and having my phone interview. On February 20th my response came. I had gone to lunch with my family at our favorite cheeseburger place in town. I came home from lunch and I finally had an email from Disney. I got accepted!!!!
I've sat down to write this update at least three previous times. Words just can't do it justice. I can't tell yall how excited I am. I'm so beyond thrilled to venture out on this new journey and see what God has in store for me next. Oh my goodness!!!!!! I'm moving to Disney World. This is just the beginning. Growing up is exciting and scary at the same time. The scary part is when I add up the expenses and the income. I know I'm going to be pinching pennies for a little while. But that's okay. You gotta start somewhere and work your way up. Not everybody can start out on top. I will do my best to keep yall updated on everything at Disney.
Please keep me in your prayers as I take a leap of faith and start the next chapter of my life. :)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Preserving Memories One Moment, One Trip, One Milestone at a Time
I'm finally starting to make some progress on my scrapbook for my two trips to Disney World last year. I went by Hobby Lobby yesterday to pick up a few last pieces. It's really starting to come together now. While I was there I found so many good pieces and ideas for the gifts I want to make for the parents of my students at the end of each year. A gift to say thank you for letting me teach their children.
Parents of infants get to enjoy firsts such as the first time to sit up on their own, the first time to roll over on their own, the first taste of solid foods, first time to crawl, first steps, and so many other firsts that infants experience during the first year of life. Working parents or parents of toddlers don't get to enjoy those firsts as much. Just because they have to work doesn't mean they should feel left out. They will be trusting me as their child's teacher. They deserve to know what's going on in the class. And what better way to show what's going on in their child's class and what they have learned throughout the year than by a scrapbook that they can enjoy for years to come? A scrapbook that through photos and notes explains to the parents their child's progress and their interests. Moments and milestones such as various moments in the dramatic play center of their child dressing up as a mail carrier, a pilot, a construction worker, a cosmetologist, a doctor, a teller, a dentist, or a baker. Moments such as their child writing their name or various letters of the alphabet in sand. And the so many other moments their child will enjoy during the year.
Just because the parents have to work doesn't mean they should feel left out. They should feel like an extended member of the class. Their children will only be that age for a short time. So, even once their child is grown they can pull out that gift and relive their child being in preschool. An heirloom they can cherish for many many years.
Parents of infants get to enjoy firsts such as the first time to sit up on their own, the first time to roll over on their own, the first taste of solid foods, first time to crawl, first steps, and so many other firsts that infants experience during the first year of life. Working parents or parents of toddlers don't get to enjoy those firsts as much. Just because they have to work doesn't mean they should feel left out. They will be trusting me as their child's teacher. They deserve to know what's going on in the class. And what better way to show what's going on in their child's class and what they have learned throughout the year than by a scrapbook that they can enjoy for years to come? A scrapbook that through photos and notes explains to the parents their child's progress and their interests. Moments and milestones such as various moments in the dramatic play center of their child dressing up as a mail carrier, a pilot, a construction worker, a cosmetologist, a doctor, a teller, a dentist, or a baker. Moments such as their child writing their name or various letters of the alphabet in sand. And the so many other moments their child will enjoy during the year.
Just because the parents have to work doesn't mean they should feel left out. They should feel like an extended member of the class. Their children will only be that age for a short time. So, even once their child is grown they can pull out that gift and relive their child being in preschool. An heirloom they can cherish for many many years.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What's in a name? What's in a curriculum?
An integrated curriculum is a program that focuses on all aspects of development, not just cognitive development. Which means, unlike older levels where each subject is divided, all developmental areas is taught in one lesson. The developmental areas that should be strengthened are physical, cognitive, creative, language, and social/emotional.
Here I am a little more than three months away from graduation. Wow, it doesn't seem like I've been studying child development for a year already. Anyway, that's beside the point. I know I've come a long way since my first day back in the classroom. When I first started I was absolutely terrified of making lesson plans. Almost a whole year later, and I actually love lesson plans. What I don't love is trying to figure out everything that needs to be covered in a 9 month school year. I want to teach through play and learning centers. The seven learning centers that will be in my preschool classroom include art, manipulatives/math, dramatic play, sensory/discovery, reading, blocks, and music. The integrated curriculum uses all seven learning centers to teach one lesson. I don't want the children to feel like they're learning seven different lessons. One lesson should be intertwined between all seven learning centers enhancing all developmental areas.
I want to build my own curriculum. I know that in preschool ABC's, numbers, and colors should be covered. After that I am completely stuck. I know there's got to be some more teachers out there. Calling all teachers. Preschool. Elementary. Homeschool. Public School. Private school.What should be covered in an entire 9 month school year? I've been looking for books, such as books for the reading center or for informational books about concepts such as the weather and dinosaurs, in the children's section of Books A Million and Barnes and Noble. Where can I find teaching resources? Is there somewhere besides Toys R Us that I can find costumes for the dramatic play center?
Learning should be fun. Especially so in preschool and kindergarten. Making learning fun in preschool builds a firm foundation and makes learning as they grow fun as well. I don't want to use worksheets or any such type of "formal" teaching. A 3 year old may not have fully developed fine motor skills. Forcing a child to cut worksheets with scissors does not make learning fun any more than it develops their writing skills in their hands. Fine motor skills can be developed by manipulatives such as puzzles and play doh. However, whenever I go in search of finding ideas to build a curriculum I just get discouraged because I can only find bookshelves and bookshelves worth of worksheets.
