Student Teaching - Week 1

TGIF!

Today marks the end of my first week of student teaching at SFMS. It started off slowly, but things picked up on Wednesday when I got to introduce myself to some of the students while they were working at their tables. These kids are great and I can tell it's going to be a great semester!

I already have my eye on a few particular students. Three of them are very bright and they clearly enjoy math and have a talent for it. One girl told me she hates math because she's terrible at it. I asked her if after I find a way for her to improve her math skills, if she would like math more. She replied "yeah, but good luck." Bring it on!

(Also, screw my weight loss. I have no time and this week I gained 0.8 pounds. Whatever.)

For Monday's class I need to think of a get-to-know-you activity that will involve the students in creating or finding patterns. I'll have to think about that one.

End of Weight Watchers Week 3

This week: -1 pound

Overall: -3.6 pounds




I didn't work out AT ALL this week. I wanted to, but it never happened. How do I make it happen? Hopefully this cooler weather will keep up and maybe I can actually walk to school and go to the gym after class.



I have a ton of boring reading to do, and after spending 20+ hours on a single math assignment without finishing it, I'm a bit exhausted and ready to give up.



Food: After having lunch with my cousin with a perfect body, I went out and bought this GNC shake mix. It doesn't taste like chalk! I like it. One shake is 3 WW points. A bit expensive, though. =/
I have also become a fan of my very own cereal/yogurt mixture. I combine 1/2 cup of Fiber One with 1/2 cup of blueberry granola clusters from Fresh & Easy with any flavor of the Fiber One Yogurt. It's filling and yummy, and with a side of fruit it counts as my lunch.

End of Weight Watchers Week 2

This week: +1.6 pounds
Overall: -2.4 pounds


Dammit.

I was so upset after the meeting that as soon as I got home, I went to the gym. I'm hoping to go again on Thursday before class... we'll see how that goes.

I'm disappointed.

LOUD NOISES

Today was so hectic that I forgot to eat lunch since it wasn't in my phone schedule. (See, I have so much going on that I must put everything in my phone with a reminder/alert, otherwise nothing will get done.)

Please pray that I will never lose my phone.

I have to weigh in tomorrow at WW and I haven't been to the gym at all this week. Poop. I have also been eating lost of frozen yogurt and cereal. =(

School: I get to read two chapters from two different books and write reflections about them by Wednesday. I also get to read the Teacher Performance Expectations (found here) and reflect on all of them individually.

So, I'm off to read. This used to be a fun and relaxing activity. I will miss those days.

San Fernando Middle School

On Thursday I found out that I will most likely be student teaching at San Fernando Middle School. Here are some facts I would like to share about SFMS.

• The diversity rank is 1/10, meaning the chances of any two students having a different ethnic background is slim: the student population is 97.1% Latino.
  
• Nearly half (49.7%) of the student are English language learners.
• 74% of the students receive free or reduced-priced lunch.
  
• The school's Academic Performance Index (API) is 1/10, which means their test scores are in the bottom 10% of the state.
  
• In 2010, only 21.6% of the students scored "proficient or above" in math on STAR testing, and only 26.8% did so in English.
• In 2009, the school missed 12 of the 21 federal targets in No Child Left Behind.

Below is a map I obtained from http://www.lapdcrimemaps.org/. It is centered around SFMS, and shows a 4 mile radius of the crimes that were reported in the past 7 days.




















I've started brushing up on my Spanish thanks to Rosetta Stone. I'm a bit nervous.

End of Weight Watchers Week 1

I *officially* lost 4 pounds this week. Score!

It turns out losing weight isn't impossible if you have time, money, patience, and a ton of self control. (It helps having a boyfriend or someone else who can cheer you on and do it with you.)

Thanks Mom and Bob. =)

As far as school goes, I have only been to 2 of my 5 classes so far, both of them graduate math classes. I love them.

I need ideas for quick food that I can bring to school with me that doesn't need to be refrigerated. I don't have a cooler and I won't carry one since I have too much other stuff to carry and I have to walk. Suggestions?

Day 1 of Fall 2010

I have class tonight.


I am sad.


That is all.