Teaching Evaluation

For those who do not know me, my profession is that of a 6th grade English Teacher. At Hoover, they require new teachers to be evaluated yearly for the first three years. After those three years, a teacher is evaluated every five years. I thought I would share how this process works...

The evaluation process is very lengthy (and time consuming). It is amazing how much you need to prepare for a lesson that takes 45 minutes to teach.

First, you meet with your evaluator (usually an administrator or curriculum advisor) and he/she reviews the evaluation tool with you. The evaluation tool has 4 domains and each domain has 3-6 areas of concentration. So basically, you are graded on about "20ish" areas of the classroom.

Second, before you teach the actual lesson, you must meet with the evaluator for a pre-observation evaluation. This meeting usually takes about 45 minutes. The teacher is asked 11 questions about the lesson. Pretty easy right? 11 questions is all? To answer those questions, it took me 13 hours and 13 pages. You have to know the test scores of students, backgrounds, learning styles, IQ's, which students are gifted or need extended services, etc. Also, you must explain the objectives, goals, use of technology and resources, and learning gaps for the lesson. Like I said, very time consuming.

Third, the teacher teaches the actual lesson. Finally, the easy part! The evaluator sits in the back of the classroom with his notes from our meeting and basically observes how I teach. During that time, I have to be aware of the students off task and on task, circulate the room, ask higher level thinking questions, allow for all types of learners to succeed, make sure I'm calling on different students of different sexes with different learning styles, students who need extra help, watch my tone and speaking, provide a safe learning environment, provide a fair learning environment, and I'm sure there is more...but, I'm getting a headache just thinking about all this again.

Finally, the evaluator and teacher have a post-observation evaluation. Basically, here is where the teacher has to regurgitate the things that they noticed about the lesson from above. What would we change? What went well? What about this student and that student? Did everything align with the learning goal? And of course, much more!

That is how a teacher is evaluated. I used to fall down laughing when I heard people saying, "Ah, you're a teacher...must be nice to have a gig like that!" Oh ya, real nice. Babysitting 130 students a day. Paperwork out the wazoo. Hours of prep time each week for grading and lesson plans. The testing alone to become a teacher makes me think that I should have PhD behind my last name. However, even though it is TONS of work and headaches, it is a very rewarding profession. It is new and different everyday, and the outcomes are amazing to watch unfold.

Does this give you a new appreciation for teachers? I didn't even begin to mention the students themselves ;)

Jesus was a teacher. Jesus was a teacher. Jesus was a....sorry, I was just reminding myself. A little motivation for a hard day at work.

<><

Christmas Decorating

Yesterday, Megan and I spent a good part of the day decorating for Christmas. We decorated the house, set up the Christmas tree, strung the outside lights, hung wreaths, and basically grew tired of the whole ordeal...quickly.

Besides for the "show and tell" factor, why do we go over the top to celebrate one holiday? Now don't get me wrong, I love sitting in my living room at night with nothing else on but the lights of the Christmas tree, but how many Santa/Snowmen/yards of garland does a person really need?

Maybe the kid factor motivates the decorating mechanism in our brains. I guess we'll find out...

soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you know how I knew it was Thanksgiving today?

No not the smell of a turkey in the oven...

By the sound of Christmas music on the radio. Strange right? We can't even finish one holiday before we move onto the next.

Anyways, this year I have many blessings to be thankful for. We moved into our first home. I landed my dream job. Megan will be having our first (I say that as neither a beginning nor an end) child in a matter of days/weeks. We joined an amazing small group and have connected with so many new friends who have enriched our lives. And, last but not least, our families have been awesome and supportive about the impending birth of our child. 2007 will be a year to remember and I cannot thank God enough for what He has been doing in our lives. We may never understand the way of His Blessings, but isn't it better that way?

Back to the Christmas music...

Can anything beat the classics? Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Burle Ives, etc. I could listen to them all day, everyday if I had too. My Bing Crosby Christmas CD is by far the best CD I own.

Now, we enter a time of hearing Christmas music everywhere we go...