Please fellow teachers wherever you are. Help a rookie out!
Here I am a little more than three months away from graduation. Wow, it doesn't seem like I've been studying child development for a year already. Anyway, that's beside the point. I know I've come a long way since my first day back in the classroom. When I first started I was absolutely terrified of making lesson plans. Almost a whole year later, and I actually love lesson plans. What I don't love is trying to figure out everything that needs to be covered in a 9 month school year. I want to teach through play and learning centers. The seven learning centers that will be in my preschool classroom include art, manipulatives/math, dramatic play, sensory/discovery, reading, blocks, and music. The integrated curriculum uses all seven learning centers to teach one lesson. I don't want the children to feel like they're learning seven different lessons. One lesson should be intertwined between all seven learning centers enhancing all developmental areas.
I want to build my own curriculum. I know that in preschool ABC's, numbers, and colors should be covered. After that I am completely stuck. I know there's got to be some more teachers out there. Calling all teachers. Preschool. Elementary. Homeschool. Public School. Private school.What should be covered in an entire 9 month school year? I've been looking for books, such as books for the reading center or for informational books about concepts such as the weather and dinosaurs, in the children's section of Books A Million and Barnes and Noble. Where can I find teaching resources? Is there somewhere besides Toys R Us that I can find costumes for the dramatic play center?
Learning should be fun. Especially so in preschool and kindergarten. Making learning fun in preschool builds a firm foundation and makes learning as they grow fun as well. I don't want to use worksheets or any such type of "formal" teaching. A 3 year old may not have fully developed fine motor skills. Forcing a child to cut worksheets with scissors does not make learning fun any more than it develops their writing skills in their hands. Fine motor skills can be developed by manipulatives such as puzzles and play doh. However, whenever I go in search of finding ideas to build a curriculum I just get discouraged because I can only find bookshelves and bookshelves worth of worksheets.
Please fellow teachers wherever you are. Help a rookie out!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Respect is a two way street, if you want it you've got to give it
Bullying is a huge epidemic in today's society. We hear about children, young children, who commit suicide or turn to a dangerous lifestyle because their peers were bullying them. We feel sorry about them. But do we do anything about it? It's one thing for an insecure eight year old to bully his classmate. But we're not going to stop it if we don't model respect.
Here I am getting ready to finish my first college degree, and I feel like I'm back in elementary school. There's an "insecure eight year old" in all three of my on campus classes. She has picked me out of all the people in her classes to constantly put down. Here I am, I've lived in 3 different places. I've lived on my own. I've been in college six years. I've finally found the career that makes my heart jump for joy. I know where I want to go after May. I'm keeping my options open. She's four years younger than me. She thinks that up on the mountain is literally the only place to teach. During class discussions she talks about how things were done for her family or at her school instead of developmentally appropriate practices. She likes to brag about making D's in class. She asks irrelevant questions. She even corrects the teacher.
She has not earned my respect. Respect is a two way street. She does not show me respect whatsoever. Therefore, I will not show her respect. I'm glad this is my last semester. If she had been in my first semester classes I think she would have ruined the whole thing. So, whether you're 5 or 25, being bullied and looked down upon still hurts. We fight to end the age of bullies. We can't do that until we teach adults to model respect. The children in this girl's class will not accomplish much if she acts inferior to her students. If she as an adult, models to the children that she will teach that it's okay to act better than everyone else, she won't teach them anything at all.
Well, that's my heart these days. I feel two feet tall. I come home with no motivation. My first two semesters I got excited to go to class. This semester, it's just a dread to even think about it. It's going to be a long four months. Unlike her, I have dreams. Dreams that are bigger than here.
Here I am getting ready to finish my first college degree, and I feel like I'm back in elementary school. There's an "insecure eight year old" in all three of my on campus classes. She has picked me out of all the people in her classes to constantly put down. Here I am, I've lived in 3 different places. I've lived on my own. I've been in college six years. I've finally found the career that makes my heart jump for joy. I know where I want to go after May. I'm keeping my options open. She's four years younger than me. She thinks that up on the mountain is literally the only place to teach. During class discussions she talks about how things were done for her family or at her school instead of developmentally appropriate practices. She likes to brag about making D's in class. She asks irrelevant questions. She even corrects the teacher.
She has not earned my respect. Respect is a two way street. She does not show me respect whatsoever. Therefore, I will not show her respect. I'm glad this is my last semester. If she had been in my first semester classes I think she would have ruined the whole thing. So, whether you're 5 or 25, being bullied and looked down upon still hurts. We fight to end the age of bullies. We can't do that until we teach adults to model respect. The children in this girl's class will not accomplish much if she acts inferior to her students. If she as an adult, models to the children that she will teach that it's okay to act better than everyone else, she won't teach them anything at all.
Well, that's my heart these days. I feel two feet tall. I come home with no motivation. My first two semesters I got excited to go to class. This semester, it's just a dread to even think about it. It's going to be a long four months. Unlike her, I have dreams. Dreams that are bigger than here.
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