Saturday, September 18, 2010

PE: The Week We Walked Like Penguins

After our weeklong “term” of field science, we had a weeklong term of both math and PE.

There isn’t much of an update for math, other than the fact that the classes were once again jumbled between the three cohorts. Again, it was great getting to spend time getting to know other students in the program!

PE was intense! There’s really no other word to describe it. It wasn’t that we were forced to run laps for hours, climb the rope, or perform the dreaded pull-ups. Nothing even close to that! We practiced warm up activities, and chasing/fleeing activities, tag, dodge ball, etc.

It was a three-hour class, and we were constantly moving, running, hopping, jumping, skipping, and grapevining across the gym floor. After the first day I was exhausted. My legs didn’t want to walk up the stairs. It was the good, burning feeling after a good work out. You know, those good “toilet tag” workouts, or those thrilling “capture the chicken” workouts.

The class was so fun, don’t get me wrong, but we were all so unbelievably sore it was crazy.

One day we did this warm-up around the gym where we broke into four teams, and there were four cones placed in the four corners of the gym. Are you visualizing this? You’re going to want to—I’m about to embarrass myself, get ready folks. We started at one cone and it said, “skip,” so we skipped to the next cone. The next cone said to power walk, and so on. After a few rounds we were side-stepping. The team behind my own was gaining and I was getting nervous. I can’t remember who it was, but the person in front of me stumbled a bit and I watched them catch their footing. Relieved, I continued at full speed. Unfortunately, the excitement/relief of the situation made me lose my own footing. Immediately after the person in front of me caught their self, I lost control. I knew I was going down and there was no hope of catching myself. This one guy (He shall remain nameless) watched me fall, but then forgot to pay attention and suddenly he was on the ground with me. Not only did I fall, but also I slid across the gym floor. My teacher came running over, but alas, we jumped up and continued the warm-up. I, with a slight limp, hid the pain on my face but the floor burns on my knees couldn’t lie.

Didn't look too bad the first day

The rest of the week everyone limped around campus and walked like penguins. Actually, it was extremely amusing to observe.

A few days later...ouch
you can't tell, but it's extremely bruised as well!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Field Science & Adventures With Poison Oak!

After our intense, six-week term this summer we were split up and shipped off to different locations for a week of field science. This was our first experience in mixed classes with the other two cohorts. Half the program spent their week in Beaverton and the surrounding areas, and my half of the program went to Sauvie Island.

The week was filled with sunshine, mosquitoes, and nature. We didn’t learn a whole lot, but the point of the class was evident. Place-based education is important in giving meaning to a child’s learning. Connecting on a local level is more powerful than imagining far away lands. There are times and places for both types of learning, of course.

We spent hours at Lake Wapato, in our quiet spots. Here’s the thing… I love being in nature, but it’s just too nerve wracking for me. I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes each time we stepped outside. My quiet spot ended up being near a beehive, which was terrifying each time they buzzed by. I never felt “one” with nature, and I typically just wrote in my journal about how I wished quiet time were over.

I had these horrible bug bites on my legs, and I was extremely itchy. The moments of self-control were seldom, as I typically gave in and scratched to my hearts content. This week the Billings were in town, and one night we were having a big BBQ for friends and family who wanted to also visit with Sue, Bob, Alison and Van! That night I felt horrible. I was light-headed, I felt nauseous and shaky, and my bites were itching uncontrollably. I went upstairs to lie down for a little while, when I leaned down to scratch my ankles. Well, something had happened to my alleged bug bites. They were suddenly extremely swollen and blistering. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew these weren’t ordinary mosquito bites. I started googling different scenarios: West Nile, Mad Cow (why not?), etc. and nothing seemed to fit the bill. Eventually I searched poison oak, ding ding ding! My calves and ankles were covered in poison oak.

How in the world did this happen, you ask? GREAT question. Everyone in my class was going off the trail for their quiet spots and I sat smack dab in the middle of the trail, avoiding any more unwanted creatures/insects than absolutely necessary! I’m guessing I stepped in it at some point, and when I sat crisscross applesauce it must have spread. Clearly I’m quite allergic to such plant. Lucky me!

I couldn’t miss the next few classes, so I suffered and went to class. I had been taking medicine and applying cream in the most discreet way possible—I wasn’t about to show off my “oozing blisters,” to anyone. Yes, that’s disgusting. You’ll survive. It’s better than me posting a picture, right?

On the Island!

The last day of class we headed to the coast. A bunch of people camped, but it was becoming dramatic. I was planning on carpooling with some girls from my class, when I decided to drive to the coast Thursday night and stay with Alison and her family for the night! It was so great getting to spend even a few more hours with her J Their trip was certainly way too quick.

The beach was a great break from the Island, I was thankful to have no contact with poison oak!

First we were given time to explore!

Then we made sand maps of Oregon in teams

To study the tide we threw oranges in the ocean and observed, then tried again once they washed ashore!

We ended the day with interpretive dances that included animals and plants we studied

But best of all, no poison oak and fun times with friends!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Coming up next on Totally Teaching...

Life is absolutely crazy right now... I almost can't handle it.

I'm trying to take on a few extra responsibilities, and I just might have to give them all up. What a bummer. I'll explain more soon!

In my brand-spankin-new planner, where I was writing all my assignments, meetings, and orders of business--I've had to add in "BLOG!" into each day's agenda. When something is written in my planner, I MUST do it! The joy of crossing out my tasks is indescribable!

So here I am...blogging! [check]

I'm on my way out the door (story of my life), so more details must wait!

On the docket for (hopefully) tomorrow morning:
1. Field Studies & Adventures with Poison Oak
2. PE...the week we walked like penguins
3. In-service week--Hello, Miss Ketchup!
4. The Squirmy Kinders
5. Back to the grind!

*Titles are subject to change.. ;)

See you soon!