Yesterday, I subbed.
I have been subbing at least once a week in all sorts of subjects and grade levels.
I haven't seen much thinking required of students.
You know, stretching the brain. doing things that aren't easy.
I've seen some thinking. but not much.
Yesterday I noticed lots of behavior-emphasis. Come to school. Learn behavior.
I wish kids could learn to love learning in school.
Some do.
Some get great teachers. Who will do anything to help them love learning.
Some don't.
Some see school as one big beat-down. Or they learn that if they just sit quietly, don't cause problems, and get their busywork done, teachers will leave them alone and they can make it through. Others learn that if they act crazy, cause lots of problems, and never turn in their work, they will get lots of attention.
We call this "negative reinforcement." Reinforcing negative behavior.
I usually pay no attention to "naughty" kids. Unless the behavior is hurting someone else, I usually pay them no attention. Eventually, most stop the behavior that has for so long drawn attention. I try to pay the most attention to students who are working hard. Because that is the behavior I want to reinforce. I learned this from both mentor teachers in student teaching. They were both really great teachers. I don't think I've seen as good of teaching since then. And that was in the "big bad inner city." :)
I am not perfect at classroom management by any means. But I'd like to become better. Subbing gives me opportunities to see a variety of classrooms.
On the other hand, I miss having 'my own' classroom. With 'my' kids. With students that I grew to know and love. But, with private lessons, I don't have lesson plans.
I don't have to refer students to the discipline office.
I don't have to call home to discuss the profanity they yelled at me.
I don't have to work 50-60 hours per week to get the "must haves" done.
I don't have to... a lot of things.
And I still get to teach.
I like both. I like a classroom, and I like private lessons. I'd like to plan where I'll be in 5 years, or next year. Which type of job I'll have. Should I look for classroom jobs or not? I think about these things and then I am reminded... We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We should not be anxious about tomorrow, but let tomorrow take care of itself. The Lord cares for the birds and flowers, so He will certainly care for me. For the desires and gifts He's given me. Because He is good and He loves me, although I am undeserving.
And so, I'll take it one day at a time. And today, it's subbing in high school choir :)
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Football
My brothers (in-law) play YMCA flag football.
They're on 2 different teams.
We've been to a few games this season.
Here are a few of my favs...
are you enjoying football season? :) i am!
They're on 2 different teams.
We've been to a few games this season.
Here are a few of my favs...
 |
| David usually plays QB |
 |
| such intensity |
 |
| i don't know these kids but it was a cute moment. the kid on the left just ran for a touch down |
 |
| Will usually plays RB |
 |
| everyone was surprised the YMCA scheduled a little league game during the husker game. fortunately someone was blaring it from their car :) |
 |
| get his flag!! |
 |
| teaching moment |
 |
| another teaching moment... |
are you enjoying football season? :) i am!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
God at Work
Our culture today is seemingly a disaster. It seems messy. And it is. And it would be easy, in the midst of the real problems we are experiencing today, to think that Christianity is dying. That secular lifestyles or radical Islam is winning. But the t.r.u.t.h. is, well, we know the ending.
That's the end. Everyone will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. Whether we want to or not.
BUT... sometimes, we look around and feel discouraged. A sickness in the family, a relational problem, a job we don't like, lonliness, hurt, on and on. And those things are real. And then, there are the hot-button social issues: gay rights, abortion, religious freedom, on and on and on.
And, so here we are. Wondering if, in fact, Christianity is dying, because sometimes we don't see the results.
When we who were once lost, become found.
And we can see it if we choose to.
Or we can jump on the woe-to-this-generation-it-all-sucks train.
We can choose to get involved and be part of the spreading.
God is at work. Like never before. Can you see it...
...In Anaheim, California (and around the U.S.)
...In India
...In the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the founding members of Hamas. (You should read this book. No, seriously.)
In the Middle East.
and in my new home, Lincoln, Nebraska
"God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Phil. 2:9-10)
That's the end. Everyone will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. Whether we want to or not.
BUT... sometimes, we look around and feel discouraged. A sickness in the family, a relational problem, a job we don't like, lonliness, hurt, on and on. And those things are real. And then, there are the hot-button social issues: gay rights, abortion, religious freedom, on and on and on.
And, so here we are. Wondering if, in fact, Christianity is dying, because sometimes we don't see the results.
I would argue that Christianity is spreading like never before.
Real Christianity where Jesus is Savior and He changes lives.When we who were once lost, become found.
And we can see it if we choose to.
Or we can jump on the woe-to-this-generation-it-all-sucks train.
We can choose to get involved and be part of the spreading.
Or we can hide inside our basements and hope that we make it to the end.
God is at work. Like never before. Can you see it...
...In Anaheim, California (and around the U.S.)
