Who is Your Teacher of the Year?

Dear Mrs. Grosenbach,

         Prior before being your student, I didn't push myself as hard as I should of. I didn't know what my academic talents were in the classroom and outside of the classroom. I made mediocre grades until I was introduced to you and your classroom. You were the one that gave me the push I needed to succeed. I pushed myself to show you how high of grades I could get on all my work. I was creative as I could be, to show you how artistic and good of student I was. All the hard work was for you because you saw the talent and intellect I had in me. You let me shine through and I can't thank you enough for that. You were the one that made me like academics and strive for the best grades I could get. You were the one that got me involved!

   Now, because of your grace and support, I am planning a future as a teacher. I really enjoy the atmosphere and setting of a classroom and children. I am planning on becoming a Bilingual teacher. I am attending Texas Tech university next fall and will be a part of their education program. I live in the dorms of the future educators community and organization. I plan on going into their Study Abroad program and study Spanish in Spain my sophomore year. I will be minoring in Spanish on top of my Multidisiplinary Studies degree.

    I'm so thankful that God put you in my life! Thank you for all the support you gave me in 5th grade and the support you give me now! Thank you for being a great role model of  a teacher!

Love you,

Taylor Conklin

Bill to Bypass Exams OK'd

This blog is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog post:

 I read an article over the legislation might pass 28,000 seniors in the Texas class of 2015 who have no passed all of their end-of-course exams the opportunity to graduate...


     Some factors that would allow the seniors is their involvement during high school. Did they try things in high school? Did they try with their grades? Did they go into any extra curricular classes? Also, do they have any outside factors affecting their experience at high school? like family, death, money, or personal problems?

 Kelly Hancock and Jane Nelson voted against the bill. I believe their stances were probably that its not fair to the other seniors who actually got involved in their classes and extra curricular classes. They have good grades and participate in clubs and other organizations. Also, because they did take the time and passed the test.

 I think so many other senators supported it because of all the factors discussed in my second paragraph. Some students don't have the opportunities that the other kids do because of money or family problems preventing them from involvement.

   The seniors who don't graduate stay in high school or drop out to work at a retail shop or a fast food restaurant. They don't go to college and they get paid minimum wage or they don't work at all. THis effects the economy raising the unemployment rate.  


    My personal stance on this issue is that its not fair to graduate these students regardless of the factors, if they want it , they would fight for it. They would study and pass the test if they want it badly enough. the kids who do want it bad and want to go off to college, they work for it and get involved to maximize their high school experience.

My State Teach Tomorrow Summit Highlight

This is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog post:

This past month I had the greatest experience of going to the Teach Tomorrow Summit for the TAFE state competition at Texas Tech!

Every moment will be cherished from this event. My favorite moment would probably all the time I hungout with my roommates. Rebekah, Kiernan, and I bonded so well and we had so much fun! I have made everlasting friends! We just laughed and talked about everything and anything. I don't regret anything I did over this trip- I wish it would just replay forever!! I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to go into the education field.

How Do You Measure up?

This post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog:



1.) Yes, I got the grade I expected but I would like to know why I got a B on work accuracy. I feel Like it was accurate to the work I am doing in the classroom. I should be more on top of things, be aware of everything happening inside and outside the classroom.

2.) The comments made me happy and made me proud of the work I am doing. I strive to keep on doing what I'm doing and to be even better than I am now. I want to be the best I can be as a person and as a teacher. I need to take the comments she gave me and keep a positive vibe, to keep me motivated and going.

3.) I want to work on work accuracy because that was the lowest grade I got. Pay more attention and do what I am suppose to do. I need to be on my game. I need to pay attention and be fully involved with the kids. Give the kids 100%, so they can give the teacher and me 100%.

My Plans for the New Year!

   

In response to Mrs. Kallas' blog:




A new year has started, which means for me as a senior- There is A LOT to do. Even thought I have been accepted into my dream college and have my dorm room number, I still need to get all the scholarships I can get. Goal #1: Get as many scholarship applications complete and turned in for freshman year, my money goal is at least $ 20,000 to as much as I can get. I'm already on the website Fastweb, and getting as many scholarship options as I can. I also qualify for the presidential Scholarship at Tech, so I'm doing as much as I can to accomplish that. I just completed and turned in my FASFA application as well, so all I need to do is wait.








As I finish up my senior year, I want to get as many A's on my report card as possible. Goal#2:study for everything! Don't put anything off, no procrastination. I need to put 100% into everything I do to finish out my year right and awesomely. I want to keep my top 10% status and be able to stand up for good grades and scholarships at graduation.








As the new year starts, it means a new me as well. Health has always been a goal of mine, I need to really stick to it this year. I have been trying out for a Drum Corp Group called Crossmen, they are based in San Antonio and are a world class group. I have been called back for callbacks in April. A lot of exercise and fitness goes on in this kind of activity. Goal#3:  Get active, Go to the gym twice a week and run every week and weekend, 4 hours total. Eat healthier, no sweets, only water. Lose 20 pounds by April.



In conclusion, I have a lot to do before this summer. I need to get in shape and keep up with my grades. Thought there is a lot on my plate, it will all work out in the end and will make me successful in the years to come.

Confirmed or Busted?

In response to Mrs. Kallas' blog assignment:


My expectations for the Mythbusters exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History were confirmed. The exhibit was very entertaining and hands-on with many different experiments to look at. The day went by smoothy and was great! I got to spent the day with the people who have the same interest as me and we love to do the same thing. One thing that wasn't on point would be the other exhibits weren't as interactive and stuffed as the main one.


In the Mythbusters exhibit, All the experiments were fun and exciting. one of them was a rain tunnel that you could either run or walk in and at the end you could go under a blacklight and you would glow form the dye in the rain. another one was a swing hanging only from phone books. The last one would be a farting chair. There were so many to choose from!  I had a great time!

Humor

In class this week we were assigned by Mrs. Kallas in her blog to read an article  from FEAs  Go Teach! magazine.  (The topic of the magazine is humor in the classroom. )

      I have had many interesting teachers in my years of schooling.  Most of my teachers that were humorous or fun taught the subjects that I remember the most from. They are also the classes that I had the better grades in. They make the class atmosphere and lessons a lot more exciting and entertaining.  Adding even just a little bit of  humor or playful attitude into the lesson or towards a subject makes the class and students have so much more fun and involvement than just a teacher talking in monotone. All my teachers who didn't have one stitch of humor, just had dry sarcasm and bored me to tears.  I also had lower grades in the class.  

           Humor should always be included in a classroom environment. It makes the students be more engaged and actually want to learn. It also make you the awesome, cool teacher everyone wants to have! :)