When we are at the mall.
When we are driving in the car.
When we ride the elevator (only this is the cheap "instrumental" versions).
When we are pumping gas.
When we are using the restroom facilities at our favorite retail store (I know right?)

I wouldn't be so tired of it by Christmas if it was played for the right reason. That reason is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, not the birth of the holiday shopping season. Slowly, inch by inch, CHRIST is being taken out of CHRISTmas. Christmas is slowly becoming Winter Holiday.

Let's not let that happen...

<><

Quotes

For some reason, I have always loved quotes and random facts. The following are a few of my favorite quotes taken from various sources. Enjoy!

Be still and know that I am God.
~Psalms 46:10~

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
~Phillipians 4:13~

"Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off."
~Steve Prefontaine~

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
~Steve Prefontaine~

"I always loved running - it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
~Jesse Owens~

"Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust."
~Jesse Owens~

"One chance is all you need."
~Jesse Owens~

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even." ~Muhammad Ali~

"There is a movement bubbling up that goes beyond cynicism and celebrates a new way of living, a generation that stops complaining about the church it sees and becomes the church it dreams of."
~Shane Claiborne~

"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within."
~William Durant~

"Every attempt at human progress has been an attempt to overcome what was lost in the Fall."
~Randy Alcorn~

"I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else."
~C.S. Lewis~

Baby Shower

I'm still amazed...

Last night, our living room looked like the stockroom of Babies R' Us. This child is very loved from our family and friends. While we were in the car last night, I asked Megan what it would be like if we didn't have all of this support and love.

We couldn't even imagine the possibility. How do some people do this when they can't even afford to put gas in their car or a meal on the table.

God has blessed us abundantly.

But, I have begun to ask the question why? Why has He showed me so much love? Why has He put so many "Godly" people in my life? Why has He chosen this path for my life? What did I possibly do to deserve Him?

The awesome part, I do not want to know. I just want to pay it forward. Show people His love on a daily basis. Live the life He set me free to live. Trusting in God alone is an unbelievable release. It makes you focus on the important things and to not sweat the small stuff. God is a fan of my life, it just took me awhile to get off the bench and into the game.

With all of the gift cards we received and some returns of duplicates, we were able to get the biggest items from our list. Last night, we purchased our travel system, swing/glider, pak-and-play, breast pump, and an extra car seat base. How awesome is that?

I liked what Megan said last night on the way to pick-up something to eat. She said, "This morning was the last time our house will ever be normal."

Abnormal is good ;)

Bird's Eye View

God IS watching us in the simplest of ways...

Smile :)

Minimum Charge

According to a brochure handed out by the Mercy Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology, and I quote:

Ocassionally, a mother decides to go through the labor and delivery without receiving an anesthetic; in that case, an anesthetist or an anesthesiologist will monitor the mother's vital signs during delivery and is also immediately available to resuscitate the newborn should it be necessary. There will be a minimum charge for this service.

Now, seriously, if we elect NOT to pay this "minimum charge," will Mercy Hospital resuscitate our newborn or check my wife's stats?

I'm sure they will take great care of our baby, but isn't it sickening to think what a monster the health industry has become? Why has this country fallen victim to such a cheap trick? Why do we allow ourselves to be handcuffed by health professionals and medical insurance companies. The sad part is, if we REALLY wanted to change it...we could. But, we just sit back and take it.

The Bible says that when we die, we will be given new bodies (free of pain and suffereing) for life on a new Earth. Let's just hope this new Earth is free of insurance companies, insurance premiums, medical claims lawyers (only slightly kidding), medical malpractice, etc.

I can't wait <><

Thanks For Your Support

A couple of weeks ago, Megan and I sent out an e-mail to our closest friends and family asking for a big favor. Today, I can proudly say: THANK YOU! We were very humbled by the responses we got back.

Of course, when having a baby, money is the source of most worries. Personally, I knew God would be watching over us as we struggled with this situation. I put my trust in Him alone.