...In India
...In the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the founding members of Hamas. (You should read this book. No, seriously.)
In the Middle East.
...in Suburban Chicago (gotta click for that one)
and in my new home, Lincoln, Nebraska
Find ways God is at work in your community and around the world. Then, join. Jump in. Find a way to be a part of His Work. Right where you are. That has been God's challenge to me lately. So, here we go....
Friday, September 9, 2011
Commentary on Life in Nebraska
1. There is a big, beautiful, old house on the corner of our street, about 3 blocks down. The corner of the lot is on a busy street, and I wanted to put a sign up advertising piano lessons. There was a man in the yard one day, and I assumed he lived there, so I went up and introduced myself. He told me he lives across the street, and when he build that house 45 years ago, his house was as far south as Lincoln went. (It goes south for at least another 7 miles now...) Anyway, he also told me "the little old lady that lives in this house [the big beautiful old one] is all by herself, so i [the man] come over and help her out with the yard once in a while." I eventually met the lady in there - she's not that old - and she's super sweet! Well, nearly every time I drive by, that man is sitting in her yard, on a bucket. And he has another bucket beside him (and his dog) and he's picking up twigs, leaves, acorns, i don't know! how sweet. maybe they're life-long friends. the romantic in me thinks he loves her.
2. Not too far down from that house I mentioned above, there is another house. with a lot of dogs. well, 3 to be exact. small, medium, and large. [baby bear, mama bear, and papa bear size, if you will... haha i crack myself up.] anyway, they are sad lookin' dogs. for some reason, one of the dogs reminds me from the dog from The Fox and the Hound. [does anyone remember that disney movie??] They mosey around the yard. One has funny lumps. They don't bark. Not sure what to think about these dogs. It seems fitting that there are lots of "chatchkies" on the porch and in the yard. [chatchkies... you know, lawn gnomes, random glass decor, pots with no flowers, etc...]
3. i love an attached garage. seriously. when it's raining, i don't get wet. when i go grocery shopping, i just walk from the car right into my kitchen with the grocery bags. at heart, i love the city. particularly Chicago. :) but i can definitely adjust to life with an attached garage.
4. it costs me about $10 less (on average) to fill up my gas tank here in Lincoln than when we were living in the city (Chicago). if i fill up once a week, that's $40/ month... $520/ year. If I put that money into a college savings account (for the kids I don't have yet) at 5%, I'd have about $21,000 to contribute towards college. Just from the difference in gas price between Lincoln and downtown Chicago. However, I am charging about $7 less that I could charge in Chicago for private lessons. So... that makes up for it. and, who knows where we'll live when Ben is done with school. but, i'm just saying.
5. There is no Marshall's or Homegoods store here. Good for my wallet. Sad for my shopping. (There is a poorly stocked TJ Maxx that I like to stop by...)
6a. People get really excited about Husker football. I have to admit, it's kinda contagious. I didn't grow up watching a ton of football, although the Bears games were on every sunday. My mom is a huge Bears fan. My uncle always jokes she's the biggest Bears fan in our family. She knows every player, all the rules of the game. So, Sundays in the Pierce house, you will find her blaring the Bears game so she can hear it from the kitchen where she's making a yummy dinner. And every so often, she'll walk into the living room to see a great play :) Anyway, Husker Football. Like I said, it's contagious. Now I married into husker football, so I really had no choice but to become a fan. But it's more fun to be a fan in Lincoln than it was in Chicago. Because everybody is. The grocery stores have big "N" flags in the window.
7. That's all for now.
Signing off from Nebraska,
Ren
2. Not too far down from that house I mentioned above, there is another house. with a lot of dogs. well, 3 to be exact. small, medium, and large. [baby bear, mama bear, and papa bear size, if you will... haha i crack myself up.] anyway, they are sad lookin' dogs. for some reason, one of the dogs reminds me from the dog from The Fox and the Hound. [does anyone remember that disney movie??] They mosey around the yard. One has funny lumps. They don't bark. Not sure what to think about these dogs. It seems fitting that there are lots of "chatchkies" on the porch and in the yard. [chatchkies... you know, lawn gnomes, random glass decor, pots with no flowers, etc...]
3. i love an attached garage. seriously. when it's raining, i don't get wet. when i go grocery shopping, i just walk from the car right into my kitchen with the grocery bags. at heart, i love the city. particularly Chicago. :) but i can definitely adjust to life with an attached garage.
4. it costs me about $10 less (on average) to fill up my gas tank here in Lincoln than when we were living in the city (Chicago). if i fill up once a week, that's $40/ month... $520/ year. If I put that money into a college savings account (for the kids I don't have yet) at 5%, I'd have about $21,000 to contribute towards college. Just from the difference in gas price between Lincoln and downtown Chicago. However, I am charging about $7 less that I could charge in Chicago for private lessons. So... that makes up for it. and, who knows where we'll live when Ben is done with school. but, i'm just saying.
