Crunch Time
Nothing really new to report. The male students are arriving on campus. So this quiet place will soon be busy with highschoolers. I've been doing a lot of reading (reading the leadership books the school Director "recommended" that I should read, my English and Debate books, and a lot of history books. The first couple of chapters in World History (the Byzatine empire, rise of Islam, Middle Ages) are parts of history I have NEVER learned before, so this will be interesting. We're going to meetings about school policies and stuff like that. Hopefully I figure out how I will be a teacher in the next 5 days.
Just a heads up, check out the pictures on my web site. I adde some to both my "Chuuk 1" and "Orientation and Travelling" albums. The ones I aded in Orientation and Travelling are mostly from Hawaii, since I didn't bring my camera to the north shore but Jaclyn did. The other ones I added are just more pictures to make all of you jealous.
But seriously, nothing really new to report. Just a lot of time in my office, avoiding cockroaches, and trying desperately hard to sleep in the silent, very hot nights when the generator shuts off and so does my fan. We also went out to eat to the island's second fanciest resturaunt (the Truk Stop ... Chuuk used to be called Truk). At best it tasted like something found at an OK Chinese Buffet place. Not the good ones, like the one in Worcester, but an OK one.
Anyway, please keep posting comments. I love them. If you need something to write, write suggestions on how to run an effective classroom. The zannier the better.
I also got some letters, so thank you for those who wrote to me. I'll write back as soon as possible. Much love.
posted by Dan @ 3:18 AM
8 Comments:
If you saw Mean Girls, AJ, you'd know that a very effective method of discipline is walking in with a baseball bat and announcing "I did NOT leave the South Side for this!" Another good idea is bribing children with candy. Still another idea is being really mean. Practice your stern voice!
P.S. mmmmm Dr Pepper
Hi, AJ.
Love the pictures!! Does your house have screens on the windows to keep the bugs out? I think it doesn't.
About being a teacher - know your material, establish routines, vary the delivery (have some previewing vocabulary; teach them how to read a textbook: titles, headings,bold print, captions, etc to preview the material and build background knowledge; group work; some note taking; some writing to answer questions; some discussion; some review...). Collaborate with the other teachers and see what works.
You'll get a feel for it very soon.
At the end of a unit you can set up a Jeopardy game as a review, to see if they learned the material. Do they have access to computers? Maybe they can take a virtual tour of a museum to see the art and sculpture of the Middle Ages, Islam, the Byzantine Empire, etc.
Help your students understand the relevance of all of that has to today, and what is happening in current events.
Anyway, I can go on for ever, but I won't, at least not now!
I can't wait to hear about your students and your classes. Send us details in your blog!
We miss you! Love, Mom
AJ's you will be an excellent teacher, a real Professor, because you like, you understand them and you know how to deal with them, you always have and kids like you.
Know your subject well, means be orepared, and deliver it clearly and simply.Be firm keeping discipline for their good and yours, and the school's. Always try to help them.
You will be an excellent Professor.
All our love
Papa
At work again, so I made a list:
1. Not to reference your movie again, but you can talk with the passion and fervor of Layman in the Vietnam scene. That'd be good.
2. Give them candy.
3. Tell them you are a demi god in the states, and that all the women throw themselves at you.
4. Wear sunglasses... all the time.
5. Bring in Dan Cabrera for reinforcement. He's adored in the states, so he can be adored abroad.
That's all I got. Good luck in school!!
Well, if you think that a couple of measly pictures showing you at an isolated and exotic tropical paradise filled with mediocre food, cockroaches, humidity...pristine beaches, clear oceans, breathtaking sunsets, and good friends will make me jealous...then you're right. Excuse me while I scorn this temperate climate of mine.
AJ, the pictures are incredible -- like you may see in "The Sophisticated Traveler" magazine...
We are really happy that you could be enjoying such beauty.
As for your history classes, I must confess that I'm really a bit shocked about you never hearing about the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire, the Rise of Islam... These are topics that are suppossedly studied at High School (that's when I learned about them in any case). If you need any help with those topics let us know, but I highly recommend that you read some good history books/textbook on those topics. Hopefully you'll be able to get up-to-date quickly.
As for the bugs (coakroaches), would it help to have a live gecko or cat living with you? I think that they eat bugs, so that they can clean your room for you.
Love and good luck with your students.
Dad
AJ!!
No worries - Daniel and I will be out there visiting next summer, so hopefully you will figure out some way to keep cool at night for us. Also, my roommate Matt (the one you told you love...) might join us too. As for me being jealous, i'll make sure to post all my photos of ND football games, just to prove that i'm in a much superior place in this world...haha. hmm...yes...yes...hmm...
Later!
AJ your photos are inspiring me
I heart the south pacific
thinking of going there myself after grad
maybe ill see you
had GC the other day and thought of you
and you thought i'd be jealous about tropical paradise. bah!!
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