Called to...

My Mom and Dad. I love them.

Early this week, we had a first in my family--we had a party to open a mission call.


Elder and Sister Carpenter are called to Washington DC South--to serve in the Mount Vernon CES mission. Reporting on July 11. I'm so excited!

They already look like missionaries don't they?

Added Confusion

Student teaching is going well. I love teaching. The thing I don't love is when students don't care about your subject. However, a majority of students are getting to know me a bit better, and feel I'm not such a boring teacher. Next week is a new term and I have new projects for them all. :)

Yesterday, my supervisor came in and observed me. Her name is Elicia. She is wonderful. She has been really supportive and genuinely thinks I'm doing well. However, she told me a funny story. A confusing one really... It went something like this-

"So your schedule is interesting--on A days you only teach half the day."
"I know. Lou teaches TV Broadcasting and has a prep in the morning. Since I have no idea what filming is about, my mornings are used to prep for these Photography classes."
"I was talking to (Miranda) and I asked why you have had such a crazy schedule, what with elementary only being part time and now this isn't a completely full time schedule...

(pause: yes my elementary was only part time, but Miranda made me find a teacher to go observe in the mornings. Mrs. Anderson's class. I wouldn't say I got shortchanged on my elementary student teaching experience at all. I loved it all. And, with my High School schedule, I'm still there all day, every day. I just don't teach some classes... Which, I think, is completely normal considering the circumstances...)

"She (Miranda) said- (pause: I'm almost direct quoting here) she knew that you would be a great teacher from the beginning and felt that you may have not needed any extra exposure."

(pause: ... ... ..............)

"(I laughed) Wow. That's not what she told me at all."
"Really? What did she say to you?"
"Oh, the exact opposite."

Confusion. I don't get it. How can from the very beginning be true at all? Remember this conversation? I was the scary teacher that would make students never want to study art. Ever. Not only was I going to be the scary-no good-horrible teacher, I was a scary-no good-horrible person.

I'll be interested to see what comes at the end of this semester. My very last final consists of an interview with Miranda. I wonder what she will say...


Anyway, more confusion comes when bad things happen to good people. Last week, my cooperating teacher, Lou, ran out in the middle of the day. I had no idea what was going on until a lady from the office came in asking if Lou had talked to me. About what? He ran out because his 4 month old, only grandson had stopped breathing. Later that day, a message came to me that Lou's grandson had died--SIDS. Oh my heart.

I may not have children yet, but I can completely imagine the hurt.

He came back to school this week, although he didn't take his allotted amount of days that he could be gone. When he was back, I heard the complete story of last week. Don't worry, I was able to contain my tears... barely... I pray for his family every day. It hurts to see Lou, and wonder how his son and daughter are taking it. As Lou put it-- little Crue is the lucky one.

Little Crue--Grandpa's little linebacker.

Camera Commercial

When I saw this, I was speechless.

This illustrates one of my pet peeves of photography.

I'm all for people buying nice cameras. That is great. But if you get one--you had better know or learn quickly how to use it. Otherwise, it is a huge waste. Especially to me-who wants a new one and can't afford it at the moment. I could vent for a long time. But I won't.

That's all.

Amazed By Colin

Colin is amazing me.

This semester alone, Colin is reading more than he has since I've known him. He actually reads his textbooks (which I hardly ever did...) and has read 3 books in the past 2 months. Hooray!! He read 2 of those 3 in less than a week.

Saturday, Colin started reading another book. And he is hooked. I am so proud.



He is almost done. And he would rather read than play on the computer. I am amazed. :)

Boring

I've been wondering lately if I am a boring teacher.

I thought they were fun ideas... But the students don't really like the lessons. Maybe it's how I taught them. Maybe it's because they don't want to have any respect for the student teacher. (I'm getting that vibe from a few students...) The thing is, Lou hasn't told me if I need to change anything. I want feedback, and I'm always asking him for it-- What can I do better? What needs to change?

All I get is-- You're doing great, keep going, each lesson will change, practice will make it better.

Thank you. I want constructive critique though. Like-- You should do this so that they understand better, or maybe if you made your instruction go in a different order it would be more helpful, or even--scrap that idea, it won't work here. I got nothin to go on. I'm all for encouragement. I am really grateful for that. But there has been no critique. Am I asking for too much? Am I one of those people who aren't happy with whatever they get?

Anyway, the Photo I students are working on restoring old photos and making new ones look like this:



Then they can take that technique and apply it in different ways. Like this maybe:



I like it. Some students are bored out of their minds.

I'm getting bored out of my mind this week as well. There are 8 class periods, and I teach 5. I have lots of time to plan lessons. Most of this week has been work time for the students though. I am there to answer questions, but the last couple days, I have just sat and read. I have read almost 2 books in 2 days. I'm so bored. And yet, I come home exhausted every day. I don't get it. All I know is, I don't want to be boring...