5. There is no Marshall's or Homegoods store here. Good for my wallet. Sad for my shopping. (There is a poorly stocked TJ Maxx that I like to stop by...)
6a. People get really excited about Husker football. I have to admit, it's kinda contagious. I didn't grow up watching a ton of football, although the Bears games were on every sunday. My mom is a huge Bears fan. My uncle always jokes she's the biggest Bears fan in our family. She knows every player, all the rules of the game. So, Sundays in the Pierce house, you will find her blaring the Bears game so she can hear it from the kitchen where she's making a yummy dinner. And every so often, she'll walk into the living room to see a great play :) Anyway, Husker Football. Like I said, it's contagious. Now I married into husker football, so I really had no choice but to become a fan. But it's more fun to be a fan in Lincoln than it was in Chicago. Because everybody is. The grocery stores have big "N" flags in the window.
The whole downtown has these signs:
6b. Every other house has some sort of Nebraska "paraphenalia" displayed - door signs, giant corn, flags. [Side story - I was seeing all sorts of Wooden "N's" on people's doors... they looked like monograms. like, i might put a C on my front door for Cook. and i thought to myself, a lot of people have a last name that starts with N. Well, I quickly caught on... NEBRASKA!] Every store has Nebraska gear for sale - shirts, hats, jackets, sweatshirts. And they're on the front display. Of course! Where else would they be?
6c.Wives that didn't grow up loving football seem to have 2 options - sulk because you think football season steals your husband & talk about it with your girlfriends OR embrace it. :) I'm embracing it :) GO BIG RED!! Plus, I like football. Fun to watch, cozy fall weekend afternoons, an excuse to get together with friends and yummy snack food. what's not to love?
7. That's all for now.
Signing off from Nebraska,
Ren
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Holmes Lake Apartments
So I'm working on starting a piano and voice studio out of our house in Lincoln. The Lord gave us a wonderful rental house in a nice neighborhood near lots of families. I've been advertising in lots of ways...
* signs up on busy streets
* tear-off fliers in coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores, etc...
* contacted school music teachers
* churches
After a week or so of staying home and doing.. idk.. stuff... i realized I couldn't sit around for too much longer. So I decided to go "cold calling." aka: door-to-door. ahhh!!!
[mini side story - my dad is in sales. he and his reps go cold calling all the time. he's a pro. my brother ran a college painting franchise one summer and i cold called for him... for about 3 weeks. frankly, i didn't care whether or not they got their houses painted. sales wasn't for me.]
but this time, i did care whether or not they took lessons from me. :)
i drove to a random neighborhood ("random" meaning carefully selected b/c it's close by me, with big houses, & young families). as I passed this Holmes Lake Apartment complex, it occurred to me to turn down that street. But then I thought nahhh... there's no houses. so i kept driving to said random neighborhood and parked my car. started going door to door. Most people were very friendly. My first real success - a lady with 4 littles, the oldest of whom is 7. she said they were just talking about starting piano lessons. we chit-chatted. she said she'd call & gave tips about where to go to find more young families.
i left that neighborhood and headed back home for a hot date ;) I passed the Holmes Lake apartment complex again, thinking I should turn. I could only see apartments but I figured, what the heck. So I followed the road back into a neighborhood with houses. I parked my car and started to walk towards a house kitty corner from where I parked. It didn't make sense to go to that house first b/c it was the furthest compared to the other houses nearby. But I started walking anyway. Lo and behold, out comes a lady carrying a baby. I thought that infant is too young, but maybe she has others...? I introduced myself and explained I was opening a home studio. She said, "We were just starting to look for piano teachers. I want to sign my 5 and 7 year olds up to start in a couple months. we're just waiting on my mom's piano." We chit chatted a little more and she too gave me some tips about where to find more families. And then I drove away.
as I headed back home for real, The Lord said, see I told you to go down that street. When I'm paying attention, He's always leading. And when I'm ignoring His voice because something doesn't seem to make sense to me, I'm thankful He's full of grace and willing to try again... gotta get past my fuzzy, confused receiver :)
Has He been leading you? If not... check your receiver. Are you listening?
* signs up on busy streets
* tear-off fliers in coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores, etc...
* contacted school music teachers
* churches
After a week or so of staying home and doing.. idk.. stuff... i realized I couldn't sit around for too much longer. So I decided to go "cold calling." aka: door-to-door. ahhh!!!