For those of you who do not know, Megan is a medical transcriptionist for a general surgeon at Mercy Hospital. Luckily (for us and the baby), her job allows her to work from home a majority of the time. However, to be "financially fit," we figured Megan would have to work in the office two days a week (or 8 times a month).

Fortunately, we were blessed to have 4 of those 8 days covered from the start. The worry then became, well what about the other 4 days? Graciously, a few family members and friends stepped up.

For everyone that has offered a helping hand, I cannot thank you enough. This whole experience has been stressful to say the least. This act of kindness has "taken the monkey off our back." Just knowing that we have several options allows us to be flexible with ourselves and with those who have offered to help. God continues to amaze me with the people he has placed in our lives. Where would I be without his Blessings?

I want all of you to know that we love you and thank you for being in our lives. For those who have offered to help (and are going to help), we will be in touch during the coming months! God bless!

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Iraq...a glimmer of hope

What an awesome picture and a testament to the determination of the Iraqi people. These people want to succeed. They want to thrive. They want freedom.

We have a purpose there. Like it or not.

A great political/military mind once made the statement that at any one time throughout human history (and into the future), ONE region or country has been/is incharge of "policing" the world. Unfortunately and fortunately, that happens to be the United States of America. Unfortunately because we get our pride/image/name dragged through the mud when no one else is willing to step in (AND)fortunately because what we have done has made lasting impressions around the world. If you did a little research, it is amazing to see what the U.S. has brought, prevented, contained, and innovated within the past 100 years alone.

That picture above is everything I want the world to be.

Some people may think taking God out of the equation is a cure-all, but in fact...it may be the single, most-dangerous idea mankind has ever created.

Birthing Class

Last Monday night, Megan and I began our birthing class. Our second class was last evening. Overall, the class crawls by slower than a snail with an over-sized shell. I'm starting to wonder if the pillows you are required to bring are for the exercise routines or napping. Most of the information is on topics/concerns/issues that we have already read about via the Internet or other motherly experiences. There have been several breathing techniques that Megan says were relaxing, but when you're birthing a 7 lbs baby...that could go right out the door. However, last night we did watch a short video that showed the stages of labor. Now I know and realize that the birth of a baby is nothing short of a miracle, but couldn't God have made it a little more appealing? The most useful part of this class will happen in two weeks. On that night, we will take a tour of the birthing wing of the hospital. They will familiarize us with everything we need to know from the time that we get there, until the time that we go home. Hopefully, that will be worth the $30 dollars for this class.

41 days until the due date and counting...

Lincoln...In the Morning

Jesus Passed Gas Too

Jesus once asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" However, it was the next question that is the foundation of Christianity. Jesus answered that question with another question by asking his disciples, "But what about you? Who do YOU say that I am?"

A couple thousand years later...we are still pondering that same question.

When you think of Jesus, how do you picture Him?

Long, flowing, silky, brown hair?
Clean white robe?
Perfectly trimmed beard?
Carrying a lamb?
Bright, white teeth?
Fair complexion?

Why?

Jesus, MY personal Lord and Savior, was after all...human (although, sin-free).

Think of the time period in which Jesus walked the streets. His clothes were probably not the cleanest. His teeth (if all were present) probably weren't the whitest. The breath might not of smelled so holy. His skin was probably more of a Middle Eastern olive complexion. His hands were probably rough and callused from being a carpenter (I'm sure he hit his thumb a few times with a hammer too). On a hot day, he probably had a little body odor. And yes, he probably passed gas and went to the bathroom too...just a hunch.

When we ALWAYS show Jesus in an "angelic-light" (not that He wasn't) sometimes it takes away from who He REALLY was.

Human (for 33 years).

Like you and I.

Instead of our "mainstream" culture promoting Jesus as unapproachable (and at times distant and rigid), we should show him in a real form that is approachable, lovable, and REAL. Think of your best relationship and then multiply it by hundreds. That's what we should be striving for. There is enough complaining going on in the church, it is time to put a foot down and do something about it.

The moral of my shpeel: Love, thrive in fellowship, live in community and pass gas...

Jesus did.