[mini side story - my dad is in sales. he and his reps go cold calling all the time. he's a pro. my brother ran a college painting franchise one summer and i cold called for him... for about 3 weeks. frankly, i didn't care whether or not they got their houses painted. sales wasn't for me.]
but this time, i did care whether or not they took lessons from me. :)
i drove to a random neighborhood ("random" meaning carefully selected b/c it's close by me, with big houses, & young families). as I passed this Holmes Lake Apartment complex, it occurred to me to turn down that street. But then I thought nahhh... there's no houses. so i kept driving to said random neighborhood and parked my car. started going door to door. Most people were very friendly. My first real success - a lady with 4 littles, the oldest of whom is 7. she said they were just talking about starting piano lessons. we chit-chatted. she said she'd call & gave tips about where to go to find more young families.
i left that neighborhood and headed back home for a hot date ;) I passed the Holmes Lake apartment complex again, thinking I should turn. I could only see apartments but I figured, what the heck. So I followed the road back into a neighborhood with houses. I parked my car and started to walk towards a house kitty corner from where I parked. It didn't make sense to go to that house first b/c it was the furthest compared to the other houses nearby. But I started walking anyway. Lo and behold, out comes a lady carrying a baby. I thought that infant is too young, but maybe she has others...? I introduced myself and explained I was opening a home studio. She said, "We were just starting to look for piano teachers. I want to sign my 5 and 7 year olds up to start in a couple months. we're just waiting on my mom's piano." We chit chatted a little more and she too gave me some tips about where to find more families. And then I drove away.
as I headed back home for real, The Lord said, see I told you to go down that street. When I'm paying attention, He's always leading. And when I'm ignoring His voice because something doesn't seem to make sense to me, I'm thankful He's full of grace and willing to try again... gotta get past my fuzzy, confused receiver :)
Has He been leading you? If not... check your receiver. Are you listening?
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Chicago... My Kind of Town
Lately, I've been thinking about things I will miss and things I won't miss about Chicago. Like, something will happen (i.e. stuck in traffic) and I'll think wow, I really won't miss the traffic here.
Things I'll miss about Chicago
Obviously, friends and family
Church - both Moody and Harvest
Driving on Lake Shore Drive and Wacker
Walking around downtown (I still think tall buildings are cool)
Ridiculously fancy bowling alleys
Stuffed Pizza, specifically Edwardo's
Endless supply of great ethnic food, especially China Town
Summer. summer in this city is SO fun.
Biking on the lake path
Chicago Public Library System - every book you could ever want sent to your neighborhood library!
The shopping- South Loop, State Street, Michigan Ave, Lincoln Park, need I say more?
Simeon
My teacher's salary (which, thanks to the crazy Chicago Teacher's Union is pretty good for a 1st year teacher!!)
The skyline (especially driving into the city from the south on 90/94)
Never ending supply of fun things to do, and lots for free!
Things I won't miss about Chicago
Traffic
The smell of pot in our apartment buidling
Street parking during the winter
Constant sound of sirens
12% tax
$4.69 gas
The hassle of grocery shopping and parking and trying to get all your groceries up to your 2nd floor apartment when you parked a block away.
The politics - while they're exciting and make a good news story, it's a little crazy.
The teachers union. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be part of a union that complains so much, causes so many problems, and acts like they're at war...
This is a great city, and I love it, but I am starting to think about things I might like in Lincoln because the Lord has led us to Lincoln and He knows best... so, Nebraska, here we come!
Things I'll miss about Chicago
Obviously, friends and family
Church - both Moody and Harvest
Driving on Lake Shore Drive and Wacker
Walking around downtown (I still think tall buildings are cool)
Ridiculously fancy bowling alleys
Stuffed Pizza, specifically Edwardo's
Endless supply of great ethnic food, especially China Town
Summer. summer in this city is SO fun.
Biking on the lake path
Chicago Public Library System - every book you could ever want sent to your neighborhood library!
The shopping- South Loop, State Street, Michigan Ave, Lincoln Park, need I say more?
Simeon
My teacher's salary (which, thanks to the crazy Chicago Teacher's Union is pretty good for a 1st year teacher!!)
The skyline (especially driving into the city from the south on 90/94)
Never ending supply of fun things to do, and lots for free!
Things I won't miss about Chicago
Traffic
The smell of pot in our apartment buidling
Street parking during the winter
Constant sound of sirens
12% tax
$4.69 gas
The hassle of grocery shopping and parking and trying to get all your groceries up to your 2nd floor apartment when you parked a block away.
The politics - while they're exciting and make a good news story, it's a little crazy.
The teachers union. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be part of a union that complains so much, causes so many problems, and acts like they're at war...
This is a great city, and I love it, but I am starting to think about things I might like in Lincoln because the Lord has led us to Lincoln and He knows best... so, Nebraska, here we come!
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